Potter's Angelfish Facts & Information

Guide Fish Care Rating:

2 Stars

Scientific Name: Centropyge potteri (Jordan & Metz, 1912). The naming of this fish honors the memory of Mr. Frederick A. Potter (1874-1961), who served from 1903 to 1940 as the first Director of the Waikiki Aquarium.

Identification: A Family Pomacanthidae member, the Potter's is of the small sized Angelfish Centropyge genus referred to as Dwarf or Pygmy Angelfishes.The body has an oval shape which is brilliantly colored with orange over the front and upper sides. It is marked by many vertical lines of dark blue-purple or black, which sometimes are so dense as to make the lower and posterior parts of the body appear as a solid, deep blue color.

Distribution: An endemic species to waters around Hawaii and nearby Johnston Atoll.

Other Common Names:

None known.

Hawaiian Name: None Known.

Average Size:

To about 5 inches.

Habitat:

Provide plenty of shelter for hiding. Best kept in aquariums with ample algae and other live rock growth.

Minimum Tank Size Suggested:

20 gallons.

Characteristics & Compatibility:

One of the more docile of Angelfish species, it does have a tendency to be aggressive towards other fish that have been introduced into the aquarium once it has become established.Although touted by aquarists to be a fairly good reef safe fish, it may nip at large polyped stony corals, zoanthids, tridacnid clam mantles, and even some soft coral polyps. Therefore this fish, as true with most all Angelfishes, cannot be completely trusted if these invertebrates are present. It is best kept singly or in mated pairs, and is suitable for keeping with other non-aggressive fishes.

Diet & Feeding:

An omnivore that eats both plant and animal fares, it should be provided with ample live rock and algae growth to constantly graze on, and is particularly an excellent brown diatom algae eater. Will accept most any type of fares suitable for omnivores.For more details on the overall characteristics, compatability, diet and feeding of this and other saltwater Angelfishes, refer to our Family Pomacanthidae Profile.

Guide Fish Care Rating: 2 Stars