Species Name: Centropyge hotumatua

Authority: Randall & Caldwell, 1973

Common Name: Hotumatua's Pygmy Angelfish

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: Easter Island, Pitcairn Group, and Raivavae in the Austral Islands

Size: 3 inches - 8 cm

Natural Environment: Inhabits coral and rock crevices at a depth of 50 to 150 feet (15 – 45 m)

General Husbandry: Prefer a temperature of 70 - 76°F and natural diet consists mostly of algae, yet accepts a wide variety of foods in the aquarium including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and flake food (especially Spirulina). Needs numerous feeding per day. Not safe in the reef aquarium as they nip corals and other sessile invertebrates, including Tridacna clams. Possibly, a bare bottom tank containing much coral rubble and rocks forming caves and crevices might be the best environment for this fish. Reason being they also feed on detritus, and bare bottom tanks make it easier for them to access areas containing this medium. It’s also quite easy to occasionally clean areas under loosely stacked rock and rubble in bare bottom tanks with the flow from a powerhead.

Aquarium Suitability: Extremely difficult to maintain/needs cooler water as mentioned above.