centropyge flavicauda

[ozadars]

Hello Henry,

Today, i saw two spine looking things near my centropyge flavicauda's cheeks. It was just like the maroon clowns'. I think they are new because i havent seen them before.
Is this special to flavicauda's or is it normal for centropyge's?
Or is this something related with the sex of the fish?

Thanks
Selim

 

[aquababy]

The spines you describe are the fish's defense. Many different species of angels have them as well. Tangs, on the other hand, have them at the base of the tail - 1 or 2 spines on each side.

 

[Sloeber]

selim,

all angels have a spine on the operculum. from my RK column:

"As the family name Pomacanthidae implies (Poma- = operculum, acanth- (Greek) = spine), the operculum has a large, prominent spine. This spine is the easiest way for a hobbyist to determine whether the fish is an angel or not. "

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-02/hcs3/

HTH

 

[ozadars]

Thank you both. Its interesting that i didnt noticed them before. I can as well see them on the other dwarf angels in your article Henry.