fittiger,
The blue Mauritius Angelfish was first observed and photographed in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mauritius by Helmut Debelius in 1988 at a depth of 150 feet. In 1990 Richard Pyle collected a specimen and took the fish back to Hawaii where it was later identified and named Centropyge debelius after Helmut Debelius.
This species has only been recorded in Mauritius, Reunion, and recently in the Aldabra Islands in the western Seychelles.
Centropyge debelius is very rare in the aquarium trade due to the great risk of human life associated with the collection of this species. The use of nitrox or other mixed gas rebreathers is needed to safely dive to these depths, along with a team of safety divers. Centropyge debelius is found at depths between 150-300 feet, and should be maintained in cool water temperatures between 68-72 degrees.
Centropyge debelius, Centropyge nahackyi, Centropyge narcosis, Centropyge hotumatua, and Paracentropyge boylei rarely make it to the marketplace here in the US, and if they do, these fish are normally sold directly to an avid collector or public aquariums.
Regards,
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith