Midnight Angelfish

[ramous]

I recently saw a pygmy angelfish by the name of midnight angel but I was told it is called a few other names. I think the scientific name is Centropyge multispinus? Anyway, I was wondering if it was worth buying and putting into my reef tank. I have mostly softies and of course I have heard the horror stories of angels and corals. It is a pretty fish but if it is notorious for causing damage to corals then I will leave it in the lfs.

[Ninong]

I recently saw a pygmy angelfish by the name of midnight angel but I was told it is called a few other names. I think the scientific name is Centropyge multispinus?

The Midnight Angelfish (aka the Black Angelfish) is Centropyge nox. Centropyge multispinus, as the name implies, is the Multispined Angelfish. Both are very dark in coloration, as is a dark color morph of Centropyge bispinosa (The Two-Spined Angelfish, aka the Coral Beauty Angelfish).

According to Scott Michael, the Midnight Angelfish can behave aggressively towards some of its tankmates and will pick at large-polyped stony corals and some soft coral polyps (Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes, pages 246-247).

Anyway, I was wondering if it was worth buying and putting into my reef tank. I have mostly softies and of course I have heard the horror stories of angels and corals. It is a pretty fish but if it is notorious for causing damage to corals then I will leave it in the lfs.

All Centropyge angelfishes are risky but the Midnight Angelfish is riskier than most.

[ramous]

The multi-spined species is the one in question. Is it one of the 50/50 types?

[Ninong]

According to Scott Michael, Centropyge multispinis "will nip at some hard corals and tridacnid clams."

None of the dwarf angelfishes are completely reef-aquarium safe. C. argi is supposed to be the least risky. The two species that are most often available in the hobby are C. loriculus (Flame Angelfish) and C. bispinosa (Two-Spined or Coral Beauty Angelfish). Many people have tried these last two species in reef tanks. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. I had a Flame Angelfish in my reef tank for several weeks before it met an accidental death while I was away one day and I now have a Coral Beauty. Neither fish bothered any of my five clams or any of my corals. That is no guarantee. Some dwarf angelfish will cause problems right from the start, especially with open brains and clams, and others will be "perfect angels." I know one hobbyist in particular who has a Flame Angelfish in his 300-gal reef tank and it hasn't caused any problems in the more than 12 years it has been in there. They are also quite popular in European reef tanks.

That doesn't mean there is no risk. Even a fish that has been well behaved for years can suddently change and cause problems. I have to admit that I don't remember seeing anyone with a C. multispinis in a reef but I guess that's because they aren't as common as C. loriculus and C. bispinosa.

[ramous]

Yeah I kind of thought it was a rare fish because one I had never seen it before and 2 I couldn't find much info on it. It does resemble the Coral Beauty just a darker version. I may try it out but for now the lfs has it on hold for me for a couple of days. I decided to do that so I could find out more info on it. Thanks for your replies.