Description
The Conspicuous Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus) is a medium-sized and extremely rare angelfish, often considered one of the “holy grails” of marine fish keeping. It originates from deep waters around Lord Howe Island, which makes it rarely collected and highly expensive in the aquarium trade.
Juveniles are relatively dull in coloration, with the area below the eye being dark brown that fades into a cream-colored back. A cream-white band is present at the base of the caudal fin. As the fish matures, it transforms into a striking showpiece: the body becomes rusty brown with an almost orange head. The dorsal and anal fins turn black with a bright bluish-white edge, while the anal fin also shows a yellow base. The mouth and pelvic fins become white, and one of the most distinctive features is the electric blue ring around the eyes and gill covers.
Like all angelfish, it is hermaphroditic, with the dominant individual becoming male in the absence of one. The Conspicuous Angelfish is generally peaceful but should not be housed with very small or significantly larger fish, or with other dwarf angelfish species.
In the wild, its diet consists heavily of sponges and tunicates. Wild-caught specimens often require sponge-rich live food to adapt, while captive-bred individuals are easier to train onto frozen and dry foods.
This species is not reef safe, and care should be taken with ornamental sponges, LPS corals, tube worms, and clams. However, a well-fed and varied diet including algae-based and meaty foods can help reduce unwanted nipping behavior.
