Calling all Centropyge keepers: Longevity of Centropyge angels in captivity

[jaganshi066]

My fish list is
2 clowns spawning
Algae blenny
2 diamond gobies
Cortez wrasse 4”
Bird wrasse 6”
One spot foxface 4.5”
Huma huma 3.5”
Pbrowntang 2.5”
Kole tang 4”
Desjardini tang 6”
Emperor angel 5”
Flame back who honestly is the most aggressive

For some reason my flameback that I’ve had for a year is crazy aggressive

 

[guylaga]

1. C. Argi
2. At least 7 years old, got it in 2013
3. Yes still alive. About 2.5 inches missing one of his pelvic fins and gets in to it with my Starry Blenny occasionally but perfectly healthy otherwise.

 

[Zionas]

Wow nice. How big was yours when you got it? Any struggles with disease or aggression from other fish?

 

[guylaga]

Wow nice. How big was yours when you got it? Any struggles with disease or aggression from other fish?

Not sure if your asking me or not.

Mine was about 1" maybe 1.5" when purchased. Its probably the smallest fish in my tank after the damsels.

No issues with aggression nor disease.

 

[tnw50cal]

In general, smaller size mean shorter lifespan. Not always hold true. A lot of the parrots (bird) are not too big but many live over 50 years, about as long as a Elephant. Preliminary, from my search, smaller angels seem to have shorter lifespan than the larger ones, at least in the wild. This may or may not hold true in captivity.

Dusky Headed conure---27 years(small parrot)
Red Ear Slider--25 years(turtle)
Longest lived German Shepherd 12 years(on number 5 in life right now-pure black-Macy May)
Half Black angelfish 8 years(that was decades ago)

 

[driftin]

Centropyge aurantonotus (Brazilian Flameback)
Had a pair, purchased as juveniles. One lived ~11 years and the other (female, IIRC) lived to 13 years. Both were extremely hardy.

 

[ApoIsland]

hey, so my Bicolor C. bicolor) has been doing very well in my 55. Probably 4-5 years now. Still hides a lot but hangs with the yellow tang, will not stay still for good pic here is ok one

You can use your phone to take a video of the fish swimming around and then pause the video and go frame by frame looking for the perfect shot and then take a screen shot. Works much better than trying to catch the exact moment for a good photo.

 

[jaganshi066]

Dusky Headed conure---27 years(small parrot)
Red Ear Slider--25 years(turtle)
Longest lived German Shepherd 12 years(on number 5 in life right now-pure black-Macy May)
Half Black angelfish 8 years(that was decades ago)

I have a sun conure and my favorite is the caique. He’s so playful but he cost a good amount of money haha. I think they live up to 40 years

 

[00W]

Coral beauty.
About 4 years old.
He's still alive and the second most aggressive fish I've ever had. Will take on anything, any size. Eats everything but what I want him too.
Always trailing poop. Super super healthy never had a problem.
I had two half blacks.
Both got ich.
One didn't make it, the other I had for years until a powerhead got him.

 

[Zionas]

Were your Half Blacks reef safe? Would you say they’re a bit less hardy than the Coral Beauty?

 

[Zionas]

What size were thy at the time of purchase? I find it amazing how such small fish live 10+ years.

 

[Zionas]

You know it’s a bit astonishing when you think about the fact that some of the fish we keep regularly outlive many dog breeds. Most big dog breeds seem to top out at 15 years (I love Samoyeds and English Shepherds) but then we hear about people with 20+ year old Clownfish and Tangs.

 

[Zionas]

@OrionN What age would you say a 2.5-3” Flame Back is? I know it’s fully grown at that size but would you say I am getting an older fish several years most likely?

 

[Dbichler]

I got mine at 1.5-2 inches grew to 3 in under a year and stopped growing if that helps if you get a 3 inch then it could be 7

 

[Zionas]

You mean a 7 year old fish?

 

[Dbichler]

Yes mine is 6 and still going great no size change in 5 years

 

[Zionas]

Ouch, that’s the size my LFS gets them in, at least this batch. They also list a size of up to 4”, is it possible for a Flameback to get to 4”?

I’m going to ask them to see if they could get them any smaller, if not do you think there’s a good chance a 2.5-3” incher might not have many years left in it?

 

[Dbichler]

Honestly mine went from a 29 bio cube to my 210 and hasn’t grown I’m guessing it’s maxed out since it’s been in the 210 for 2 years

 

[driftin]

That was my experience - hit that 3-4" size (I'm guessing, it certainly wasn't bigger than that) pretty quickly and stopped growing. But I still had a good decade with them once fully grown.

 

[00W]

I never had a problem with any of them eating coral. But I've always just had softies.
Yes I would say the half blacks are a little more fragile I guess. They all ate like pigs. The half blacks were a lot more mellow.