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Rusty angelfish, photographed on a transparent background

ReefIn the market420 coinsUncommon

Rusty angelfish

Centropyge ferrugata

It shuttles between crevices grazing hair algae and guards its patch.

The Rusty angelfish (Centropyge ferrugata) is a tropical marine fish of the family Pomacanthidae. It lives on and around reefs, between 6 and 30 m deep. Adults grow to about 9 cm; the largest on record measured 10 cm (total length). In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 120 cm long and water at 23–27 °C.

Size
9 cm
Smallest tank
120 cm
Temperature
23–27 °C
Care
Moderate

In the aquarium

Temperature23–27 °C
pH7.8–8.5
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Moderate
Water layer
Mid water
Group
Lives on its own
Coral
Nips corals
Drawn to scale in a 120 cm tank

These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.

Which tank it fits

  • Nano60 cm · 65 litresToo small
  • Standard90 cm · 180 litresToo small
  • Wide120 cm · 300 litres25 of them
  • Living room180 cm · 650 litres54 of them
  • Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres100 of them
  • Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres120 of them

Who it lives with

In the wild

Water type
Marine
Climate zone
Tropical
Habitat
Coral and rocky reefs
Largest on record
10 cmtotal length
Aquarium trade
Traded commercially

Depth

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderAcanthuriformes
  2. FamilyPomacanthidae
  3. GenusCentropyge
  4. SpeciesCentropyge ferrugata

In other languages

German
Rostbrauner Zwergkaiserfisch
Spanish
Ángel oxidado
French
Poisson-ange nain rouille
Italian
Pesce angelo ossidato
Japanese
アカハラヤッコ

Quick answers

Rusty angelfish size: how big does it get?
Adults reach about 9 cm. The largest on record measured 10 cm (total length). Record sizes among the 12 Centropyge species on LumaReef: 8 cm (Cherub angelfish) to 19 cm (Keyhole Angelfish).
Rusty angelfish tank size: what is the minimum?
A tank at least 120 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Wide tank or larger.
Rusty angelfish water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 23–27 °C, pH 7.8–8.5. Close to what most Centropyge on LumaReef need (23–27 °C).
Rusty angelfish tank mates: what can it live with?
It gets along with 56 of the 99 reef species in the catalogue, such as Pink skunk clownfish, Flame wrasse, and Randall's shrimpgoby.
Rusty angelfish: alone or in a group?
It can be kept on its own.
Rusty angelfish and corals: is it reef safe?
No, it may nip at corals.
Rusty angelfish depth: how deep does it live?
In the wild, 6 to 30 m down. Shallower than most Centropyge on LumaReef (3–60 m).

All Pomacanthidae speciesAll species A–Z

Sources

Rusty angelfish: compiled from these references.