Acanthurus pyroferus

[JonasRoman]

Hi. I am fasinated over the Acanthurus pyroferus that it mimics a centropyge when its juvenil. That Centropyge that seems to be where its coming from.

Anyone have experience how long it takes to convert to the "real" acanthurus pyroferus, and how long takes the transformation? And, have all pyroferus same end appearance despite which centropyge they mimic when young?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi. I am fasinated over the Acanthurus pyroferus that it mimics a centropyge when its juvenil. That Centropyge that seems to be where its coming from.

Anyone have experience how long it takes to convert to the "real" acanthurus pyroferus, and how long takes the transformation? And, have all pyroferus same end appearance despite which centropyge they mimic when young?

A. pyroferus is most commonly seen as a mimic of the lemonpeel angelfish, Centropyge flavissimus. I've also seen them as a mimic of the heralds angelfish (lacking the blue eye ring) C. heraldi. Oddly, in some locations, they mimic the 1/2 black angelfish, C. vroliki. There is also a reference that in Australia, they mimic the bicolor angel, but I've never seen that.

Acanthurus tristis mimics the eibli angelfish.

I don't know the exact size that these fish begin to change to their adult form, but it is commonly thought that as they reach the maximum size of their Centropyge model, they begin to change.....the adults I've had all looked pretty much the same, but I've never grown up the vroliki mimic tang.