The Potter’s angelfish (Centropyge potteri) is a striking reef fish endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago, highly sought after by aquarists for its vibrant colors and unique characteristics. This research documents the first commercial aquaculture success and larval growth of Potter’s angelfish, providing critical data for future larviculture research of this species and other reef fishes. By iteratively optimizing larval feeding regimes, the project enhanced the survival rates of Potter’s angelfish larvae, monitoring morphometric data and survival rates. Larval development closely followed other Centropyge species, with flexion beginning between 14-17 days post hatch (dph) and completed by 21 dph followed by settlement behaviors observed at ~60 dph. Survival rates to settlement, varying between 0% and 0.6%, were critically influenced by strategic adjustments in feeding schedules to mitigate acute mortality points.
Spawning was observed in captivity following lunar cycles, with broodstock producing viable eggs nightly from December 2022 to May 2024. Larval rearing trials examined six feeding protocols across various tank volumes, stocking densities, and diet compositions.
Early developmental stages were characterized, revealing critical points for feed transitions and vulnerabilities. Flexion began at 14–17 dph, with post-flexion larvae exhibiting increased body depth and pigmentation. The study observed consistent mortality events during feed transitions, particularly with newly hatched Artemia and dry feeds. These events were mitigated by delayed introductions of Artemia, reducing mortality rates linked to digestive challenges in pre-flexion larvae.
Adult copepods and continuous live algae proved essential for supporting larval development. Larger tanks (1000 L) improved larval survival and reduced stress events compared to smaller volumes (200 L), likely due to stable environmental conditions. Protocol adjustments informed by these findings underscore the importance of diet composition and environmental stability in improving larval survival rates. Future research should explore pathogen control and further optimize diet transitions to advance the commercial viability of C. potteri aquaculture. This work has broader implications for sustainable aquarium trade practices, contributing to reef conservation efforts by reducing wild capture pressures on wild populations