Parupeneus barberinus

(Lacepede, 1801)

Dash and Dot Goatfish

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: East Africa south to South Africa and eastward to Line, Marquesas, and Tuamotu Islands, then north to Southern Japan, and south to Australia.

Size: 24 inches (60 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy and muddy lagoons and fore-reef slopes at depths between 15 - 300 feet (5 – 90 m) and ingests huge amounts of sand/mud to mainly feed on worms and crustaceans, and will also eat small fishes.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade due to its large size and that it makes a mess when feeding, which it through most of the day! Generally has a whitish body with a single black arched horizontal band beginning at the mouth and ending near the rear of the body. There’s also a black patch on the caudal peduncle. There are also two different colored phases, basically a yellowish body, and a reddish color when somewhat excited. Each have similar body markings.

Best maintained in very large fish-only aquariums with wide-open swimming and unencumbered substrate areas so it can use its barbels to sift through the sand, which it will do to depths of 4 inches (10 cm)!

As to diet, will consume a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, scallops, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.), including any ornamental crustaceans and possibly very small fishes in the aquarium, and should be fed at least several times daily. Live glass/ghost shrimp, live black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), and sinking shrimp pellets are also welcomed foodstuffs

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Mullidae

Genus: Parupeneus

FYI: Unsuitable for most hobbyist aquariums because of its large size and that it makes a mess of the substrate.

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: No

Fish Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 300+ gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 79°F (22 – 26°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5