Parupeneus forsskali

(Fourmanoir & Gueze, 1976)

Red Sea Goatfish

Range: Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, also through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean.

Size: 10 inches (25 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal sand flats and sandy patches on offshore reefs at depths between 3 - 100 feet (1 – 30 m) and mainly feeds in small groups on worms and small crustaceans.

General Husbandry: Rarely ever collected for the trade. Quite attractive as it has a silvery body with a lengthwise black band beginning at the mouth going rearwards to the yellow caudal peduncle, which has a small black spot.

Best maintained in large fish-only aquariums with wide-open swimming and unencumbered substrate areas. As to diet, feed a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, scallops, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.) at least several times daily. Will also consume any ornamental crustaceans and small fishes in the aquarium.

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: Will decimate aquarium benthic invertebrate population in a very short period of time.

Best maintained in small groups.

Experience Level: Intermediate

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: 150+ gallons

Temperature Range: 68 - 79°F (20 – 26°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5