Parupeneus pleurostigma

(Bennett, 1831)

Sidespot Goatfish

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Hawaii, Line, Marquesas, and Tuamotu Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands.

Size: 13 inches (33 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy patches in lagoons and reef faces at depths between 3 - 400 feet (1 – 120 m) and feeds on shrimp, crabs, urchins, brittle stars, worms, snails, bivalves, and small fishes.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, and having a whitish body with a large black spot on the mid body, hence its common name.

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.

Sometimes difficult to get feeding, and if so, live glass/ghost shrimp and live black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) should be offered several times daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Mullidae

Genus: Parupeneus

FYI: Mostly unsuitable for the average size hobbyist aquariums due to its physical size.

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: 72 - 84°F (22 – 29°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5