Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Symphorus

Symphorus nematophorus

(Bleeker, 1860)

Chinaman Fish

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Western Pacific Ocean: Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, north to Southern Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 40 inches (100 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits deep lagoons, reef faces and reef slopes at depths between 6 to 150 feet (2 – 45 m) and feeds mainly on small fish, but also worms, crabs, and shrimp.

General Husbandry: Quite attractive as a juvenile, yet somewhat unattractive as an adult. Rarely ever seen in the trade, and if so, as a juvenile when it has a yellow body lined with several blue horizontal bands, an elongated filament on the dorsal. Most of that diminishes as it ages, with the body turning blotchy reddish. Not purposely collected for the hobby as its simply too active and large for home aquariums!

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Percoidei

    Family: Lutjanidae

    Genus: Symphorus

FYI: Shown here for identification only.

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Active

Diet: Carnivore

Minimum Tank Size: 600+ gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 84°F (22 – 29°C)

 Symphorus nematophorus (Chinaman Fish)
Photo © David Cook
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