Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Myripristis

Myripristis amaena

(Castelnau, 1873)

Brick Soldierfish, Black Soldierfish

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Southern Japan south to Indonesia, Philippines, and Hawaiian Islands, and throughout Micronesia.

Size: 10 inches (25 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits caves on reef flats and seaward reefs and can be found at depths between 6 - 150 feet (2 - 45 m) during daylight hours, and feeds at night mainly on zooplankton, yet also somewhat on crustaceans and worms.

General Husbandry: Commonly collected for the trade, especially in the Hawaiian Islands. This large eye species has a reddish colored body and fins.

Best maintained in aquariums with several caves/hiding areas large enough to house the adult-sized specimen, as those in this family grow to adulthood quite fast. The aquarium should also be dimly lit, as this is a nocturnal species, preferring to hide throughout daytime hours and feed at night. If maintained in a brightly lit aquarium, i.e., reef aquarium, it should also have sufficient caves as noted above, but will be far less visible in daylight hours. Even though quite docile and peaceful, tankmates should be large enough so as not to be eaten.

Requires a meaty diet such as enriched chopped fish or shrimp flesh, mysis, frozen brine shrimp, and/or frozen carnivore foods with one or two feedings per day.

May be difficult to feed in the early days in the aquarium due to its nocturnal feeding habits, and if so, live foods, e.g., live enriched brine shrimp, grass shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), baby mollies and/or guppies should be offered. Over time, it will learn to accept frozen foods like mysis, krill and brine shrimp more readily when offered to others in the aquarium.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Beryciformes

    Suborder: Holocentroidei

    Family: Holocentridae

    Genus: Myripristis

FYI: Best maintained in small groups if the aquarium is large enough.

Can become bullies if their quarters are too small.

Will eat ornamental shrimp.

Sensitive to tapping on aquarium side panels.

Should not be captured with a net, as their large eye can easily be damaged. Use a proper size container.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Myripristis amaena (Brick Soldierfish, Black Soldierfish)
Photo © John Randall
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