Neoniphon sammara

(Forsskal, 1775)

Bloodspot Squirrelfish, Blooddrop Squirrelfish, Sammara Squirrelfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesan and Ducie Islands, north to Southern Japan, Hawaiian Islands, and south to northern Australia and Lord Howe Islands.

Size: 12 inches (30 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits patch reef and seagrass beds in sheltered lagoons, usually near holes and caves, at depths between 6 - 150 feet (2 - 45 m) and feeds mainly on crabs, shrimp, and worms.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, having a pinkish color above the midbody line, with silvery below.

One of the few in this family that can be maintained in well lit aquariums, as it spends most of its time in the wild in the open. Nevertheless, several caves/hiding, where it can hide when wanting to do that, should be provided. Tankmates must be large enough not to be eaten, as they will also consume smaller fishes.

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: Neoniphon

FYI: Best maintained in small groups.

Will eat ornamental shrimp.

Sensitive to tapping on aquarium side panels.

Fast growing from juveniles to adults.

Has spines on their head and gills, which can come entangled in nets and also a large preopercular spine, which can inflict a wound if mishandled by the aquarist.

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: 125 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5