Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Heniochus

Heniochus intermedius

Steindachner, 1893

Red Sea Bannerfish

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Size: 8 inches (20 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits reef crests, reef faces, and fore-reef slopes at depths between 10 – 150 feet (3 – 45 m) and feeds mainly on zooplankton, yet also some stony coral polyps, worms, small crustaceans, sea squirts, and various benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Quite attractive, hardy and somewhat common in the trade, having a yellowish body with two large black slightly diagonal bands, black crown connecting the eyes, with the leading edge of dorsal extended into a somewhat long white filament. Remaining dorsal is yellow, as are the pectoral, anal and caudal fins, and black pelvic fins.

Easily maintained in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, live rock to browse on, and having some micro and macroalgae growths.

As to diet, not a difficult species to get feeding in captivity as it will feed on a wide range of regular aquarium foodstuffs. Yet keep in mind its basically a meat eater in the wild, therefore begin with various frozen meaty foods such as mysis and enriched brine shrimp, and feed several times daily. And even though mostly a meat eater, flake foods/frozen herbivore foods, especially those containing Spirulina and/or Nori should also be occasionally offered.

Small human consumption clams/black mussels purchased in local grocery stores and placed on the half-shell in the aquarium, enriched live brine shrimp and live black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) should be considered healthy additional treats!

Can be maintained with others its genus, or as a mated pair, yet all should be introduced at the same time.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Percoidei

    Family: Chaetodontidae

    Genus: Heniochus

FYI: Pressing some soft foods into openings/crevices on a piece of old dead coral skeleton can sometimes encourage finicky eaters to begin feeding.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Only with soft corals, then with caution

Invertebrate Safe: No

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Heniochus intermedius (Red Sea Bannerfish)
Photo © Bob Fenner
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