Abudefduf vaigiensis

(Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)

Indo-Pacific Sergeant

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and eastern Africa, north to Southern Japan and south to Australia.

Size: 8 inches (20 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoon patch reefs, back reefs, reef channels and reef slopes at depths between 3 to about 40 feet (1 – 12 m) and feeds on algae, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Rarely collected for the trade. Has a light blue-green body with five vertical black bands.

Best housed with dottybacks, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes, and triggerfishes.

As to diet, similar to other species in this genus - a meaty diet, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and be offered several times daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Pomacentridae

Subfamily: Pomacentrinae

Genus: Abudefduf

FYI: Best maintained in small groups.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Feisty/belligerent

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 125 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 84°F (23 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5