Stegastes aureus

(Fowler, 1927)

Golden Gregory

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: New Caledonia and the Gilbert, Line, Phoenix, Samoa, Tuamotu, and Marquesas Islands.

Size: 4 inches (11 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits reef flats and outer reef faces at depths between 3 to about 15 feet (1– 5 m) where juveniles feed on zooplankton, and adults mainly feed on filamentous algae and somewhat on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, yet attractive having a golden yellow body and fins, and a black spot at the base of the pectoral fins.

Best maintained in aquaria having live rock with growths of various forms of algae, hiding places, and somewhat aggressive tankmates, e.g., dottybacks, hawkfishes, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes.

As to diet, plant material (adults main food in the wild), e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and Nori, combined with most regular aquarium foods, 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., which would be mainly for juveniles, should be offered once or twice daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Pomacentridae

Subfamily: Pomacentrinae

Genus: Stegastes

FYI: One per aquarium, unless being maintained in large aquariums, >75 gallons.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Aggressive

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: 75 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5