Stegastes variabilis

(Castelnau, 1855)

Cocoa Gregory

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and south to Brazil.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits inshore and offshore coral reefs at depths between 3 to about 100 feet (1– 30 m) where juveniles feed on zooplankton, and adults mainly feed on filamentous algae and somewhat on detritus.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade with the adult having a darkish yellow body, with juveniles having a brighter yellow body, with a dark blue eyespot edged in bright blue on the mid dorsal fin. Both have a small black spot on the upper caudal peduncle.

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: Will be very aggressive towards tankmates that are herbivores.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Semi-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 84°F (22 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5