Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Pempheris

Pempheris schwenkii

Bleeker, 1855

Black-stripe Sweeper

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Fiji, north to Philippines, and south to Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 6 inches (15 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coral overhangs and caves during daytime at 15 to 130 depths and feeds on zooplankton during evening hours.

General Husbandry: Does not appear to be available in the trade. Has a tan-yellowish body and fins, large head and eye, with the anal fin edged in black.

Would be best maintained in in small groups in low light fish-only or reef aquariums with many caves and overhangs and wide-open swimming areas. As to diet, initially feed fortified live brine shrimp and live ghost/glass shrimp. Once feeding normally, a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (finely chopped squid, scallops, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.) can be fed several times daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Percoidei

    Family: Pempheridae

    Genus: Pempheris

FYI: Known to be quite susceptible to skin parasites.

Known to be a poor shipper.

Very possibly best left in the wild.

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only or reef 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

 Pempheris schwenkii (Black-stripe Sweeper)
Photo © Richard Field
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