Equetus lanceolatus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Jackknife Fish, Ribbonfish

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: South Carolina and Bermuda south to Brazil, and also western Gulf of Mexico.

Size: 10 inches (25 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoon patch reefs, reef faces, fore-reef slopes and shallow grass beds and spends the daytime hours in caves and under ledges at depths between 50 to 130 feet (15 – 40 m) and feeds in the evening hours on shrimp, crabs, worms and various other benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade and quite attractive as a juvenile with the white body having a black eye band, a mid body slanted black band, and a black band extending from the top of the white dorsal to and onto the tail, which are both elongated. Adults are similar, except with a silvery body with smaller dorsal and tail fin.

Requires a large fish-only aquarium with wide-open swimming areas and areas/caves to take shelter during daytime hours or when feeling threatened. As to diet, newcomers are sometimes shy and often difficult to get feeding, therefore require fortified live brine shrimp and/or live glass/grass shrimp to get feeding. Once accepting aquarium foods, a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, fish flesh, scallops, shrimp, clam, etc.) can be offered and fed several times daily. Any ornamental crustaceans in the aquarium will also be consumed.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Sciaenidae

Genus: Equetus

FYI: May quarrel with others in the same genus.

Secretive and shy and require hiding areas.

Cannot compete with more aggressive species for food.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: No

Fish Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5