Range: Western Pacific Ocean: Cocos-Keeling Atoll, Palau, Fiji, Guam, and Indonesia

Size: up to 3 inches (8 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabit old coral heads, crevices, and caves in outer reef drop off areas and found at depths between 75 to 250 feet (25 - 80 m)

General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 77 - 82°F (25 - 28°C) and natural diet has not yet been determined. They are expensive when available, and those that have been placed in the aquarium have faired poorly. A very secretive fish requiring numerous hiding places, i.e., caves and overhangs, and nonaggressive tankmates. Possibly, a bare bottom tank containing much coral rubble and rocks forming caves and crevices might be the best environment for this fish. Reason being they also feed on detritus, and bare bottom tanks make it easier for them to access areas containing this medium. It's also quite easy to occasionally clean areas under loosely stacked rock and rubble in bare bottom tanks with the flow from a powerhead. Not safe with most stony corals. Unless you're willing to tend to its needs, it's better left in the wild.

Aquarium Suitability: * * *