Range: Indo-Australian: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and the Great Barrier Reef

Size: up to 5 inches (12.5 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabit shallow coral rich inshore reef areas and seaward reefs

General Husbandry: Prefer a temperature range of 72 - 79°F (22 - 26°C). Feeds mostly upon benthic invertebrate. Requires a varied, yet mostly meaty diet with numerous daily feedings. Do not offer floating foods as it can cause buoyancy problems. Capable of releasing a toxin when older that can kill all fishes in the aquarium including itself. Stress from tankmates, competition during feeding, little swimming room can cause the release. Activated carbon will remove the toxin, however, it's usually too late to save it or its tankmates once it happens.

A slow moving fish, therefore, it should not be housed with fast moving and/or fin-nipping fishes.

Aquarium Suitability: * *