Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: southern Florida and the Caribbean to Belize

Size: Up to 2 inches (5 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabit coral heads at depths of 3 to 120 feet

General Husbandry: Prefer a water temperature between 72 to 79°F (22 - 27°C). Natural diet consists mainly zooplankton. Requires a meaty diet, i.e., enriched brine shrimp, mysis, finely chopped fish or shrimp flesh, and other various frozen carnivore foods, with one or two feedings per day. They should not be housed with aggressive fishes such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or aggressive angelfishes. Extremely popular, yet their normal life span is extremely short compared to other marine fishes, usually about one to two years. They are a cleaner fish, and will pick parasites off larger fishes. Captive bred specimens available.

Aquarium Suitability: *