Common Name: Silver Mono / Silver Mooney / Natal Mooney

Species Name: Monodactylus argenteus (Linnaeus, 1758)


Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to Yaeyamas, south to New Caledonia and Australia


Size: Up to 10 in (25 cm)


Natural Environment: Inhabit mangrove areas in river mouths


General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 74 - 82°F (23 - 28°C). A brackish water fish that occasionally enter freshwater areas and feeds upon plankton and small fishes. Requires a varied diet of fresh and frozen foods, including some plant material. They should be maintained in large systems with plenty of swimming room with no aggressive tankmates.


Aquarium Suitability: * & * *


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* - Suited for the reef aquarium;
** - Better suited for the fish-only aquarium;
*** - Better left in nature;
**** - Needing an aquarium larger than 125 gallons; and,
***** - Needing their own private environment/special tankmates.