Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to the Line Islands, Tuamotu, Japan, and New Caledonia, Marshall Islands

Size: Up to 9 in (21 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabit outer reef areas rich in coral growth at depths up to 180 feet (60 m)

General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 75 - 80°F (24 - 27°C) and has a natural diet of benthic invertebrate. Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, black worms and other meaty type frozen foods with two or three feedings per day. Provide hiding places and lots of swimming room. Sometimes bury themselves if frightened. Usually, they sleep under rock shelves, on or under a coral branch, in a crevice, or directly on the sand surface, however, providing a deep sandbed of about 3 inches (7.5 cm) of fine-grained sand would be a good idea. Juveniles providing a cleaning service. Since they mostly feed upon worms and crustaceans, they pose a danger in reef tanks.

Aquarium Suitability: * *