Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Mulloidichthys

Mulloidichthys flavolineatus

(Lacepede, 1801)

Yellowstripe Goatfish

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to Hawaii, Marquesan and Pitcairn Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands

Size: 17 inches (43 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoon patch reefs and shallow sandy slopes at depths between 3 - 100 feet (1 – 30 m) in small groups, then venturing out mainly during evening hours to feed on shrimp, crabs, worms, snails, bivalves, and small fishes.

General Husbandry: Rarely ever seen in the trade, and usually more a public aquarium species. Has a streamlined silvery body with a yellow horizontal band containing a black patch midway to the tail.

Best maintained in large fish-only aquariums with wide-open swimming and unencumbered substrate areas. As to diet, will learn to take food during the daytime, and will consume a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, scallops, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.), including any ornamental crustaceans and small fishes in the aquarium, and should be fed at least several times daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Percoidei

    Family: Mullidae

    Genus: Mulloidichthys

FYI: Will decimate aquarium benthic invertebrate population in a very short period of time.

Can jump out of uncovered aquariums.

May need deworming before being placed in an aquarium.

Basically unsuitable for most hobbyist aquariums.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: No

Fish Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons

Temperature Range: 70 - 79°F (21 – 26°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Mulloidichthys flavolineatus (Yellowstripe Goatfish)
Photo © John Randall
Site Supported in Part by:
Caribsea