Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Fiji and north to Southern Japan and south to Queensland, Australia.
Size: 2 inches (4 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow coastal reefs and drop-offs often amongst boulders and bommies, and usually found at depths between 15 to about 150 feet (5 – 45 m) where it feeds mainly on small fishes and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Rarely available in the trade, having a mottled tan-reddish body.
Best maintained in aquaria with some rocky caves and peaceful tankmates. Highly secretive.
As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and should be offered at least twice daily and dispensed upstream so water currents carry food to their location.
Sometimes difficult to get feeding, and if so, fortified live adult brine shrimp may be necessary to get them feeding.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Anthiinae
Genus: Plectranthias
FYI: A hawkfish-like species dwelling on substrates waiting for a meal to come close enough to be captured and eaten.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: Yes
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 78°F (22 – 26°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5