Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

This species has a bold, highly territorial, and often aggressive temperament. They are not afraid to challenge fish much larger than themselves. Their active and feisty personality makes them a great addition to a tank with robust inhabitants.

Diet

Carnivore

They are strict carnivores that need a varied diet of meaty foods to thrive. Frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and finely chopped marine flesh are excellent choices. They can be trained to eat high-quality pellets, but these should be supplemented with frozen or live foods.

Sex ratio

Solitary

They should be kept singly in most aquariums due to severe conspecific aggression. If multiple individuals are kept together, they will likely fight until only one survives. Only known mated pairs should be kept together, and only in very large tanks.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

Feed them two to three times a day to keep up with their fast metabolism and high activity levels. Small, frequent meals are better than one large one, as it prevents food from rotting in the tank. Consistent feeding also helps slightly temper their aggressive nature.

Bioload

This fish has a moderate bioload that is easily managed in an established marine aquarium. The waste they produce from their frequent, protein-heavy meals needs to be processed by a good skimmer and biological filtration. Regular water changes are highly recommended to keep nitrates low.

Flow

Strong

A moderate to strong water flow is ideal for simulating their natural reef environment. The current helps keep the water oxygenated and encourages their natural darting swimming behavior. They will utilize caves to rest when they want to escape the stronger currents.

Jump risk

Yes

They are very prone to jumping, especially when chased or when establishing dominance. A tight-fitting lid or mesh screen over the aquarium is absolutely necessary. Make sure to cover all small openings, as they can fit through surprisingly tight spaces.

Reproduction

Oviparous

While difficult, captive breeding is possible; the male prepares a nest in a small cave. He will aggressively guard the eggs after spawning, fanning them to ensure oxygenation until they hatch. Raising the microscopic larvae is highly challenging and requires a steady supply of live rotifers.

Compatibility & tankmates

Territorial

They are semi-aggressive and will vigorously defend their territory within the rockwork. They are not suitable for tanks with peaceful, slow-moving fish, which they will likely harass. They do well with other moderately aggressive fish like larger wrasses, tangs, and certain damselfish.

Tank level

Middle/Bottom

They are bottom to mid-level dwellers, spending most of their time near the live rock. They use caves and crevices as their home base and territory. They rarely venture into the open water column near the top of the tank.