Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Pseudupeneus

Pseudupeneus maculatus

(Bloch, 1793)

Spotted Goatfish

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: New Jersey to Bermuda and south to Rio de Janeiro Brazil.

Size: 12 inches (30 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoons, seaward reef faces and fore-reef slopes at depths between 3 - 300 feet (1 – 90 m) and mainly feeds on crabs, shrimps, worms, and small fishes.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, and has a silvery white body with three black patches along the mid body.

Best maintained in large fish-only aquariums with wide-open swimming and unencumbered substrate areas and with several areas to hide, as this is a shy species. As to diet, feed a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, scallops, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.) at least several times daily. Will also consume any ornamental crustaceans and small fishes in the aquarium.

May need live glass/ghost shrimp and live black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) to get feeding.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Percoidei

    Family: Mullidae

    Genus: Pseudupeneus

FYI: Mostly unsuitable for the average size hobbyist aquariums due to its physical size, and that it is not a sand sifter, but more a small fish eater/live crustaceans consumer.

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: 150+ gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 79°F (22 – 26°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Pseudupeneus maculatus (Spotted Goatfish)
Photo © Bob Fenner
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