Cetoscarus bicolor

(Ruppell, 1829)

Bicolor Parrotfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to the Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 36 inches (90 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits clear lagoons and outer reef areas and usually found at depths between 3 – 100 feet (1 – 30 m) where it feeds on algae covered shellfishes, encrusting algae and live stony corals.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade because juveniles are very colorful/attractive as they have a whitish body and tail with an orange, wide band edged in black on the head, and a black spot on the dorsal. As they grow into adulthood, becomes overall green with various tannish orange spots.

Not suitable for almost all home aquariums because they simply get too large and their diet of solely ‘green’ matter is quite difficult to adequately supply.

Nevertheless, should be maintained in a large fish-only aquariums, possibly having excesses of algae, and have wide-open swimming areas. Best maintained with peaceful tankmates.

As to diet, these are herbivores, and plaster of Paris stones that contain seaweed and algae are useful for providing the grazing effect, and also sheets of dry algae, live macroalgae, and various prepared foods containing algae, especially Spirulina and should be available throughout the day or at least fed several times daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Scaridae

Subfamily: Scarinae

Genus: Cetoscarus

FYI: Sometimes seen listed as Cetoscarus ocellatus.

Cute when small, but grows quickly and changes into a completely different color pattern. Even though still attractive, they are far too large for most hobbyist aquariums.

Rarely live for lengthy periods in captivity.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Herbivore

Coral Safe: No

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 500+ gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5