Echeneis naucrates

Linnaeus, 1758

Sharksucker

Range: Worldwide in tropical and somewhat subtropical seas.

Size: 43 inches (100 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coral reefs as both a free swimmer and attached to various hosts at depths between 10 to 300 feet (3 – 90 m) and feeds on its host’s parasites meaty scraps of flesh from its host’s attacks on other fish, bivalves, squid, octopuses, shrimp, crabs, and small fishes.

General Husbandry: Rarely ever seen in the trade. Has a very thin, elongated greyish body with a lengthwise black band edged in white and a black tail with white top and bottom edging.

Best maintained in large aquariums with wide-open swimming areas.

As to diet, feed a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, scallops, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.) several times daily. Will also consume small fishes and various crustaceans in the aquarium.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Echeneidae

Genus: Echeneis

FYI: Can safely be hand fed.

Does not need a host to survive.

Can annoy other species in the aquarium.

Will often attached to aquarium side panels.

Better suited for shark and ray aquariums.

Unsuitable for most hobbyist aquariums.

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Aggressive

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: 200+ gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 84°F (22 – 29°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.010 -1.025

pH: 7.2 - 8.5