Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Pakistan to Papua New Guinea, north to Southern Japan, south to Australia.
Size: 7 inches (17 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits protected lagoon reefs at depths between 3 to about 30 feet (1 – 10 m) and usually seen in small groups, and feeds on algae, snails and small crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Even though somewhat attractive, very rarely seen the trade because as with all in this genus, not a good community fish in most home aquariums. Has a yellowish body with six vertical black bands.
Its best housed with dottybacks, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes, and triggerfishes.
As to diet, a meaty diet, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina should be offered several times daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Pomacentrinae
Genus: Abudefduf
FYI: Best maintained in small groups and not with peaceful tankmates.
Unsuitable for most home aquariums.
Shown here basically for identification purposes.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Feisty/belligerent
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 84°F (23 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5