Abudefduf sexfasciatus

(Lacepede, 1801)

Scissortail Sergeant

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to Mozambique, east to Tuamotu Islands, north to Southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands.

Size: 7 inches (18 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky reefs and reef flats containing soft corals at depths between 3 to about 70 feet (1 – 20 m) and feeds on algae, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Rarely ever seen the trade and often a public aquarium species. Has a silvery body with four black vertical bands, black on the caudal peduncle, and black edging on the tail.

Best housed with dottybacks, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes, and triggerfishes.

As to diet, similar to other species in this genus - 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, etc., and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and be offered several times daily.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Labroidei

Family: Pomacentridae

Subfamily: Pomacentrinae

Genus: Abudefduf

FYI: Juveniles should be maintained in small groups, yet as they age, will quarrel with each other.

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: 100 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 84°F (23 – 29°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5