Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Abudefduf

Abudefduf taurus

(Muller & Troschel, 1848)

Night Sergeant

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: southern Florida and the Caribbean; Eastern Atlantic Ocean: Cape Verde and from Senegal to Angola.

Size: 10 inches (25 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow inshore rocky reefs at depths between 3 to about 15 feet (1 – 5 m) and feeds on algae, benthic invertebrates and occasionally soft corals (zoanthids).

General Husbandry: Not purposely collected for the trade. Quite drab, having a yellowish body with five vertical black bands.

Would be 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: Highly territorial.

Unsuitable for home aquariums.

Shown here for identification.

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Feisty/belligerent

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 84°F (23 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Abudefduf taurus (Night Sergeant)
Photo © John Randall
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