Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Pitcairn Islands (excluding Easter Island), north to Japan, south to Great Barrier Reef.
Size: 7 inches (18 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits deep sandy and rubble slopes and reef flats and usually found at depths between 30 to 150 feet (6 - 45 m) where it feeds mainly at benthic invertebrate and small fishes.
General Husbandry: Rarely in seen the trade yet attractive having an elongated whitish body with several red to brown spots along the back and mid to lower body several reddish spots, also along the body with the face a mottled brownish red.
Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums, which should contain various rocky areas where the species can take shelter if needing it, or perch/sit on and watch the activity of other tankmates or see where food enters the aquarium.
Even though this is one of the smallest in the genus and one of the more peaceful members in this family, it should still have moderately aggressive tankmates, as it does get feisty as it grows to adulthood.
As to diet, finely chopped meaty foods such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods and/or frozen carnivore foods with one feeding every other day.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Trachinoidei
Family: Pinguipedidae
Genus: Parapercis
FYI: Will eat small crustaceans/tubeworms.
Will defend its preferred sitting areas.
May annoy sessile invertebrates by sitting on them.
Cannot be trusted with very small fish such as Neon Gobies.
May harass other bottom dwellers.
If more than one is desired, all must be introduced at the same time, otherwise, one per aquarium.
Will jump out of uncovered aquariums.
Will also consume bristleworms.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive/Feisty
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Moderately aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 - 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5