Ptereleotris zebra

(Fowler, 1938)

Zebra Dartfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to the Line and Marquesas Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to the southern Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow hard bottom on exposed seaward reefs where it is often seen as a schooling species near caves, and usually found at depths between 6 – 15 feet (2 – 5 m) where it feeds upon zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, having an elongated pale greenish body with numerous vertical orange narrow bands.

Can be maintained in either fish-only or reef aquariums having numerous hiding places, e.g., rocky crevices and a finely grained deep sand bed for hiding when threatened or sleeping at night. Will hover in open water, yet near the safety of an area where it can quickly retreat if threatened.

Should not be housed with aggressive fishes such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or aggressive angelfishes.

Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and other meaty type marine fresh or frozen foods, which should be finely chopped and dispensed upstream so the water current brings the food to within the area it inhabits. Needs two feedings per day.

If difficult to get feeding in the beginning, try some live foods, such as adult fortified brine shrimp.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Microdesmidae

Genus: Ptereleotris

FYI: One per tank unless a mated pair. Those in small groups will often chase each other causing injuries or death.

Colors fade if it has an inadequate/varied diet.

Covered aquariums are required as this a good jumper.

Naturally faces into the current to capture zooplankton.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5