Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Philippines to the Society Islands, north to the Marshall Islands and south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits deep caves on seaward reefs and steep drop-offs at about 150 feet (45 m) during daylight hours, and ascends at night to shallow areas where it feeds on crustaceans and small fishes.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, having a mostly dark brown body with darkish fins with a white dotted line the length of the body and a white photophore located just below each eye.
Best maintained in dimly lit aquariums with several caves/hiding are and few tankmates, as they are quite shy. Often frightened by the movements of other very active fishes, or even that of traffic outside the aquarium.
May be difficult to get feeding, and if so, live foods, e.g., live enriched brine shrimp, grass shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), baby mollies and/or guppies should be offered. Over time, frozen foods like mysis, krill and brine shrimp may be more readily accepted and be fed once or twice a day.
Taxonomy:
Order: Beryciformes
Suborder: Trachichthyoidei
Family: Anomalopidae
Genus: Photoblepharon
FYI: Best maintained in small groups.
Must have several caves/hiding areas.
Squrrelfishes, soldierfishes, and cardinalfishes make good tankmates, yet flashlight fish should always be introduced first into the aquarium.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 75+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 78°F (22 – 26°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5