Parupeneus barberinus
| Identification | A large goatfish, pale with a dark stripe from snout to tail and a black spot on the tail base, flushed with yellow along the back. It probes the sand with a pair of chin barbels. Also called the Dash-and-Dot Goatfish. |
|---|---|
| Maximum Length | about 12″ |
| Origin | Indo-Pacific |
| Minimum Tank Size | 125 Gal. |
| Reef Compatibility | Reef safe |
Behavior
A hardy, active sand-sifter that constantly plows the substrate with its barbels, naturally aerating and cleaning the sand bed. Peaceful, but it grows large and needs plenty of swimming room.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivore. It sifts sand for worms and small crustaceans; supplement with meaty foods (mysis, chopped seafood) and sinking pellets.
Cautions
Grows large and needs a big tank with a sand bed to sift — a bare bottom leaves it unable to forage. May eat small ornamental shrimp and worms. Peaceful otherwise.