Page 272 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

270 MARINE FISH DIRECTORY

BATFISH Platax batavianus

Humpback Batfish

ORIGINS Ranges from the vicinity of southern Japan
These unusually deep-bodied fish down through Indonesia to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
need an aquarium at least 24 in SIZE 26 in (65 cm).
DIET Fresh or thawed meat-based foods.
(60 cm) deep and wide. Young WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline
(pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.021–1.024.
batfish are far more colorful than TEMPERAMENT Intolerant.
adults, and, once established in their Although the Humpback
is less commonly
quarters, they grow fast. Despite available than other
their size, they are not aggressive batfish, its care does not
pose any particular
toward unrelated fish, but they problems. It may be necessary
to feed these fish on live brine
should be kept apart from species shrimp at first, until they
adapt to a more varied
that might nip their elaborate fins. diet, so be sure to
have sufficient
Large batfish can prove very cultures set up for this
destructive in a reef aquarium. purpose. Their mouths
are small for their size, and
this should be reflected in
Although batfish, such as these Orbicularis the type of food offered.
Batfish (Platax orbicularis), occur in shoals
in the wild, they are not suited to group living Fins have a tassled
in the aquarium and need to be kept singly. appearance

Platax orbicularis Platax pinnatus Platax teira
Orbicularis Batfish Pinnate Batfish Tiera Batfish

ORIGINS Ranges from the Red Sea to the eastern Pacific, ORIGINS Ranges from East Africa and the Red Sea to the ORIGINS From the Red Sea through the Indo-Pacific,
as far as Papua New Guinea. central area of the Indo-Pacific region. and beyond Indonesia to the east coast of Australia.
SIZE 20 in (51 cm). SIZE 16 in (41 cm). SIZE 25 in (63 cm).
DIET Thawed marine foods, such as lobster eggs. DIET Live brine shrimp; thawed marine foods. DIET Varied marine foods.
WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline
(pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.021–1.024. (pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.021–1.024. (pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.021–1.024.
TEMPERAMENT Best kept apart from other batfish. TEMPERAMENT Safe with nonaggressive, larger fish. TEMPERAMENT Do not keep with invertebrates.
The dorsal, anal, and ventral fins of Pinnate Batfish are harder to The Tiera Batfish has a
Orbicularis Batfish become shorter as establish in the aquarium than distinctive rounded face.
they grow older. As juveniles, these others, which is unfortunate Like other batfish, it relies
fish inhabit mangrove swamps, in view of their spectacular on its appearance for
where their unusual elongated appearance. It is difficult to camouflage when it is
appearance, complete with wean them onto a varied young, looking much
brown barring on the body, diet of inert foods. Keeping like a mangrove leaf
helps to disguise their them on their own should drifting in the water. It
presence among the help, and they may “plays dead” and floats
mangrove roots. As they eventually become tame on its side if danger
grow older, they move enough to take food threatens and will
to a reef habitat. They from the fingers. often behave in this
become more grayish in The red edging fashion after being
appearance and change around their bodies transferred to new
significantly in shape to a disappears with age. aquarium surroundings.
more disklike outline. Good The red edging makes the This is a normal reaction,
water quality is important to fish resemble an inedible and should not be taken
ensure healthy fins flatworm (Platyhelminth) as a cause for concern.
Juvenile in these fish. when lying horizontally

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