Common name: Sixline soapfish
General information
The Six-line Soapfish, Grammistes sexlineatus, is a distinctive and attractive species known for its six horizontal stripes running the length of its body. This fish is a member of the Serranidae family, which includes groupers and sea basses. It has a unique defense mechanism; when threatened, it can secrete a toxic mucus from its skin to deter predators.
Details
- Recommended minimum tank volume
- 200 liter (53 gallons)
- Salinity
- S.G. 1.020 to 1.025
- Temperature
- 24 to 28 °C (75 to 82 °F)
- Acidity
- pH 8.1 to 8.4
- Average size
- 30 cm (1′)
- Care level
- Moderate to easy Needs hiding places and live food
- Diet
- Carnivore Prefers live food, can adapt to frozen
- Social
- Solo Territorial, best kept alone
- Reefsafe
- No May eat small fish and inverts
- Aggression
- Semi aggresive Aggressive, especially when mature
- Captive bred
- No
- Conservation statusSource: IUCN Red List
Taxonomy
- KingdomAnimalsAnimalia
- PhylumChordatesChordata
- ClassRay-finned FishesActinopterygii
- OrderPerch-like FishesPerciformes
- FamilyGroupersSerranidae
- GenusStriped SoapfishGrammistes
- SpeciesSixline soapfishGrammistes sexlineatus (Thunberg, 1792)
- SynonymsGrammistes orientalis Bloch & Schneider, 1801Perca sexlineata Thunberg, 1792Sciaena vittata Lacepède, 1802Scianea vittata Lacepède, 1802
Care
The Six-line Soapfish requires a spacious aquarium with plenty of hiding places and a tightly sealed lid, as they are known to be skilled jumpers. They are carnivorous and should be fed a varied diet of meaty foods such as shrimp, squid, and fish flesh. It's important to note that they may eat smaller tank mates, so they should only be housed with larger, non-aggressive fish.
Reproduction
In the wild, soapfish are thought to be pelagic spawners, releasing their eggs and sperm into the water column where fertilization occurs. However, breeding in the home aquarium is rare and not well documented.
Habitat
Grammistes sexlineatus is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, and from the Izu Islands south to Australia. They prefer reef environments and are often found in lagoons and on outer reef slopes, typically at depths ranging from 1 to 30 meters.