Common name: Sixline soapfish

Scientific name: Grammistes sexlineatus (Thunberg, 1792)
Sixline Soapfish (Grammistes sexlineatus), Red Sea, Dahab, Egypt, AfricaSixstriped soapfish
Six lined soapfish, Grammistes sexlineatus, Raja Ampat Indonesiasixstriped soapfish (grammistes sexlineatus)

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
ExtinctThreatenedLeastConcern

Taxonomy

  1. Kingdom
    Animals
    Animalia
  2. Phylum
    Chordates
    Chordata
  3. Class
    Ray-finned Fishes
    Actinopterygii
  4. Order
    Perch-like Fishes
    Perciformes
  5. Family
    Groupers
    Serranidae
  6. Genus
    Striped Soapfish
    Grammistes
  7. Species
    Sixline soapfish
    Grammistes sexlineatus (Thunberg, 1792)
  8. Synonyms
    Grammistes orientalis Bloch & Schneider, 1801
    Perca sexlineata Thunberg, 1792
    Sciaena vittata Lacepède, 1802
    Scianea 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.