Common name: Humphead bannerfish

General information

The Hawaiian Bannerfish, Heniochus varius, is a distinctive and elegant species known for its elongated white dorsal filament and striking black, white, and yellow coloration. It is a member of the butterflyfish family, Chaetodontidae, and is often admired for its graceful swimming style.

While it shares a resemblance with the closely related Heniochus acuminatus, the Hawaiian Bannerfish can be distinguished by its more rounded head profile and the pattern of its body stripes.

Care

Heniochus varius requires a spacious aquarium with plenty of swimming space and stable water conditions. They are generally peaceful but can be territorial with conspecifics or similar-looking species. A varied diet of meaty foods, including mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and other prepared marine diets, will help maintain their health and coloration.

Reproduction

In the wild, Hawaiian Bannerfish are pelagic spawners, releasing their eggs and sperm into the water column where fertilization occurs. The eggs are then left to drift with the currents. Captive breeding is not common, and most specimens in the aquarium trade are wild-caught.

Symbiosis

While not known for any specific symbiotic relationships, the Hawaiian Bannerfish may occasionally be seen picking parasites off larger fish, providing a cleaning service similar to that of cleaner wrasses.

Habitat

The natural habitat of the Hawaiian Bannerfish includes coral reefs and lagoons in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly around Hawaii, hence its common name. They are typically found at depths ranging from shallow waters to about 60 meters, often in pairs or small groups.