Common name: Purple-brown parrotfish
General information
The Midnight Parrotfish, Scarus fuscopurpureus, is a vibrant and intriguing species known for its ability to change colors throughout its life stages. Juveniles typically exhibit a dark brown to black coloration, while adults can develop a mix of purple, blue, and green hues. This species is part of the parrotfish family, which plays a crucial role in the health of coral reefs by grazing on algae and helping to prevent algal overgrowth.
Details
- Recommended minimum tank volume
- 500 liter (130 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
- 45 cm (1′6″)
- Care level
- Moderate to easy Needs ample swimming space
- Diet
- Herbivore Algae-based diet; supplements beneficial
- Social
- Solo Can be territorial; best kept alone
- Reefsafe
- No May nip at corals and clams
- Aggression
- Semi aggresive Territorial, especially with conspecifics
- Captive bred
- No
Taxonomy
- KingdomAnimalsAnimalia
- PhylumChordatesChordata
- ClassRay-finned FishesActinopterygii
- OrderPerciformesPerciformes
- FamilyParrotfishScaridae
- GenusParrotfishScarus
- SpeciesPurple-brown parrotfishScarus fuscopurpureus (Klunzinger, 1871)
- SynonymsPseudoscarus collana eques Steindachner, 1903Pseudoscarus forskalii fuscopurpureus Klunzinger, 1871
Care
Midnight Parrotfish require large, well-established aquariums with plenty of live rock for grazing and hiding. They are not the easiest fish to keep in captivity due to their size and dietary needs. A varied diet of marine algae, high-quality pellet foods, and frozen preparations will help maintain their health and coloration. It's important to note that they can be quite destructive to live corals, so they are best suited for fish-only or fish-only-with-live-rock (FOWLR) setups.
Reproduction
In the wild, Midnight Parrotfish are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they start life as females and can change to males as they mature. They exhibit complex mating behaviors, including the formation of harems. Breeding them in captivity is challenging and rarely achieved by hobbyists.
Habitat
Midnight Parrotfish are found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. They prefer reef environments, often seen grazing on algae-covered surfaces. They can be found at various depths, usually between 1 to 20 meters, but sometimes deeper.
Geographical distribution includes the Red Sea, East Africa, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, the Andaman Sea, Indonesia, and northern Australia.