All fish / Bothidae

Peacock Flounder

Bothus mancus

Also known as flowery flounder, indo-pacific peacock flounder, peacock flounder, flowery peacock flounder, leopard flounder, トゲダルマガレイ, 凹吻鲆, 蓝斑鲆

This left-eyed flatfish has a pale brown body covered in blue rings and dark blotches, and it can change colour quickly to match the sand it lies on. Males have widely spaced eyes and long pectoral fin rays that they raise in display. Keepers value it for its camouflage and odd behaviour in large sand-bottomed systems.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

35 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

750 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen fish, shrimp, mysis and other meaty seafood

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and the Americas

Breeding

It spawns in open water, releasing small floating eggs that hatch into planktonic larvae. Captive breeding is not achieved in home aquariums.

Good to know

It grows large and will eat small fish and shrimps, so it needs a big tank with a deep, fine sand bed. Many specimens refuse to feed at first and may need live food to start.