All fish / Serranidae

Sixline Soapfish

Grammistes sexlineatus

Also known as six-line soapfish, goldenstriped soapfish, golden-striped grouper, sixline grouper, six striped soapfish, yellow-striped soapfish, ヌノサラシ, 六线黑鲈, 六带线纹鱼

A sturdy black fish with bold lengthwise yellow or white stripes. Juveniles have spots and few stripes, and more stripes appear as the fish grows. Aquarists keep it because it is very hardy, striking to look at and easy to feed.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: meaty frozen foods such as krill, mysis, silversides and chopped seafood

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, from East Africa to the central Pacific

Breeding

It has not been reliably bred in home aquariums. In the wild it spawns in open water and produces planktonic eggs and larvae.

Good to know

When stressed or handled, it gives off a mucus toxin called grammistin, which can kill tankmates in small or closed systems. It eats any fish or crustacean small enough to swallow, so keep it only with large, robust species.