All fish / Priacanthidae

Glasseye

Heteropriacanthus cruentatus

Also known as glass eye, glasseye snapper, bigeye, red bigeye, catalufa, aweoweo, blotched bigeye, ホウセキキントキ, 灰鳍异大眼鲷, 大眼鲷

A deep-bodied reef fish with huge eyes, rough scales and a red colour that can switch to silvery or blotched within seconds. It is nocturnal, hiding in caves by day, and is kept by aquarists who want an unusual night-active predator for a large fish-only system.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

700 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a small group in a very large tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, krill, chopped shrimp, squid and fish flesh, best fed in dim light

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Circumtropical: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, on reefs

Breeding

It spawns in open water, scattering pelagic eggs, and its larvae drift for a long period. It has not been bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

Grows to around 30 cm or more and will eat small fish and shrimp, so it needs a large tank with caves and subdued lighting. It is shy and may refuse food at first if kept under bright light or with boisterous tankmates.