All fish / Malacanthidae

Redback Sand Tilefish

Hoplolatilus marcosi

Also known as skunk tilefish, red stripe tilefish, marcos tilefish, redstripe tilefish, marcos' tilefish, red-striped tilefish, ホホスジキツネアマダイ, 马氏似弱棘鱼

A slim, silvery white tilefish with a bold red stripe running from the snout along the back to the tail fin. It lives over rubble slopes on deeper reefs, where it hovers above its burrow, and is kept by reef aquarists for its unusual colours and calm nature.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, enriched brine shrimp, chopped seafood and fine frozen foods fed several times a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Palau

Breeding

Pairs build burrows in rubble and are believed to spawn in open water with pelagic eggs. Breeding in home aquariums has not been reported.

Good to know

A nervous fish that jumps readily, so a tight-fitting lid is essential, and it needs plenty of rubble or rockwork to burrow and hide in. Specimens collected from deep water can be stressed on arrival, so avoid boisterous tankmates.