All fish / Lutjanidae

Black and White Snapper

Macolor niger

Also known as black and white snapper, black snapper, juvenile black snapper, macolor snapper, no, black and white seaperch, マダラタルミ, kakap hitam, 黑背羽鳃笛鲷, 黑斑笛鲷

Juveniles are striking black fish with bold white blotches and long fins, which is why they are sold for aquariums. As they grow they turn dark grey to almost black with paler flanks and become a large, plain reef predator. They are hardy and bold feeders, but only suit very large public or private systems.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

45 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

2000 litres

Keep as

Singly; adults do not tolerate their own kind well in tanks

Diet

Carnivore: chopped fish, shrimp, squid, mussel and quality marine pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

15 to 25 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific, East Africa and Red Sea to Samoa, north to Japan, south to Australia

Breeding

A pelagic spawner that releases eggs into open water, often in groups. It has not been bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

Grows to around 60 cm in the wild and will eat any fish or crustacean it can swallow, so the cute juvenile quickly outgrows normal tanks. The large juvenile M. macularis looks very similar.