All fish / Holocentridae

Blackbar Soldierfish

Myripristis jacobus

Also known as blackbar soldier fish, black bar soldierfish, soldierfish, bigeye soldierfish, red soldierfish, 黑带锯鳞鱼

A bright red soldierfish with very large eyes and a dark bar running down behind the gill cover, with white leading edges on the fins. It is nocturnal, hiding in caves by day and hunting at dusk, and is kept for its striking colour in larger reef or fish-only systems.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

16 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a small group in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, krill, chopped shrimp, squid and other meaty frozen foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western and eastern Atlantic: Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Florida to Brazil, and tropical West Africa islands

Breeding

It spawns in open water, releasing buoyant eggs that develop into a long pelagic larval stage. It has not been bred reliably in home aquariums.

Good to know

It will eat small fish and shrimp that fit in its mouth, and needs dim caves and feeding near lights-out. Sharp spines on the gill covers and fins can snag nets, so handle it with care.