All fish / Holocentridae

Whitetip Soldierfish

Myripristis vittata

Also known as white-tipped soldierfish, whitetip soldierfish, orange soldierfish, immaculate soldierfish, red soldierfish, soldierfish, アカマツカサ, ikan swanggi, 白边锯鳞鱼, 白缘锯鳞鱼

A bright orange-red soldierfish with large dark eyes and white tips on the dorsal, anal and tail fins. It is a striking nocturnal reef fish kept for its bold colour and calm shoaling habit in large, dimly lit reef or fish-only systems.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

500 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, best fed in the evening

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Marquesas and Hawaii, north to southern Japan

Breeding

It scatters pelagic eggs, and the larvae drift in the plankton for a long time. It has not been bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

It eats small fish and shrimp that fit in its mouth, so keep it away from small tankmates. It needs caves and shaded areas to hide during the day, and the fin spines can catch in nets.