All fish / Mullidae

Manybar Goatfish

Parupeneus multifasciatus

Also known as multibarred goatfish, manybar goatfish, banded goatfish, multi-barred goatfish, moano, オジサン, biji nangka, 多带副绯鲤

A pale pinkish to reddish goatfish with dark saddle bars along the rear of the body and a pair of chin barbels that it uses to probe sand for food. Aquarists keep it for its constant busy foraging, which turns over the substrate in large reef or fish-only systems.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a pair in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, krill, chopped seafood, live worms and small crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific and central Pacific, from Christmas Island and Cocos-Keeling to Hawaii and French Polynesia

Breeding

It spawns in open water and produces pelagic eggs and larvae. It has not been bred reliably in home aquariums.

Good to know

Needs a big tank with a deep, open sand bed and several feedings a day, or it will lose condition. It will eat small shrimps, crabs and worms, so it is not safe with ornamental invertebrates.