All fish / Haemulidae

Two-striped Sweetlips

Plectorhinchus albovittatus

Also known as two striped sweetlips, giant sweetlips, yellow-banded sweetlips, no, juvenile sweetlips, アジアコショウダイ, 双带胡椒鲷

Juveniles have bold black and white or yellow lengthwise stripes and swim with an odd wriggling motion that mimics toxic flatworms, which is why they appeal to buyers. Adults lose this pattern, turning a fairly plain grey or brownish colour, and become very large reef fish with thick lips.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

60 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

2000 litres

Keep as

Singly, or in a group only in a very large system

Diet

Carnivore: shrimp, mysis, krill, chopped seafood and quality marine pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Indonesia, Philippines, northern Australia and Melanesia

Breeding

It scatters pelagic eggs in open water, and it has not been bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

Small juveniles are sold cheaply but grow to around 60 cm or more and need a public aquarium sized tank, and they often refuse food at first. They will eat small fish and crustaceans.