All fish / Haemulidae

Harlequin Sweetlips

Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides

Also known as harlequin sweetlips, clown sweetlips, many-spotted sweetlips, spotted sweetlips, polka dot sweetlips, harlequin grunt, チョウチョウコショウダイ, ikan kaneko, 斑胡椒鲷, 小丑石鲈, 花尾胡椒鲷

Juveniles are brown with large white-edged blotches and swim with an exaggerated wriggle, thought to mimic a toxic flatworm. As they grow they turn pale with many small dark spots and develop thick lips. They are bought mainly for the striking juvenile colours and odd swimming style.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

45 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

1500 litres

Keep as

Keep singly unless the aquarium is very large

Diet

Carnivore: shrimp, mysis, chopped seafood, worms and small crustaceans; young fish need several small feeds a day

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific: Maldives and Indian Ocean to Indonesia, Philippines, northern Australia, Fiji and Japan

Breeding

It spawns in open water as a pair or group, releasing eggs that drift with plankton. It has not been bred in home aquariums in any reliable way.

Good to know

The small juveniles sold in shops can grow to over 50 cm and often refuse food at first, so many die soon after import. It will eat small fish and crustaceans and needs a very large, mature system.