All fish / Priacanthidae

Popeye Catalufa

Pristigenys serrula

Also known as popeye catalufa, catalufa, red bigeye, bigeye, popeye bigeye, catalufa bigeye

This is a deep-bodied, bright red fish with very large eyes and rough scales. It can turn pale or blotchy silver quickly. It is active at night and comes from cooler subtropical waters, so it suits large temperate or cooled marine systems and public aquaria.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

16 to 22 °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: meaty frozen foods such as mysis, krill, chopped shrimp, squid and fish

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Pacific, from central California to Peru including the Gulf of California and Galápagos

Breeding

It spawns in open water and has drifting pelagic eggs and larvae. Breeding in home aquariums has not been recorded.

Good to know

It needs cool water, dim lighting and caves to hide in, and it will not do well in a warm tropical reef tank. Its large mouth means it will eat small fish and shrimps.