All fish / Terapontidae

Jarbua Terapon

Terapon jarbua

Also known as crescent perch, crescent-banded grunter, tiger perch, target perch, jarbua tigerfish, crescent bass, thornfish, convex-lined therapon, zebra perch, ปลาข้างตะเภา, ikan kerong-kerong, kerong

A silvery, perch-like fish with three curved dark bands running along each side and a black-spotted dorsal fin. It lives in coastal seas, estuaries and even rivers, so it copes with fresh, brackish or full marine water, and it is kept for its bold striped look and lively, hardy nature.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.5

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Singly, or as a group of 5 or more in a very large tank

Diet

Carnivore: shrimp, mussel, prawn, krill, small fish and quality carnivore pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Brackish

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Japan, Samoa and Australia

Breeding

It spawns at sea and the young move into estuaries and shallow coastal waters to grow. Breeding in home aquariums is not reported.

Good to know

Grows to over 30 cm in the wild and is fast and quarrelsome, nipping fins and scales of tankmates and eating anything small enough to swallow. The fin spines are sharp, so handle it with care.