Pennant Coralfish (Heniochus acuminatus)
| Pennant Coralfish Heniochus acuminatus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Pennant Coralfish |
| Name Lat. | Heniochus acuminatus |
| Family | Butterflyfishes |
| Family lat. | Chaetodontidae |
| Order | Surgeonfishes |
| Order lat. | Acanthuriformes |
| Origin | Indo-West Pacific |
| Habitat | Lagoons, seaward reefs |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| pH | 8.1-8.4 |
| Hardness | 8-10 °KH |
| Behavior | Peaceful |
| Keeping | Individual, pair, group |
| Reef Compatible | With caution |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Life Span | 3-5 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 25 cm |
| Temperature | 24-28 °C |
| Salinity | 33-36 ‰ |
| Aquarium | ~ 750 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 10" |
| Temperature | 75-82 °F |
| Salinity | 1.020-1.025 sg |
| Aquarium | ~ 200 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of Heniochus acuminatus is the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the coast of East Africa and the Persian Gulf through Indonesia and Australia to southern Japan and Micronesia. They live there in deep, protected lagoons and on outer reefs with coral growth.
Maintenance
They need a well-structured aquarium with plenty of swimming space and a reef structure (caves and shelters) with live stones that they can graze on and that act like a biological filter. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free sands, gravels, stones or sea sand of various grain sizes may be used as substrate. Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals
| Salinity: 33-36 ‰ | pH value: 8.1-8.4 |
| Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH | Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l |
| phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l | nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l |
For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.
Diet
They are permanent eaters that feed on small crustaceans and algae. The feed change usually succeeds with stress-free acclimation without problems. The food supply should consist of a commercially available, vitamin-enriched frozen special food mix or a combination of algae (e.g. spirulina, kelp), chopped shrimp, squid and mussel meat with live and frozen food such as mysis, krill, bosmids and artemia as well as live cyclops, which also serve to keep them busy. High quality flake food is also usually accepted after an acclimation period. It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day (3-5 times)
Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.
Behaviour and compatibility
It is recommended to keep them in pairs or in a group. To avoid ranking fights, two different sized or two juvenile animals should be placed in the aquarium at the same time. The dominant, larger animal always develops into the male. They should only be socialized with calm, peaceful fish, as they are very susceptible to stress.
Sex dimorphism
They are presumed to be sequential hermaphrodites, meaning that they possess both male and female sex expressions. External sexual characteristics are not known.
Reproduction and breeding
There are no known reports of successful breeding in the aquarium.
Important
As reef dwellers they should not be kept in a fish-only aquarium. If kept in pairs, with sufficient activity (live stones, large reef surface) and frequent as well as varied feeding, they can be maintained even in demanding coral tanks without serious attacks on the corals. When socialized with too lively or aggressive fish, they sometimes stop feeding.
If different species are kept together, care should be taken to match the fish in terms of water quality and temperature requirements and social behavior, and to ensure that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Werner Knapp; Image: Franz Lowak
Source: KUITER & DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF