Surgeonfish, Angelfish, and Butterflyfish
Moorish Idol
Zanclus cornutus
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Temperature24–27 °C
- pH8.1–8.4
- Minimum tank800 l
- Adult size23 cm
- Difficulty★★★★★
- TemperamentPeaceful
- WaterMarine
- Reef safeWith caution
Full profile
- Family
- Zanclidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific
- Size
- 23 cm
- Temperature
- 24 – 27°C
- pH
- 8.1 – 8.4
- Salinity
- 1.023 – 1.025
- Difficulty
- ★★★★★
- Water type
- marine
- Swimming level
- medium
- Behavior
- Pacific
- Minimum number of individuals
- 1
- Minimum aquarium size
- 800 L
- Diet
- Omnivorous (sponges and algae; very difficult to feed)
- Reproduction
- oviparous
Notes: Reef icon, with black, white, and yellow bands and a very long filament. In aquariums, very few adapt to eating; the pennant butterflyfish is the recommended alternative. Reef Safe: ⚠️ Use with caution
