Harlequin sweetlips – Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides
Photo of a juvenile Harlequin sweetlips
Species name: Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides
Common names: Harlequin sweetlips, Clown Sweetlips
Family: Haemulidae (Grunts)
Order: Perciformes
Class: Actinopterygii
Maximum length: 28.3 in.
Minimum tank size: 200 gallons
Hardiness: Difficult. Expert Only! Juveniles often starve in captivity and must not be kept with aggressive tank mates. Most of them die in a short time.
They are often captured with drugs (cyanide). The effects of these drugs may take a while to manifest and may be a cause of death.
Aggressiveness: Peaceful. Do not keep with aggressive tank mates.
Reef Compatibility: With caution. Will eat smaller crustaceans, smaller fireworms, serpent stars, small snails, and polychaete worms.
Distribution: Indian Ocean: Maldives and Cocos Islands. Western Pacific: Sumatra to Fiji and New Caledonia, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Rowley Shoals.
Diet: Carnivore. In the wild, they feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and fish at night. The biggest drawbacks to keeping this species in captivity is getting it to feed. When first introduced into the aquarium, live food such as shrimp and black worms can be used to trigger feeding. Getting it to feed should be easier in tanks with no aggressive feeder. Once it has acclimated, it should accept most meaty preparation. However, sometimes it will eat for weeks or months and then cease eating and die for no apparent reason. This may be the results of an incomplete diet or the use of drugs. Feed 2-3 times a day.
Additional information:
The Harlequin sweetlips, also known as Clown sweetlips, or Harlequin sweetlips is native to the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific where it can be found at depths of 10 to 100 feet. Juveniles are found among corals in lagoons and seaward reefs while adults live in deeper water under ledges or in caves. They hide during the day and come out to feed at night.
The Harlequin Sweetlips changes color as it matures.
Juveniles under about 3 inches (see image above) are brown with large white dots and white-and-black fins. They swim with the head pointing down and with exaggerated fin movements. The colours and movement mimic poisonous nudibranch or flatworm and usually keep predators away.
As they grow, the body color changes to white with brown spots on the body and fins, which becomes more numerous.
The Harlequin sweetlips will grow large and will need a 200 gallon tank (larger is better) with ample swimming room and plenty of hiding places. The aquarium should provide it with plenty of hiding places to reduce stress. It is also best to keep Harlequin sweetlips with peaceful tank mates.
Ideally, water temperature should be at 72-78ºF, specific gravity at 1.020-1.025 and pH between 8.1 and 8.4.
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Article written by www.aquariumslife.com
References: FishBase, Australian Museum
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WooooooW!
beautiful aquarium picture. wish I have more time to keep pets.
Thank you for posting this advice:
“Difficult. Expert Only! Juveniles often starve in captivity and must not be kept with aggressive tank mates. Most of them die in a short time.”
When I entered the hobby I bought one of these spontaneously (NEVER DO THAT, NEW REEFERS!) and it only made it like a week.
Even if it had lived, it would have grown far too large for the tank.
Do your research before buying, folks. I haven’t repeated this mistake but I still feel guilty for learning the hard way, losing a sweet lips and a nudibranch.
I thought about it for a first fish for my 15 gallon reef years ago.
I also made a few mistake in the past.
Its too sad to lose live stock because of that so I now make my research before buying.
i brought one, and have found it to be the easiest fish i have had to keep, he eat straight away, eats anything, have had now 8 mths and is growing well,
i wouldnt rate this as a difficult fish at all