| Schooling bannerfish | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Chaetodontidae |
| Genus: | Heniochus |
| Species: | H. diphreutes |
| Binomial name | |
| Heniochus diphreutes Jordan, 1903 |
|
The schooling bannerfish, or false moorish idol, is a marine fish native to areas near Africa, that is sometimes traded, in aquaria, as a less expensive alternative to actual moorish idols.
Contents |
White with 2 broad diagonal black bands, up to 7 inches (18cm) in length. Similar in appearance to Heniochus acuminatus but has larger eye and smaller snout.[1] Dramatically similar to actual moorish idols, these fish are only distantly related, and appear to only have convergently evolved the same traits.
In schools, juveniles on isolated coral heads or patch reefs, adults in midwater.
Red Sea and South Africa to warm-temperate Australia and the Hawaiian Islands.[2]
Thrives best in moderate reef tanks of 25-26 degrees celsius. They will usually feed on plankton and brine shrimp, although if underfed they might nip at invertebrates.