- Scientific name
- Cetoscarus Bicolor
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Reef safe?
- No
- Max size
- 30 inches
- Min aquarium size
- 150 gallons
The Bicolor Parrotfish (Cetoscarus Bicolor), from the Indo Pacific range, could be a great addition to any aquarium, because of its ability to change its colors and patterns as it matures. However, this species does come with some difficulties in captivity.
Poor aquarium species. Naturally feeds on algae that encrusts the reef, crunching up substantial amounts of coral, difficult to feed and grow to very large sizes requiring very large systems to survive, in nature they cover large areas of the reef and tend to not fare well in confined spaces. May fight with members of its own species, act aggressive towards other parrot fish, otherwise is not aggressive to its tankmates.
Can be kept with soft corals and motile invertebrates, will eat live stony corals and bite chunks from reef rock.
Varied diet, chopped fresh or frozen seafoods, frozen fare for marine herbivores, frozen or live brine and mysid shrimps, flake food, pieces of live rock or, calcareous coral skeletons for grazing. Feed min. 3 times a day.
Captive care
Poor aquarium species. Naturally feeds on algae that encrusts the reef, crunching up substantial amounts of coral, difficult to feed and grow to very large sizes requiring very large systems to survive, in nature they cover large areas of the reef and tend to not fare well in confined spaces. May fight with members of its own species, act aggressive towards other parrot fish, otherwise is not aggressive to its tankmates.
Reef compatibility
Can be kept with soft corals and motile invertebrates, will eat live stony corals and bite chunks from reef rock.
Foods and feeding
Varied diet, chopped fresh or frozen seafoods, frozen fare for marine herbivores, frozen or live brine and mysid shrimps, flake food, pieces of live rock or, calcareous coral skeletons for grazing. Feed min. 3 times a day.