Australian Flathead Perch

Care at a glance

Overview

A secretive cave dweller that spends most of the day out of sight and slips into the open at dusk and feeding time. Offer meaty foods such as mysis, chopped shrimp, and small frozen fish, and expect it to hunt any shrimp or fish small enough to swallow, which is why it rates only cautious reef safety. It is otherwise calm toward tankmates it cannot eat, though large or boisterous fish will keep it hidden for good.

In the wild

Endemic to Australian reefs, where it lives deep inside caves and crevices and rarely crosses open water. Its flattened head and long, low body let it slide through narrow gaps under ledges. The aquarium needs mature rockwork with genuine tunnels and overhangs, plus shaded areas where it can patrol out of the light.

Good to know

Rainfordia opercularis was described by McCulloch in 1923 and reaches about 15 cm. It is closely allied to the reef basslets of the genus Liopropoma and shares their crevice-bound habits. For decades it was one of the least seen fishes in the hobby, and nearly all fish sold today are captive bred.

Did you know

Captive breeding at Biota took this fish from a legendary rarity that sold for thousands of dollars to something a patient hobbyist can actually plan a tank around.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Harlequin Bass

  Serranus tigrinus

  Saltwater

  5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Sunburst Anthias

  Serranocirrhitus latus

  Saltwater

  5.1 in (13 cm)70 gal (265 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

• 

  Sixline soapfish

  Grammistes sexlineatus

  Saltwater

  11.8 in (30 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
• Candy Basslet

  Liopropoma carmabi

  Saltwater

  2.4 in (6 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Bicolor Anthias

  Pseudanthias bicolor

  Saltwater

  5.1 in (13 cm)125 gal (475 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Lyretail Anthias

  Pseudanthias squamipinnis

  Saltwater

  5.1 in (13 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)