Crown squirrelfish
Sargocentron diadema
Also known as Diadem squirrelfish, Barred squirrelfish, Crowned squirrelfish, Diadema squirrelfish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.0–8.4
- Adult size
- 6.7 in
- 17 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Holocentridae
- Origin
- Native to the Indo-Pacific, sheltering in reef caves and under ledges by day and coming out at night to feed.
Overview
Give a crown squirrelfish a tank of at least 200 litres with caves and overhangs for daytime shelter, at 24 to 27 C and pH 8.0 to 8.4. It leaves corals alone but will eat small shrimp and other tiny crustaceans, so it is reef safe only with caution around ornamental inverts. It is peaceful toward fish too big to eat and can be kept in a small group in a large tank. Feed meaty foods like mysis, chopped shrimp and marine fish, ideally in the evening when it is active.
In the wild
The crown squirrelfish is a red-and-white striped nocturnal fish with big dark eyes built for hunting in low light and a tall spiny dorsal fin banded in red. It hides deep in caves during the day and emerges after dark to hunt small crustaceans. Its large eyes give it a permanently startled look.
Good to know
Sargocentron diadema reaches around 17 cm and has a sharp, venomous spine on the cheek near the gill cover that can deliver a painful jab, so it should be handled with care. Like other squirrelfish it can make audible grunts and clicks with its swim bladder to communicate and warn off rivals. Its oversized eyes are adapted for its nocturnal, dim-light lifestyle.
Did you know
Squirrelfish are among the noisiest reef fish at night, grunting and clicking with their swim bladders, and a tank of them can be surprisingly chatty after the lights go out.
Common questions
What size tank does a Crown squirrelfish need?
A Crown squirrelfish needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Crown squirrelfish need?
A Crown squirrelfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.0–8.4.
How big does a Crown squirrelfish get?
An adult Crown squirrelfish reaches about 6.7 in (17 cm).
Related species
8.7 in (22 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Blackbar soldierfish
Myripristis jacobus
8.7 in (22 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
6.7 in (17 cm)55 gal (210 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Bluestripe clownfish
Amphiprion chrysopterus
6.7 in (17 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)74 gal (280 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Bluehead wrasse
Thalassoma bifasciatum
7.1 in (18 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)90 gal (340 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Collare butterflyfish
Chaetodon collare
7.1 in (18 cm) · 90 gal (340 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Fuzzy dwarf lionfish
Dendrochirus brachypterus
7.1 in (18 cm) · 50 gal (190 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Kole tang
Ctenochaetus strigosus
7.1 in (18 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)