Crown squirrelfish

Care at a glance

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.

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