TankBud

Longfin bannerfish

Heniochus acuminatus

Also known as Pennant Coralfish, Common Bannerfish, Poor Man's Moorish Idol, Feather-fin Bullfish

SaltwaterFish

Longfin bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus)
Philippe Bourjon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
9.8 in
25 cm
Minimum tank
127 gal
480 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Chaetodontidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific, from the Persian Gulf and East Africa to the western Pacific, north to Japan

Overview

The longfin bannerfish is a peaceful, elegant schooling fish for a large saltwater tank. It needs a keeper with a little saltwater experience.

Did you know

The longfin bannerfish is often sold as a stand-in for the Moorish idol, which it closely resembles. Unlike the notoriously unkeepable idol, it does well in captivity.

Caring for the longfin bannerfish

Give longfin bannerfish a large tank of at least 127 gal (480 L), with tall open water for their trailing dorsal fin. They are reef safe with caution.

Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. They adapt to aquarium foods far more readily than the Moorish idol, taking frozen meaty foods and prepared rations. Unlike most butterflies, they are relatively hardy once eating.

Longfin bannerfish are peaceful and safe with community fish. Keep them in a group, and odd-numbered groups work well.

Good to know

The longfin bannerfish, Heniochus acuminatus, belongs to the family Chaetodontidae. It is often mistaken for the Moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus, because of its long white dorsal filament and black-and-white banding. That likeness gives it the nickname poor man's Moorish idol. It is very frequently confused with its near-twin Heniochus diphreutes, the true schooling bannerfish. Acuminatus has a longer snout and is more of a benthic feeder, while diphreutes is the dedicated planktivore.

In the wild

Longfin bannerfish live over deeper reefs, lagoons and drop-offs across the Indo-Pacific. Their range runs from the Persian Gulf and East Africa to the western Pacific, north to Japan. They are often found in small groups or pairs in open water above the reef.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The longfin bannerfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a longfin bannerfish need?

A longfin bannerfish needs at least 127 gal (480 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a longfin bannerfish need?

A longfin bannerfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a longfin bannerfish eat?

A longfin bannerfish takes frozen meaty foods and prepared rations. It adapts to aquarium foods far more readily than the Moorish idol.

How big does a longfin bannerfish get?

An adult longfin bannerfish reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

Does a longfin bannerfish need a group?

Yes. A longfin bannerfish is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Related species