Orbiculate batfish
Platax orbicularis
Also known as Orbic batfish, Circular batfish, Round batfish, Orbiculate spadefish
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.0–8.4
- Adult size
- 19.7 in
- 50 cm
- Minimum tank
- 185 gal
- 700 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Not reef safe
- Family
- Ephippidae
- Origin
- Native to the Indo-Pacific, with juveniles sheltering in mangroves and lagoons and adults schooling on open reefs and wrecks.
Overview
The orbiculate batfish is a big, tall saltwater fish for a fish-only system. It suits experienced keepers.
Did you know
Juvenile orbiculate batfish float on their sides and drift with the current to imitate a dead mangrove leaf. The disguise is so convincing that predators swim right past them.
Caring for the orbiculate batfish
The orbiculate batfish needs a deep tank of at least 185 gal (700 L), and the taller the better. It grows even taller through the fins, so it needs surprising vertical space. Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.0 to 8.4, with strong filtration.
Newly imported fish often arrive thin and stressed and can be hard to start feeding, so buy one that is already eating. Offer a varied diet of meaty foods and marine algae.
The orbiculate batfish is not reef safe. It eats invertebrates, anemones and small fish, and it picks at corals. Keep it in a fish-only system with peaceful, larger tank mates.
Good to know
Platax orbicularis is a batfish in the family Ephippidae. Its body is a disc almost as high as it is long. Adults are silvery with a couple of dark bars through the head, while juveniles are reddish-brown. Adults grow fast and lose the tall juvenile fins as they fill out into a large, round, plate-like shape.
In the wild
The orbiculate batfish is native to the Indo-Pacific. Juveniles shelter among mangrove roots and in lagoons. Adults cruise open reefs and wrecks in loose schools.
Common questions
What size tank does an orbiculate batfish need?
An orbiculate batfish needs at least 185 gal (700 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an orbiculate batfish need?
An orbiculate batfish is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.0–8.4.
What does an orbiculate batfish eat?
An orbiculate batfish eats a varied diet of meaty foods and marine algae. New imports can be hard to start feeding, so buy one that is already eating.
How big does an orbiculate batfish get?
An adult orbiculate batfish reaches about 19.7 in (50 cm).
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