PLECTORHYNCHUS PICTUS

Datasheet

General Description

The Painted Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus pictus) is a marine fish known for its striking coloration and pattern. Growing up to 33 inches in length, it boasts a blue-gray body with horizontal dark blue stripes and yellow accents on its head and fins. With a mix of stripes and dots, it is also referred to as the Dotted Sweetlips or Black and White Sweetlips.

Aquarium Suitability

Being a carnivorous species, the Painted Sweetlips requires a diet rich in meaty foods such as crustaceans, krill, zooplankton, and shrimp. It is important to provide a tank with a minimum size of 189 litres to accommodate its large adult size. Given its peaceful temperament, it can be housed with other non-aggressive species in a well-decorated tank with hiding spots and open swimming spaces.

Care and Hardiness

Considered an easy-to-care-for species, the Painted Sweetlips thrives in stable water conditions with a pH of 8.1-8.4, a specific gravity of 1.020-1.025, and a carbonate hardness (KH) of 8-12. Regular feeding and an adequately sized aquarium are crucial for its well-being.

Reef Suitability

The Painted Sweetlips is reef-compatible, making it a versatile addition to a diverse marine aquarium setup. Its peaceful nature allows it to coexist with coral and other reef organisms without causing harm.

Aquarium Setup

To cater to the needs of the Painted Sweetlips, aquarists should create an environment with ample hiding places in live rock or decorations. Providing a sandy substrate is recommended, although hobbyists should be aware that this species may disrupt the sand bed while foraging for food.

Behaviour

Typically a nocturnal feeder, the Painted Sweetlips tends to stick to darkened areas until it becomes comfortable in its surroundings. Its bottom-feeding habits make it essential to offer multiple daily feedings to meet its dietary requirements.

Feeding and Diet

Being a carnivorous species, the Painted Sweetlips relies on a diet consisting of meaty foods like crustaceans, krill, zooplankton, and various shrimp species. Regular and varied feedings are necessary to ensure the fish's nutritional needs are met.

Dimorphism

The Painted Sweetlips exhibits no significant dimorphic characteristics between males and females in terms of coloration or size. Captive reproduction of this species has been limited, and detailed information regarding it may be scarce.

Habitat and Distribution

The Painted Sweetlips can be found in various habitats across the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Its distribution spans from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands and northern Australia, where it inhabits coral reefs and rocky areas.