Pennant coralfish
The pennant coralfish (Heniochus acuminatus), also known as the longfin bannerfish or coachman is a tropical fish of the family Chaetodontidae. It is also known colloquially as the "poor man's moorish idol".
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| Pennant coralfish |
image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciamabue/
Appearance
The fish is mostly black and white, with an elongated dorsal fin making the fish reach around 25 cm. The fish's caudal, anal and pectoral fins are most commonly bright yellow. It is very similar in appearance to the closely related Heniochus diphreutes, but has a longer and more circular shape
Behavior
The species are social fish, and found in pairs or in shoals. They are a very passive fish, and rarely territorial. Some individuals even act as cleaners, especially when young, by removing parasites from other fish.
Diet
The pennant coralfish eats mostly plankton in the wild but are omnivorous in an aquarium setting.
Range
The pennant coralfish's natural distribution is in the Indian and Pacific oceans in reef settings, from southern Japan to Micronesia and Lord Howe Island. Also found in the Seychelles. Currently it is registered as introduced species in the Black Sea.
Economic value
The fish is uncommonly harvested for anything other than the marine aquarium industry. It is a fish commonly sold as an alternative to the Moorish idol, which are considered to be nearly impossible for most hobbyists to keep. It is fairly easy to care for when maintained in a properly-sized aquarium with peaceful tankmates.