Platax pinnatus

Platax fish ( Platax pinnatus )

The Platax fish ( Platax pinnatus ) lives in the western Pacific from the Ryukyu Islands to Australia and New Caledonia. Because the juveniles are black to dark brown and are surrounded by an orange hem, it is also called Rotsaum Batfish.

Juveniles have in addition to their striking color very long extended and broadened at the end of the dorsal and anal fins. It is believed to mimic this coloration and form a poisonous slug or a flatworm ( mimicry ). They live in mangrove areas and shallow coral reefs.

Adult fish get a more disc-like shape, the fins are in proportion to the body not as high, the body is silver-gray. As with the other batfish they get three slightly dark gray vertical bands. At the more pointed snout, you can distinguish them by their relatives. They usually live in pairs further seaward in deeper lagoons and outer reefs Riffkanälen.

Platax fish are 45 inches long and feed on algae and soft planktonic animals such as jellyfish and salps.

The attractive -looking young fish are sometimes offered by irresponsible dealers and marine ornamental fish. However, they are completely unsuitable because of the expected final size as stock for the private reef tank and go hard to the feed.