Batfish -
Marine Fish are gorgeous and striking fish that are not common in aquaria for one major reason: they get huge. A two or three hundred gallon tank is needed for one, minimum, and larger is better. They start out as tiny, manageable-looking cuties, which often fools aquarists into purchasing them for their small aquariums. However they quickly grow to gargantuan proportions, and require large amounts of food as well as space, so beware. They are not reef safe and should be fed plenty of large meaty foods. Batfish change greatly as they grow, however the potential aquarist is most likely to see them in their juvenile form, so that is the description of the colouration here. They all have generally the same body shape: disk-like with tall dorsal and anal fins, similar to a Freshwater Angelfish.
Popular name | Scientific Name | Description | Max size (cm) |
Orbiculate batfish
| Platax orbicularis | Brown with generally random black markings resembling a rotting leaf. | 50 |
Dusky batfish
| Platax pinnatus | Dark black body completely edged by distinctive yellow and orange. | 45 |
Teira batfish
| Platax teira | Silver with black fins and a black stripe across the face. | 70 |
