Also Known As: Striped Red Squirrelfish, Soldierfish Compatibility and BehaviorSquirrelfish (Sargocentron sp.) wear their nocturnal lifestyle on their face: those enormous, glossy black eyes are an adaptation for hunting in near darkness, and they're the first thing you notice on a body striped in alternating bands of deep red and silvery white. Rough, faintly armored scales and long spiny dorsal fins that stand tall when the fish is alert complete the look, and depending on the species the red striping may be bold and crisp or softer and more diffuse, often with a crimson wash across the fins. True to those big eyes, in the wild it tucks into caves and beneath ledges by day and comes out at night to hunt small crustaceans and worms, so a new arrival often stays hidden for the first several days before growing bolder. It's peaceful toward similarly sized tankmates and won't bother corals, so it's coral safe, but it lands at reef safe with caution because it will eat ornamental shrimp, small crabs, and any fish small enough to swallow. Good companions are larger, non-aggressive fish like tangs, larger wrasses, and angelfish, while very small gobies, firefish, and cleaner shrimp are best avoided. It can be kept singly or, in a larger tank, in a small group introduced together, since individuals in tight quarters may pick at one another. One handling note worth taking seriously: squirrelfish carry sharp spines on the head and gill cover, including a large preopercular spine that can deliver a painful wound, so move them in a container rather than a net. Aquarium RequirementsThe small to medium specimens usually available do well in a 55 to 75 gallon tank, but they grow fairly quickly, so planning for 75 gallons or more from the start is wise. Aquascaping is the make-or-break factor here: build in generous rockwork with deep caves, overhangs, and shaded crevices for daytime retreat, paired with open water for evening cruising. Dimmer lighting suits this fish well, and in a brightly lit reef it'll simply spend more of the day hidden, so ramping light levels gradually during acclimation helps it settle. Moderate, well-circulated flow works nicely. One less obvious point: squirrelfish have large, sensitive swim bladders that respond to vibration, so place the tank away from slammed doors and loud noise, and skip the tapping on the glass. New arrivals are often reluctant to eat at first, so offering food after lights-out, using live enriched brine, grass shrimp, or blackworms, is usually the fastest way to get one going before transitioning to frozen fare like mysis, krill, and chopped shrimp, clam, and fish flesh, fed two to three times a day. SpecificationsApproximate Size: Sm: 1.5–2", Md: 2–3", Lg: 3–4"Diet: Carnivore; frozen mysis, krill, and enriched brine shrimp plus chopped fresh shrimp, clam, and fish flesh, with live foods useful for the initial feeding responseOrigin: Indo-PacificCare Level: ModerateReef Safe: With cautionTemperament: PeacefulMinimum Tank Size: 55 gallonsSpecial Considerations: Nocturnal and shy at first, needing deep caves and dimmer lighting to settle; sensitive to vibration, so site the tank away from noise; carries sharp head and gill spines, including a large preopercular spine, so move it in a container rather than a net
