Cetoscarus bicolor
Cetoscarus bicolor naturally inhabits the Indo-Pacific region: the Indian Ocean, along the Great Barrier Reef, the Maldives, and in the Red Sea. In nature, fish are rare and on average you can find only 2-3 specimens in an area of 1 km2. The fish got its name for the resemblance of its mouth shape to the parrot's beak. Due to the fact that this fish reaches a large size and requires a large living space, it is very rare to be found in aquariums amateurs. Recommended for keeping only professional aquarists.
Cetoscarus bicolor keeps near coral reefs. The fish have very powerful teeth, with which they have no problem biting off coral and algae. Fish are diurnal.
Cetoscarus bicolor has an elongated body shape, strongly tapering toward the tail plumage. The coloration varies greatly, in young fish is dominated by white color, the dorsal plumage has a dark spot, and the head is colored in red and yellow. As the fish grow up, their coloration changes to blue-green, the body shows a pattern consisting of different thickness of the stripes, and on the head - a pattern in the form of dots. In general, Cetoscarus bicolor is very attractive fish. Sexual differences are not pronounced. Fish are hermaphrodites and are able to change their sex from female to male and vice versa. In nature, the size of fish reaches 90 cm.
Cetoscarus bicolor, despite its huge size, the fish is very quiet. To keep these fish need a very large aquarium volume of at least 5000 liters. Of course, an aquarium of this size at home to contain the problematic, so these fish can only be found in demonstration aquariums.
Water parameters: temperature 24-28° C, hardness dH 5-15°, pH 8,1-8,4. Requires enhanced aeration and filtration of water.
In aquarium conditions the fish are fed seaweed, frozen seafood, mussel meat, flaky dry food containing spirulina, chironomid. Fish eat a lot, so you will need a lot of food. Feed the fish 1 or 2 times a day.
Reproduction
Cetoscarus bicolor do not breed under aquarium conditions. All fish, which are very rare to find in the trade, are supplied to the local market from their natural habitat.
Cetoscarus bicolor has a lifespan of about 12 years.