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DANBURY AQUARIUM

Princess Parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus)

Princess Parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus)

Regular price $149.99
Regular price $179.99 Sale price $149.99
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Princess Parrots are one of the most beautiful of all the Parrots found in the Caribbean and North Atlantic Oceans. Very hardy, but not reef safe. They can grow to be 18"

Parrotfish (scientific name: scaridae) are a type of wrasse, and are best kept away from a reef tank as they will likely graze on the coral to remove algae. Their teeth are fused together to form a beak-like structure which gives them their name. Inside their throat are teeth that grind down the coral in order to separate it from the algae. They literally poop undigested coral.

Other interesting facts about parrotfish - they can change their sex and colors during their lifetime. At night some parrotfish secret mucous from an organ that is in their head. The mucous acts as a cocoon. It is believed that this is to protect them from predators. Queen parrotfish excrete this type of mucous.

Princess Parrotfish – Scarus taeniopterus, usually swim within reef boundaries that stop to scrape corals and rocks for algae. During the princess parrotfishes  juvenile phase this fish has 3 black stripes along with two white strips visible. Later in their initial phase the stripes tend to fade away to a brownish color. Finally, the terminal phase of this fish show a blue to green color. Though this parrotfish can have very pretty colorations, it is rather hard to care for. These fish tend to have higher disease rates in closed systems due to their diet. Expert aquarists that have a suitable system have had success caring for this fish. In the ocean these can be seen traveling together in packs swimming and scraping algae as they go along.

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