Heniochus? Good fish for 180 gallon?

[Kimo]

I have a 180 gallon tank, the current inhabitants are:

1 Zebrasoma Desjardini
2 Amphiron Percula

That's all.

I was thinking about adding 2 or 3 heniochus - I want a schooling type of fish and I think they have a neat shape. I have never kept them before.

My tank is a high flow, high light sps tank. Is this an appropriate environment for Heniochus?

Thanks for the information.

Jamie

[EdKruzel]

There are several species within the Heiochus genus.

The two most offered is the H. diphreutes:
http://www.fishbase.org/images/Hedip_u0.jpg

and the H. acuminatus:
http://www.fishbase.org/images/Heacu_u6.jpg

As you can see they are very similar fish.

However, the diphreutes is the reef safe speices while the acuminatus and other Heniochus will go from picking the occassional polyp to tank decimation.

The diphreutes has a larger, more rounded chest region and a less defined snout.
The black band on the anal fin comes all the way to the bottom corner of that fin, where as the acuminatus stops short of the corner.

The diphreutes is an excellent and hardy fish for larger tanks and provided you place all individuals (juveniles) in the tank at the same time, they will form a small harem and provide you with the school you're looking for.

Good Luck,
Ed

[Kimo]

Wow! That's great information, thanks!

I was just a my LFS and they have the H. acuminatus. When I asked them if they were reef safe, they told me that a prior customer bought 3 and then brought them back once they attacked his button polyps.

I like honest LFSs.

Thanks again for the info -

Jamie

[brett74]

My Banner. Very good fish with loads of personality. Acts like a puppy dog. It's about 5" long. No idea about reef safe I am FO.