Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips

This fish is known as Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips, Oriental Thicklip and the correct latin name is Plectorhinchus vittatus. The family that this fish belongs to is called the Grunts family. (e) It's origin is Indo-West Pacific. (e)

Character and suggestions regarding care

Plectorhinchus Vittatus is a peaceful fish.

Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips can grow up to 80 cm what is approximately 31 inches. 1 specimen basically needs at least 9600cm² of water surface which is approximately 1488 square inch. This fish should be kept in aquariums that are very large. (e) Medium aquariums have at least 113 Litres (30 US Gallons). Large aquariums have at least 265 Litres (70 US Gallons). Capacity of very large aquariums is at least 700 Litres (185 US Gallons).

It is difficult to keep the Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips fish. (e) The specific gravity (SG) should be between 1,020 and 1,025, the temperature between 23°C (73.4°F) and 26°C (78.8°F). The pH level should be stable, varying between 8.0 and 8.3 which is usual for marine fish.

P. vittatus is a very big fish and is not suitable for home aquariums. It is not only because they are so big, but also because they live in shoals, so you should have many of them in one tank and that is for ordinary people almost impossible If you want to see them in nature, you should search for them on coral reefs. They eat crustaceans, smaller fish, squids, mollusks, blackworms and similar diet based on meaty food, because they are carnivores.

Thanks to Kenneth Leonard for the pictures. Copyright Ken Leonard.

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Related fish profiles in the database

• Anisotremus Virginicus (Porkfish)
• Haemulon Flavolineatum (French Grunt)
• Haemulon Sciurus (Bluestriped Grunt)
• Plectorhinchus Chaetodonoides (Harlequin Sweetlips)
• Plectorhinchus Flavomaculatus (Lemon Sweetlip)
• Plectorhinchus Gaterinus (Blackspotted Rubberlip)

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