Chinese Trumpetfish Care Guide
Aulostomus chinensis is an Indo-Pacific predator with an elongated, tubular body that stalks prey using stealth and shadow-stalking.
Overview
Aulostomus chinensis, the Chinese Trumpetfish, is a predatory fish of the family Aulostomidae. It has an elongated, laterally compressed body and a long tubular snout with a small barbel at its tip. Body coloration ranges from grey, brown or dark green to bright yellow, with the rear body often black with white dots.
Taxonomy
- Family: Aulostomidae
- Genus: Aulostomus
- Scientific name: Aulostomus chinensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species ranges across the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to Hawaii and Easter Island, north to southern Japan and south to Lord Howe Island, with records in the eastern central Pacific. It inhabits clear, shallow water in rocky and coral areas of protected and seaward reefs and is benthopelagic, occurring from the surface to about 122 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1000 L (about 264 gal)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Water flow: medium
- Lifespan: 10-20 years (KB record)
Diet
FishBase reports the Chinese Trumpetfish preys on small fishes and shrimps. It is a slow-moving predator that relies partly on stealth and camouflage, often darting down vertically on prey. The KB record classifies it as a carnivore fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
The species is usually solitary and, although peaceful toward fish too large to swallow, will eat small fish. The KB record recommends large peaceful tankmates and advises against small fish that can be eaten.
Behavior
Wikipedia describes two stealth techniques: ambushing prey while motionless near corals or gorgonians, and shadow-stalking, in which the fish follows larger animals such as groupers, jacks or even sea turtles to approach prey unnoticed. It is diurnal.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2024).