Pennant Coralfish (Heniochus acuminatus) Care Guide
Heniochus acuminatus is an Indo-Pacific bannerfish with a long white dorsal filament and black diagonal bands, often confused with the schooling bannerfish.
Overview
Heniochus acuminatus is a marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae described by Linnaeus in 1758. It has a white body with two large black diagonal bands, a long white dorsal filament, yellow rear fins, and a slightly elongated black-spotted snout. It is easily confused with the schooling bannerfish Heniochus diphreutes, but has a longer snout, darker spots and a longer rounded pelvic fin.
Taxonomy
- Family: Chaetodontidae
- Genus: Heniochus
- Scientific name: Heniochus acuminatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Common synonyms: longfin bannerfish, reef bannerfish, coachman
Habitat
The species ranges across the Indo-Pacific from the eastern coast of Africa and the Red Sea to Polynesia, and from southern Japan to the southern Great Barrier Reef. It inhabits protected lagoons, channels and outer reef slopes, with FishBase reporting a depth range of 2 to 178 m, typically 15 to 75 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 500 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness: 8-12 °dKH
- Adult size: 17-25 cm (max 25 cm TL)
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet
Heniochus acuminatus is planktivorous, feeding on zooplankton in the water column, coral polyps and occasionally benthic invertebrates. Juveniles can feed by cleaning other fishes. Because adults may take coral polyps it is considered less reliably reef-safe than H. diphreutes.
Compatibility
The species is peaceful and mid-water swimming; adults are usually seen in pairs while juveniles are solitary. Suitable companions include tangs, wrasses and other large peaceful fish; aggressive triggerfish and reef tanks with LPS and soft corals should be avoided.
Breeding
Heniochus acuminatus is oviparous with a pelagic larval stage and forms pairs during breeding. Captive breeding is not commonly achieved.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern globally (assessed 2009); Persian Gulf populations are assessed as Vulnerable due to damaged and fragmented reefs.