Macolor niger

Source: Michele Gardini / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Source: Julien Bidet / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Facts

Latin name	Macolor niger - (Forsskål, 1775)
Local name	Black and white snapper
Family	Lutjanidae - Macolor
Origin	East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, The Red Sea, Indonesia, Central/West Pacific
Max length	75 cm (29.5")

As aquarium fish

Minimum volume	2000 l (528 gal)
Hardiness	Average
Suitable for aquarium	Suitable with care
Reef safe	Reef safe with caution
Aggressiveness	Unknown

Feed

Recommended	Fish Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...) Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...) Zooplankton (Cyclops, pods...)

Beware of

Grows fast

This species grows very quickly if fed well.

Can be a threat to small fish

This spicies might be a threat to smaller fishes.

Threat towards crustaceans

This species poses a threat towards shrimps and crabs etc., which are relatively small.

Demand a very large aquarium when fully grown

This species needs a very large aquarium when fully grown.

Exactly how big the aquarium should be is hard to say, but the size of this species is such, that it cannot normally be kept in a home aquarium.

Keep in mind

Requires a varied diet

This species must be fed with an appropriately varied diet.

Heavy load

This species eats a great deal and demands an aquarium that can tolerate such a heavy load.

Live food

There is a greater chance of success with this species if one can supply a living feed to allow it to adapt to the tank.

Frequent feeding

This fish requires feeding several times a day, especially when newly added.

When the fish can find its natural food in the aquarium it requires less frequent feeding.

Overhangs and caves

This species thrives best in an aquarium with overhangs and caves.

Requires plenty of space for swimming.

This species revels in swimming and requires an aquarium with ample space.

Can coexist with its own species

Several specimen of this species can coexist in the same aquarium, provided they are introduced simultaneously.

Initially shy

This species can be very shy when first introduced into a new aquarium.

More aggressive fish can be introduced after this species has acclimatized.

Descriptions and further reading

Family description (Lutjanidae)

Snappers (Lutjanidae) are predatory fish, which normally live off fish and a wide range of invertebrates; typically crustaceans, but also snails, sea urchins, worms etc. They will mostly find their food on the bottom, and some species will blow in the sand to find food.

Unlike the other species, species in the Macolor, Pinjalo and Rhomboplites genera live of the larger kinds of zooplankton.

Snappers are generally fairly hardy, but are only suitable for very large aquaria. One should arrange the tank, with a large overhang or hole where they can hide.

FishBase

Aquarium trade	Yes
Distribution	Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Samoa, north to central Japan, south to Australia.
Danish common names	Sort og hvid snapper
French common names	Vivaneau plate Diable Perche blanche et noire
English common names	Black & white snapper Black and white seaperch

References and further reading

About references

Scott W. Michael. 2004. Angelfishes and Butterflyfishes (Reef Fishes Series Book 3) TFH Publications / Microcosm Ltd. - (English)
Bob Fenner. Snappers, Family Lutjanidae - Wet Web Media - (English)
WWM Crew. FAQs about Snappers, Family Lutjanidae - Wet Web Media - (English)