Platax teira

Download Reef App on Google Play or App Store
Get it on Google Play Get it on App Store
Facts
Latin name Platax teira - (Forsskål, 1775)
Local name Longfin batfish
Family Ephippidae - Platax
Origin East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, The Red Sea, Indonesia, Central/West Pacific
Max length 70 cm (27.6")
As aquarium fish
Minimum volume 2000 l (528 gal)
Hardiness Average
Suitable for aquarium Suitable with care
Reef safe Not reef safe
Aggressiveness Mostly peaceful but might be aggressive towards similar species
Feed
Recommended Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...)
Macroalgea (Eg. seaweed / nori)
Other invertebrates
Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)
Maybee Large polyp stone coral (LPS)
Small polyp stone coral (SPS)
Soft coral
Beware of
Can be a threat to anemones

This species likes eating anemones.

Threat towards crustaceans

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

Subsceptible to ich

This species is easily susceptible to Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritants), when stressed by other fish, bad water quality, or when relocated.

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.

Likes to hide at first

These fish may well hide themselves for a while, whilst getting acclimatized.

Do not disturb the fish while acclimating because it will prolong the process.

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.

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
Genus description (Platax)

Batfishes are not well suited to coral aquaria, as they pose a threat to shrimps, anemones, corals and other invertebrates.
They grow fairly quickly, a small fish can grow to be 25 cm in height within a couple of months. 

These fish will begin eating quickly, with the exception of Platax pinnatus, but will sometimes hide for a few days after being transported.
Be careful when catching the fish as their fins are easily damaged.

Batfishes should be fed with both algae based foods and different types of frozen food or seafood.

Family description (Ephippidae)

Many Spadefish cannot adjust to captivity and become much too big, but several species of the Batfish (Platax genus) can be kept in a large aquarium. 

FishBase
Aquarium trade Yes
Distribution Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. Recorded in Bay of Islands, New Zealand (Ref. 35942).
English common names Tiera batfish
Teira batfish
Tall-fin batfish
Longfin batfish
Longfin spadefish
Danish common names Langfinnet flagermusfisk
French common names Platax à longues nageoires
References and further reading