Scarus psittacus
| Latin name | Scarus psittacus - Forsskål, 1775 |
|---|---|
| Local name | Common parrotfish |
| Family | Scaridae - Scarus |
| Origin | East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, The Red Sea, Indonesia, New Zealand, Central/West Pacific |
| Max length | 30 cm (11.8") |
| Minimum volume |
2000 l (528 gal) 
|
|---|---|
| Hardiness |
Average
|
| Suitable for aquarium |
Suitable with care
|
| Reef safe |
Unknown
|
| Aggressiveness | Peaceful |
| Recommended |
Macroalgea (Eg. seaweed / nori) Microalgea (Eg. spirulina) |
|---|---|
| Maybee |
Large polyp stone coral (LPS) Small polyp stone coral (SPS) |
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.
This species eats a great deal and demands an aquarium that can tolerate such a heavy load.
This species often has a fun and interesting personality.
This species revels in swimming and requires an aquarium with ample space.
This species can change gender from female to male.
When a male is needed, a female changes sex and takes on the role.
This species can eat large amounts of algae (relative to their size) from rocks, like green hair algae and filamentous algae.
As it doesn’t eat every algae type, in case of a specific algae plague, find out more precise information.
Parrotfish (Scaridae) are effective algae eaters for the reef, but some species will also live off rock corals.
Many of these fish will grow too big for most domestic aquaria, although there are some exceptions.
Parrotfish will generally eat a lot and often, which must be taken into account.
It is an advantage to have lots of algae in the aquarium which they can graze on.
These fish will sleep in a mucus cocoon between stones.
The species most often seen in tanks is Scarus quoyi, which is suitable for coral aquaria. It does have a large appetite, so the aquarium must have good filtration.
| Aquarium trade | Yes |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa (Ref. 5490) and east to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia and Lord Howe Island. |
| English common names |
Rosy-cheek parrotfish Common parrotfish Palenose parrotfish Palenosed parrot Batavian parrotfish |
| French common names |
Perroquet prairie |
Bob Fenner. Parrotfishes, Family Scaridae - Wet Web Media - (English)
Scott W. Michael. 2009. Wrasses and Parrotfishes (Reef Fishes Series Book 5) - TFH Publications / Microcosm Ltd. - (English)
Joshua Wiegert. Parrotfish: Good or Bad for the Hobby? - Tropical Fish Hobbyist - (English)