Cephalopholis polleni

Download Reef App on Google Play or App Store
Get it on Google Play Get it on App Store
Facts
Latin name Cephalopholis polleni - (Bleeker, 1868)
Local name Harlequin hind
Family Serranidae - Cephalopholis
Origin East Indian Ocean, Australia, Indonesia, Central/West Pacific
Max length 43 cm (16.9")
As aquarium fish
Minimum volume 1000 l (264 gal)
Hardiness Hardy
Suitable for aquarium Suitable for special aquariums
Reef safe Reef safe with caution
Aggressiveness Might be aggressive towards other species
Feed
Recommended Fish
Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...)
Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)
Beware of
Grows fast

This species grows very quickly if fed well.

Threat to fish and crustaceans

This species eats all kinds of fish, shrimps, crabs etc. which are of suitable size.

Deep sea aquarium

This species lives naturaly in deep water and is therefore best suited in an aquarium which simulates this, in having dimmed lighting.

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.

Expensive

This species demands a much higher price than similar species.

Heavy load

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

Hiding places

This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks.

Can be aggressive

This species can be aggressive when kept together with fish that are very similar, or if they are not provided with adequate 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
Family description (Serranidae)

The Sea Bass family (Serranidae) spans a broad spectrum with regards to how suitable they are to aquaria, as some are best suited to specialist or larger aquaria, while other are often seen in reef aquaria.

Below are described the five subfamilies one sees most often in aquaria. There are however other species one can also keep under the right circumstances, but these are for the most, large predatory fish.

Anthias (Anthiinae)
The Anthias species spans over many different genera, but the most common is the Pseudanthias genus. They mostly have an attractive orange or pink shade.

They are generally all reef safe and peaceful.
There is however a large difference to their food requirements, some species demand constant feeding, whereas others can get used to being fed once a day.

The easiest species are the following: P. bartelettorum, Anthias, Luzonichthys, Nemanthias, Odontanthias, Pseudanthias, Sacura and Serranocirrhitus

Liopropomatinae
This subfamily encompasses some of the smallest fish in the Serranidae family, they can be very colourful but shy. The Liopropoma genus encompasses many species which are suitable for aquaria, however they normally thrive best in a very peaceful- or nano aquarium.

Grouper (Epinephelinae)
These fish grow typically too large for most home aquaria. There are however some species that do lend themselves to the slightly bigger domestic aquarium. Several of the species look very impressive and often have a interesting personality, and they often recognize the aquarist and will become tame over time. 

Groupers are predatory fish and eat everything they can swallow; fish, crabs, shrimps and sometimes other invertebrates. Like most large predatory fish they excrete a lot of nutrients to the water, so one therefore needs a good filter system.

Groupers include among others the following genera: Aethaloperca, Cephalopholis, Chromileptes, Epinephelus, Paranthias and Pogonoperca

Soapfishes (Grammistinae)
These fish are like the Groupers predatory fish, but they do not typically, grow so large. They are relatively hardy, but some of the species demand a thorough preperation if one wants to be successful.

Soapfishes are generally very shy and will often hide under an overhang during the day, and hunt at night.

Soapfishes include among others the genera: Grammistes

Serraninae
The most common genera in captivity is Dwarf Seabasses (Serranus) and Hamlets (Hypoplectrus).

See the description of the individual genera below.

FishBase
Aquarium trade No
Distribution Indo-Pacific: scattered insular localities from the Comoros to the Line Islands. Unknown from the Red Sea, coast of East Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Guinea, and the larger islands of Indonesia.
French common names Indienne
Danish common names Harlekin-havaborre
English common names Harlequin hind
Harlequin cod
Harlequin grouper
References and further reading

About references

Scott W. Michael. 2001. Basslets, Dottybacks & Hawkfishes: v. 2 (Reef Fishes) - TFH Publications / Microcosm Ltd. - (English)
Jim McDavid. 2007. Aquarium Fish: The Hinds of the Genus Cephalopholis - Advanced Aquarist - (English)
Bob Fenner. The Basses Called Hinds, Genus Cephalopholis, part I - Wet Web Media - (English)
Bob Fenner. The Basses Called Hinds, Genus Cephalopholis, part II - Wet Web Media - (English)
Bob Fenner. The Basses Called Hinds, Genus Cephalopholis, part III - Wet Web Media - (English)
Bob Fenner. The Coral Hind, Lapu Lapu, or Miniata Grouper, Cephalopholis miniata - Wet Web Media - (English)
WWM Crew. FAQs about the Basses called Hinds - Wet Web Media - (English)

Bob Fenner. The Basses, Family Serranidae - Wet Web Media - (English)