Parapercis schauinslandii

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Facts
Latin name Parapercis schauinslandii - (Steindachner, 1900)
Local name Redspotted sandperch
Family Pinguipedidae - Parapercis
Origin West Indian Ocean, The Mexican Golf, West Atlantic
Max length 18 cm (7.1")
As aquarium fish
Minimum volume 100 l (26 gal)
Hardiness Hardy
Suitable for aquarium Suitable with care
Reef safe Reef safe with caution
Aggressiveness Aggressive towards other species
Feed
Recommended Fish
Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...)
Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...)
Beware of
Eats tubeworms

This species likes to eat tubeworms.

Jumps out of open aquaria

This species is known to jump out of open aquaria.

Can be a threat to small fish

This spicies might be a threat to smaller fishes.

Aggressive towards bottom dwellers

This species can be very aggressive towards bottom dwelling animals.

Threat towards crustaceans

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

Small aquaria

This species can be kept in a small tank, if it is specifically equipped to meet its needs.

It is recommended however, to keep it in an aquarium which is larger then described above.

Keep in mind
Sandy substrate

This species does best in an aquarium of which 30% of the bottom is covered with sand or gravel.

For a very small tank, the area covered must be at least 50%.

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. 

Lives in a pair

This species can live as a pair (male and female).

Hermaphroditic

This species can change gender from female to male.

When a male is needed, a female changes sex and takes on the role.

Descriptions and further reading
Family description (Pinguipedidae)

Sandperches (Pinguipedidae) survive mostly on smaller invertebrates, but when fully grown they also hunt small fish and larger crustaceans.
In the wild they will often go after fish that dig in the sand, one can mimic this by placing bits of food in the sand and moving them around.

As they pose a threat to many of the shrimps and invertebrates which often inhabit aquaria, they are therefore best suited to a tank with more aggressive or larger fish.
If one organizes the aquarium to suit these fish, they can however be kept in relatively small tanks, as long as there is a large open sandy area. 

When a pair is wanted, it is best to buy them young or get two females.

FishBase
Aquarium trade Yes
Distribution Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Pitcairn (excluding Easter Island), north to Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef. Throughout Oceania. Not recorded from the Arabian Peninsula or the southern coast of Asia.
English common names Sand perch
Lyre-tail grubfish
Flagfin weaver
Redspotted sandperch
References and further reading