Platax orbicularis

Source: JJPhoto.dk

Source: Chaloklum Diving / CC BY 3.0

Source: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Source: JJPhoto.dk

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Facts

Latin name	Platax orbicularis - (Forsskål, 1775)
Local name	Orbicular batfish
Family	Ephippidae - Platax
Origin	East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, The Red Sea, Indonesia, East Pacific, Central/West Pacific
Max length	60 cm (23.6")

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-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia and New Caledonia. Recorded off the coast of Florida in the Western Central Atlantic (Ref. 51238).
English common names	Round batfish Copper batfish Orbicular batfish Orbiculate batfish Batfish Circular spadefish batfish Circular batfish
French common names	Feuilles de palétuviers Platax rond Poule d'eau Poisson chauve-souris orbiculaire
German common names	Fledermausfisch
Danish common names	Almindelig flagermusfisk

References and further reading

About references

Bob Fenner. Crazy About Batfishes, But Not Spades, Family, Ephippidae - Wet Web Media - (English)