{"product_id":"stripey","title":"Stripey | Microcanthus strigatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Stripey is a smart, easy-to-keep native marine fish, marked with bold black-and-yellow horizontal bands that make it look a little like a butterflyfish. Hardy and peaceful, it is a great choice for Australian marine aquariums and even earns its keep by eating pest Aiptasia anemones. Reaching around 16 cm, it settles well into a spacious community.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMicrocanthus strigatus is a sea chub found in subtropical and temperate waters, including around Australia, where it forms schools around rocky reefs, ledges and caves. It favours cooler water than most tropical marines and shelters in groups during the day. In the aquarium it appreciates open swimming space, rocky structure with caves and stable, well-oxygenated water. It is well suited to cooler, subtropical marine setups.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe deep, laterally compressed body carries five or so bold black and golden-yellow horizontal stripes, giving a striking, high-contrast look. The fins echo the same colouration, and the overall impression is neat and eye-catching. Reaching around 16 cm, it is a medium-sized fish. Healthy specimens are bright, full-bodied and active, schooling readily where kept in groups.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a peaceful, sociable fish that does especially well in small groups, where it will often form loose schools. It mixes happily with other peaceful to semi-aggressive marines of similar size and is rarely a troublemaker itself. It is a useful natural control for Aiptasia, which it grazes readily. Give it space and calm company and it is an undemanding, rewarding fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn omnivore, the Stripey readily accepts a varied diet of frozen and dried foods including marine algae, spirulina, mysis and enriched brine shrimp. A mix of vegetable and meaty foods keeps it in good health and colour. It will also pick at Aiptasia and algae in the tank. Feed once or twice daily; it is an enthusiastic, uncomplicated feeder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of 200 L, with 400 L or more recommended, especially if keeping a group. Maintain a cooler temperature of around 20–26°C to suit its subtropical origins, along with pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Good flow, efficient filtration and stable water quality suit it well. Rocky aquascaping with caves and ledges lets it shelter and school naturally.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMicrocanthus strigatus is an egg-scattering, open-water spawner and is not routinely bred in home aquariums, as the planktonic larvae require specialised rearing. For hobbyists, the realistic aim is a healthy, well-fed group in a spacious, subtropical system rather than a breeding project.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMicrocanthus strigatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStripey (Australian Stripey)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubtropical and temperate Indo-Pacific, including Australia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–10 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful and sociable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEasy to intermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e400 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore; marine algae, spirulina and meaty frozen foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20–26°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubtropical and cooler marine and robust reef systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe with caution (may nip LPS corals; grazes Aiptasia)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other Stripeys in a group, tangs, wrasses, clownfish, damselfish and other peaceful to semi-aggressive marines of similar size.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with very aggressive or predatory fish that may harass it, and be mindful that it may nip at prized LPS corals in a reef setting.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234148172067,"sku":"AA3408-S","price":20.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234148204835,"sku":"AA3408","price":25.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55234148237603,"sku":"AA3408-L","price":30.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-16cm) \/ Australian Caught","offer_id":55351951720739,"sku":"AA3408-XL","price":35.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/stripey-43091409076515.webp?v=1790306149","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/stripey","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}