Bannerfish

Bannerfish

The Bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus), commonly called the longfin bannerfish or pennant coralfish, is an elegant, disc-bodied fish trailing a long white pennant from its dorsal fin. Boldly striped in black and white with yellow fins, it has the look of a moorish idol but is far hardier and easier to keep, making it a popular, graceful choice for larger marine aquariums.

It is frequently confused with its close relative the schooling bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes); the longfin bannerfish has a slightly longer snout and is more often kept singly or in pairs than in large shoals.

Natural Habitat & Origin

Heniochus acuminatus is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea to Polynesia and Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef. It inhabits protected lagoons, channels and outer reef slopes, typically at depths of around 15 to 75 metres (49–246 feet). Adults are usually seen in pairs, while juveniles are more solitary and may act as cleaners for other fish.

In the aquarium it appreciates open swimming space above the rock, with crevices and overhangs to retreat into.

Care Requirements

Maintain stable marine conditions: salinity around 1.024–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, and a temperature of about 24–26°C (75–79°F). Reaching up to about 25 cm (10 inches), it is a tall, active fish that needs a roomy tank of around 340 litres (about 90 US gallons) or more, with height as well as length to suit its body shape.

It is one of the hardier members of the butterflyfish family and adapts readily to aquarium life given good water quality and a varied diet.

Diet & Feeding

The Bannerfish is an omnivore, feeding in the wild on zooplankton, some coral polyps and benthic invertebrates. In captivity it accepts prepared foods well: offer a varied diet of frozen mysis and brine shrimp, marine preparations and foods with marine algae content. Feed several small meals a day; it is an enthusiastic, undemanding feeder.

Behavior & Temperament

This is a peaceful, sociable fish that mixes well in a calm community. It can be kept singly, as a pair, or in a small group in a large tank, where its shoaling tendencies show to best effect. It rarely troubles other fish and spends its time cruising the open water and grazing the rocks.

Tank Mates

Good companions are other peaceful marine fish — tangs, peaceful wrasses, anthias, cardinalfish and similar. Avoid aggressive species that will bully it. In a reef it is relatively well behaved compared with true butterflyfish, but because it does take the occasional coral polyp it is best described as reef-safe with caution; many keepers maintain it successfully with hardy corals.

Breeding

Heniochus acuminatus is a pelagic spawner with planktonic larvae and is not bred in the home aquarium. Trade specimens are wild-collected from across its wide Indo-Pacific range.

Common Health Issues

The Bannerfish is hardy for a butterflyfish relative but, like all marine fish, is susceptible to marine ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) and marine velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum), especially when newly imported or stressed. Quarantine new arrivals, keep water quality stable, and provide a varied diet. Given a roomy tank and a peaceful community, it is one of the most elegant and dependable large marine fish for an intermediate keeper.