Platax pinnatus

Platax pinnatus, commonly known as the Dusky batfish, is a large batfish, which is only suitable for the largest home tanks and zoo's. As juveniles these are some of the most beautiful fishes in the world! They've a pitch black body with a bright orange outline around the entire fish. Combined with their large long fins, these fish are about as amazing as they can be. Unfortunately, they don't stay this way... As adults they lose the large fins, become more rouded and silvery with dark broad vertical bands.

In nature juveniles live close to the mangrove forests or shallow reefs, but adults are usually seen in solitary in deeper waters close to steep reefs. A few things to think about before purchasing a batfish are that wild caught fish can be hard to wean to food and might be susceptible to ich. Once adapted to captivity they usually pose no problems anymore. They can eat small fish and shrimps however, so make sure to pick their tankmates with care. Corals are generally left alone but some might haress anemones.