Oriental Sweetlips (Asia Pacific)

Sweetlips are large fish that make incredible display animals in the right aquarium. They are friendly with other large-bodied fishes but will greedily swallow whole any small or slender fish as well as shrimp, crabs, snails, serpent stars, and worms. They do not harm corals, but may knock over lose decor with their strong tails. They are best kept singly in all but the largest of aquaria, and then they should be added at the same time. In time they may become real pets and recognize their owner.

Sweetlips feed by sucking in their food whole into their enormous mouths. They are carnivores and should be fed at least twice a day a high quality diet of krill, silversides and chopped seafood. They are heavy feeders and thus strong filtration is necessary.

The Harlequin sweetlips is often available as a cute juvenile which will grow into a large beast. Young fish are a dark coffee color with large white polka dots edged in fiery orange. When mature they are snow white with black stripes running the length of their bodies. Bright lemon yellow highlights their nose and all fins, which also develop black freckles. Males and females are identical. The Oriental Sweetlips grows up to 34 inches and requires an aquarium of at least 300 gallons.