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Yellow Goatfish
Goatfish

Yellow Goatfish

Parupeneus cyclostomus

Named for the solid golden-yellow color phase of this two-toned goatfish (it also comes in a blue-green form with a yellow saddle marking, hence 'Yellowsaddle/Goldsaddle'), this is a constantly-active sand-sifter that uses a pair of chin barbels to hunt worms and small crustaceans hidden in the substrate — a genuinely useful cleanup behavior, but one that puts small ornamental snails and shrimp at risk. It grows to nearly 50cm, needs a large, mature, sand-bed tank, and is a documented jumper, so a secure lid is essential.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
19.7"
Min tank
180 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe with caution
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Bottom, Sand bed
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Yellow Goatfish gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Blue-Leg Hermit CrabYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Blue-Leg Hermit Crab is on the menu.Trochus SnailYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Trochus Snail is on the menu.Astrea SnailYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Astrea Snail is on the menu.Cerith SnailYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Cerith Snail is on the menu.Nassarius SnailYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nassarius Snail is on the menu.Nerite SnailYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Nerite Snail is on the menu.Mexican Turbo SnailYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Mexican Turbo Snail is on the menu.Bumble Bee SnailYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Bumble Bee Snail is on the menu.Fighting ConchYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Fighting Conch is on the menu.Scarlet Reef Hermit CrabYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab is on the menu.Zebra Hermit CrabYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Zebra Hermit Crab is on the menu.Halloween Hermit CrabYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Halloween Hermit Crab is on the menu.Emerald CrabYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Emerald Crab is on the menu.Sally Lightfoot CrabYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Sally Lightfoot Crab is on the menu.Banded Serpent StarYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Banded Serpent Star is on the menu.Sand-Sifting StarfishYellow Goatfish hunts small cleanup-crew inverts — your Sand-Sifting Starfish is on the menu.Skunk Cleaner ShrimpYellow Goatfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Skunk Cleaner Shrimp is on the menu.Fire ShrimpYellow Goatfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Fire Shrimp is on the menu.Peppermint ShrimpYellow Goatfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Peppermint Shrimp is on the menu.Coral Banded ShrimpYellow Goatfish hunts ornamental shrimp — your Coral Banded Shrimp is on the menu.