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Zebra Dartfish
Dartfish

Zebra Dartfish

Ptereleotris zebra

A peaceful, shoaling dartfish that hovers just above the rock in loose groups, darting into a burrow at the first sign of trouble. Pale green-blue with fine red bars, it is a plankton picker that ignores corals, shrimp and snails, so it suits a calm community reef. Its one real demand is a tight-fitting lid — like all dartfish it is a committed jumper, and an open tank almost guarantees a carpet surf. Best kept as a small group in a tank with open swimming space and several escape holes.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
4.7"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Planktivore
Zone
Bottom, Mid-water
Best in a shoal of 3+.
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Tankmates

How Zebra Dartfish 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.

Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Purple DottybackAggressive dottybacks single out small peaceful dartfish and gobies; the zebra dartfish is harassed and prevented from feeding.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Fiji Blue Devil DamselThis damsel defends its territory against any fish that comes near; a timid zebra dartfish is bullied into permanent hiding.Domino DamselAdult domino damsels bully small timid fish; a peaceful zebra dartfish is harassed off its feeding station and driven to hide.Neon Velvet DamselA mature neon velvet damsel picks on smaller, weaker fish; a timid zebra dartfish is a likely victim.Arc-Eye HawkfishTimid dartfish are harassed by the bold, territorial Arc-eye and driven off feeding.Marine BettaA marine betta will stalk and swallow small slender fish at night; a zebra dartfish is small enough to be eaten.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Zebra Dartfish.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Zebra Dartfish.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Zebra Dartfish.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Zebra Dartfish.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Zebra Dartfish.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Zebra Dartfish.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Zebra Dartfish.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Zebra Dartfish.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Blonde Naso TangBlonde Naso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.Desjardini Sailfin TangDesjardini Sailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Zebra Dartfish and may harass it.