Bicolour parrotfish

The bicolour parrotfish is a very large Indo-Pacific reef species reaching around 90 cm, undergoing a dramatic change from a white-and-orange juvenile to a green, pink-scaled terminal adult. Using its fused, beak-like teeth it scrapes algae, coral and rock, grinding the substrate and playing a major role in reef bioerosion and sand production. This grazing habit and immense adult size make it unsuitable for all but the largest public or research aquaria; it is not a realistic home-aquarium fish. It requires stable, fully marine reef conditions with pristine, well-oxygenated water and abundant live rock for continuous grazing. Generally peaceful toward other fish, it will nonetheless demolish coral and rockwork. Diet is essentially herbivorous, based on algae, benthic turf and encrusting growth. Only for advanced keepers with vast systems.