Sand Tilefish (Malacanthus plumieri)
Fish in the family Malacanthidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe.
Quick facts
Appearance
Elongated, slender body with a distinctive profile featuring a pointed snout and dorsal fin that extends nearly the entire body length. Coloration ranges from tan to brownish-gray with fine blue lines and markings; juveniles are often more colorful with blue striations.
Diet and feeding
Feed small live or frozen foods including copepods, mysid shrimp, and finely chopped seafood. They are bottom feeders that may graze on small crustaceans and are best fed once or twice daily in small portions to match their natural feeding behavior.
Difficulty and care for the Sand Tilefish
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Common health issues
Marine ich, Fin rot, Swim bladder disorder, Columnaris disease, White spot syndrome
Origin and habitat
Western Atlantic, from Florida and the Bahamas south through the Caribbean to Brazil, typically found in deep reef environments.
Log Sand Tilefish in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Sand Tilefish alongside everything else in your reef.
Related Fish
