Triplefin - Blue Dot

• Yellow orange head covered with large bright red spots back as far as the first dorsal fin.  Upper half of body is a series of dark blue-black square areas, with an iridescent blue spot joining between each square. Smallest triple fin in NZ.  Grows to about 5cm.  

   

   

   

• Scientific Name: Notoclinops Caerulepunctus
• Habitat: Usually found in reef areas of broken rock. From rock pools and sub-tidal areas down to 30 metres around the eastern side of the Upper North Island
• Temperament: Peaceful,
• Tank Age/Maturity: Mature tank at least 6 months and a minimum of 100 litres.
• Diet: Require live food as in the wild they feed on small crustaceans such as amphipods.  In the aquarium they can be fed on mysid shrimp, mosquito wrigglers, daphnia, whiteworms and hatched brineshrimp.  Will also remove parasites from large fish
• Threatened Species: N/A
• Special Requirements:  Keep only in a mature cycled aquarium.  Must have moderate to gentle currents as they are not strong swimmers and to enable them to feed properly.  Very hard to get to accept frozen foods  .Easily outcompeted for food by faster fish but do well with other less hardy triplefins, weedfish, pipefish and seahorses
• Endemic: Yes
• Size: 5cm