Triplefin - Oblique-Swimming
Photo: Anna Barnett
The body is orange-brown with a red tinged head, a black eye and a wide black lengthwise stripe on each side. The only triplefins to spend most of their time swimming in loose schools, rarely resting on the bottom. Their common name comes from swimming at a slight upwards angle.
- Scientific Name
- Obliquichthys maryannae
- Habitat
- found along the north east coast of the North Island of New Zealand from depths of about 5 m to 50 m. Usually inhabiting sheltered coastlines amongst seaweeds around rocky outcroppings.
- Temperament
- Peaceful and timid
- Tank Age/Maturity
- 100 litres minium at least 12 months old
- Diet
- Oblique-swimming triplefins are plankton feeders taking their tiny copepod and euphausid crustacean food in mid-water., so require live food in the form of Brine shrimp etc.
- Special Requirements
- They don’t have a swim bladder though so have to keep on the move. They settle down at lights out and hide in the live rock. unfortunately they are a bit vulnerable as they emerge in the morning to school up.. Easily out competed for food by faster fish, does well with Weed fish and seahorses
- Size
- 8cm