Orbicular batfish

Orbicular batfish
Platax orbicularis
Max. size : 50 cm

Geographical distribution:

Indian Pacifical regions

Biology:

These fishes live in the coastal lagoons, and often gather in harbours around boats. The fish farming is recent in Taiwan but also in Thailand.
It can live 20 years, and more in captivity: the numerous platax in the Great Aquarium are 10 years old. The youngest ones are easily recognizable because they have proportionally bigger fins than the adults.
The Great Aquarium also has a rare species of platax, called “Chaetodipterus faber”, who lives in the Carribbean islands. You can see them  in the Mangrove area with the lookdown fishes.
These fishes are used to imitate floating dead leaves. This happened when these fishes arrived in our quarantine rooms.

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