Blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Family
Holocentridae (squirrelfishes and soldierfishes)
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
25 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
400 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
with_caution

Care

Tank and decor: a nocturnal fish with large eyes that hides in caves and under ledges by day. Provide plenty of shaded overhangs, subdued lighting and open space to swim at night. It can be kept in small groups in a large tank. Minimum tank: about 400 litres (an estimate based on its 25 cm adult size and active night-time swimming). Water: our sources give no species-specific figures, so the values here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and specific gravity 1.023–1.026. Keep nitrate low and the water well oxygenated. Identification: a red soldierfish with large eyes and a dark bar behind the head, the feature behind its common name. The list gives a maximum size of 25 cm. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Carnivorous and mainly nocturnal, feeding on small crustaceans and small fish. Give meaty frozen foods such as mysis, krill, chopped prawn and lancefish. Feed in the evening or under dim light at first, as they are most active then.

Breeding

Our sources for this page do not describe breeding. Fishes of this kind spawn in open water and have planktonic larvae, and they are not bred in home aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe with caution: it leaves corals alone but will eat small shrimps, crabs and fish that fit in its mouth. Keep it with fish of similar or larger size. It is usually peaceful towards fish it cannot eat, but some squirrelfishes defend a favoured cave.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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