Dogfish prientalis (Plectorhinchus lineatus) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Yellowbanded sweetlips, Diagonal-banded sweetlips, Oblique-banded sweetlips, Goldman's sweetlips, Lined sweetlips, Many-lined sweetlips, Striped sweetlips, Lined blubber-lips
Family
Haemulidae (grunts and sweetlips)
Origin
Eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific, from Indonesia to New Caledonia, Australia and southern Japan; coral reefs at 1–35 m.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
86 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.020–1.025
Care level
expert
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
no

Care

The list name "Dogfish prientalis" appears to be an error; this fish is usually known as the yellowbanded or diagonal-banded sweetlips. The list gives 86 cm; the article gives 72 cm. Either way it is a large, active fish suited only to public-aquarium-sized systems, not home aquaria. The sources give no water figures, so the temperature, pH and salinity shown are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, specific gravity 1.020–1.025 (fish-only systems). Mostly nocturnal; adults rest by day near coral heads, alone or in groups. Juveniles carry a few dark horizontal bands that break up with age into the adult pattern of dark diagonal lines. Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plectorhinchuslineatus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Forages at night over sand and seagrass for invertebrates living on the bottom. In captivity it needs varied meaty foods such as chopped seafood, krill and mysis; juveniles can be slow to start feeding.

Breeding

Forms pairs to spawn; spawning gatherings have been seen off Palau around the new moon. Not bred in home aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe; eats crustaceans and other invertebrates. Peaceful towards fish too large to swallow.

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

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