Scarlet squirrelfish (Sargocentron tiere) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Family
Holocentridae (squirrelfishes and soldierfishes)
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
33 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
500 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. Minimum tank: about 500 litres (an estimate based on its 33 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 squirrelfish with a sharp spine on the gill cover; handle it carefully, as the spine can injure hands and catch in nets. The list gives a maximum size of 33 cm. 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). 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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  • Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
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