Bicolour parrot fish

Bicolour parrot fish

The Bicolor Parrotfish, Cetoscarus bicolor, also known as the Irobudai or Two-Color Parrotfish, features a silvery white body, with an orange mask over the face, and notes of orange on the dorsal and anal fins for their juvenile coloration. As adults, their color will change to a blue or green, with highlights of pinks on the edge of their scales. Parrotfish are most closely related to the Wrasse, as they share many characteristics, as well as similar biology and body shape.

The Bicolor Parrotfish can reach up to 30″ in length and requires a tank no less than 300 gallons as a fully grown adult. As a juvenile a tank of 60-100 gallons will be OK, but only temporarily. It is also best to keep in mind that too small of an environment can stunt their growth and they can develop ‘behavior issues’. Parrotfish are also known for building mucus cocoons to protect themselves while they sleep at night, so providing plenty of live rock with naturally forming algae and live Coral is essential to help the Parrotfish adapt. Though keeping the Parrotfish with Coral can be tricky, as they do tend to chew on Corals and scrape their teeth on live rocks if not properly fed. They will not attack the Coral itself, but they can damage Corals in their search for food. Pristine water conditions are ideal, as well as a powerful filtration system and a vigorous water flow with well oxygenated water.