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| Platax batavianus
Cuvier 1831, the Humpback (science) or Zebra Batfish. Indo-West Pacific;
Madagascar to Indonesia. To twenty inches in height. Occasionally offered
in the trade. Should you be fortunate to chance upon a specimen Platax batavianus it's a real striker
as young, with alternating black and white banding covering it's entire body surface.
Juvenile pix (three inches tall) in N. Sulawesi and six inch tall specimen Aquarium image. |
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| Platax boersi Bleeker 1852, Boer's Batfish.
Indonesia, New Guinea, Philippines. To sixteen inches in length. Some
sub-adults in N. Sulawesi and an adult off of Mabul, Malaysia. |
 
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Platax orbicularis
(Forsskal, 1775),
the Orbiculated, or Round Batfish is the "ugly-duckling" of the genus as young,
being very plain brown and the least tall as a juvenile. At right, aquarium
specimens of a four inch tall juvenile, a ten inch high sub-adult, a
twelve
inch high intermediate off of Queensland, Australia, and one about sixteen
inches tall in N. Sulawesi.
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Platax pinnatus (Linnaeus 11758), the Pinnatus, Red-Stripe or Shaded
or Dusky Batfish
proves almost impossible to keep alive, generally refusing all food. This species is
secretive in the wild, found hiding in wrecks and other dark spots, and should be left
there. In my estimation, less than one hundredth of pinnatus bats live more than a month
in captivity. I can hear it now; "Oh Bob, I know of a guy who kept a pinnatus for
years, in low specific gravity, feeding it banana chips...". There are very few of
these success stories, I'll warrant. the
pinnatus, red-stripe or shaded batfish
proves almost impossible to keep alive, generally refusing all food. This species is
secretive in the wild, found hiding in wrecks and other dark spots, and should be left
there. In my estimation, less than one hundredth of pinnatus bats live more than a month
in captivity. I can hear it now; "Oh Bob, I know of a guy who kept a pinnatus for
years, in low specific gravity, feeding it banana chips...". There are very few of
these success stories, I'll warrant. Juvenile image on the FAQ's page. Below: a
series of ages, sizes: Two juveniles in captivity (for a short time), sub-adult in
captivity, and an older individual off of Queensland, Australia. |
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