Goatfish Bicolor (Parupeneus Barberinoides)

Also Known As: Half-and-Half Goatfish, Two-Tone Goatfish

Compatibility and Behavior
The Bicolor Goatfish is a striking sand forager with one of the more visually unique color schemes in the goatfish family. The front half of the body is typically a deep red, while the rear half shifts into a richer yellow or tan, with a distinct transition line cleanly dividing the two colors. Add in the sleek, elongated body, twin chin barbels, and striking white striping along the dorsal area, and you get a fish that looks like it has a real job to do as it cruises the bottom. This is a generally peaceful species that spends most of the day methodically sifting through the substrate for worms, small crustaceans, and leftover food, which makes it a great fit for larger fish-only or FOWLR systems looking for an active bottom-dweller. It coexists well with a wide variety of community fish as long as tankmates aren't highly aggressive or overly territorial around the sand bed. That said, this isn't the right fit for tanks that depend on very small ornamental shrimp, tiny crabs, or similar bite-sized invertebrates. Once a goatfish settles in, those tend to be viewed as natural prey.

Aquarium Requirements
A mature aquarium with a wide footprint is essential here, paired with plenty of open, fine sand for foraging. A soft, sugar-fine to small-grain substrate matters a lot, since the fish's sensitive barbels need to sift through it safely. Complement the sand bed with rockwork that provides caves, shaded resting spots, and clear lanes for cruising. Moderate flow is the right call. Enough to limit detritus buildup but gentle enough that the fish can work the bottom comfortably without getting pushed around. Goatfish are busy carnivores with hearty appetites, so strong biological filtration and consistent maintenance go a long way toward handling the bioload from frequent meaty feedings. Offer a varied diet of frozen mysis shrimp, finely chopped shrimp, clam, squid, and quality carnivore pellets to keep this energetic forager well fed, healthy, and focused on its natural sand-sifting behavior.

Specifications
Approximate Size: Sm/Md: .75-1.5", Lg: 1.5-2.5"
Diet: Carnivore (frozen mysis shrimp, finely chopped shrimp, clam, squid, carnivore pellets)
Origin: Indo-Pacific 
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: With caution (generally ignores corals but may prey on small crustaceans and other invertebrates)
Temperament: Peaceful, active bottom forager
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons for small
Special Considerations: Requires a soft, fine sand bed for safe foraging with the barbels; not ideal for tanks featuring small ornamental shrimp or crabs