Fun Oriental Sweetlips Facts For Kids
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Oriental sweetlips, also known as Indian ocean oriental sweetlips, oriental blubberlips are marine ray-finned fish, which belongs to the family of the oriental fish species.
It is scientifically known as plectorhinchus vittatus or plectorhinchus orientalis.
It is a colorfully distributed fish that is mostly found in the Indian ocean and Western Pacific ocean, both in coral and rock reefs at depths from 2-25 m. It is one of the several fish species, which are commonly sold as juveniles for aquarium pets, but these fish has the potential to outgrow most home aquariums.
This fish species are carnivorous and their diet also includes sea weeds. Captive oriental sweetlips Plectorhinchus vittatus may refuse prepared or dead food offered, but prefer live foods, since they are use to hunting small living fish and insects underwater.
They are a peaceful species of fish and requires similar size tank-mates if raised in aquarium, so that they don't become prey to other fish.
They highly prefer a temperate water temperature or tropical waters, therefore the pacific ocean seems to serve them right with their temperature needs. Their population may be at threat due to climate change and overfishing.
It is quite fun to learn and understand about fish species. If you like the oriental sweetlips plectorhinchus, you may want to check out codfish and chum salmon too.
Oriental Sweetlips Interesting Facts
What type of animal is oriental sweetlips?
Oriental sweetlips fish are a type of oriental fish species.
What class of animal does oriental sweetlips belong to?
This fish belongs to the Actinopterygii class of animal.
How many oriental sweetlips are there in the world?
The total number of oriental sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus) present in the world is unknown. Their population is ongoing, but their presence is mostly confined to the Pacific ocean, and a slight decline in their numbers has been observed.
Where does Oriental Sweetlips live?
Indian ocean oriental sweetlips live in the ocean, particularly in the Indo-Pacific ocean, where the temperature is ideal.
What is an Oriental Sweetlips' habitat?
This fish species is found across the Indian Ocean and West Pacific. The juvenile is seen on reefs, always close to a coral with hiding spots, where they can quickly dart into.
They live in reefs, safe from predators until they grow adult. The adults generally hang over or near the reef during the day alone or in small groups.
Who does Oriental Sweetlips live with?
They live alone or in small groups.
How long does Oriental Sweetlips live?
The total lifespan of the oriental sweetlips is undefined. They may live between 2-10 years.
How do they reproduce?
The reproduction process or breeding season of this marine species is unknown.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of the oriental sweetlips Plectorhinchus is Not Extinct. It is believed to decline in the future, considering climate disruptions and overfishing by humans.
Oriental Sweetlips Fun Facts
What does Oriental Sweetlips look like?
The looks of juvenile and adult oriental sweetlips differ greatly, and often people confuse them as different species. Oriental sweetlips juvenile has an attractive white and brown mottled pattern, whereas adults have a black and white stripe across their body and yellowfins, along with polka dots.
They also have a yellow patch extending from the chin through the mouth to its dorsal fin. These coral fish can grow up to 27 in (70 cm) and weigh 45 oz (1.3 kg).
How cute are they?
Oriental sweetlips Plectorhinchus vittatus are attractive to look at as a colorful, appealing, and peaceful being. They are one of the cutest aquatic creatures.
How do they communicate?
It is unclear as to how they communicate, but they make grunting sounds produced by their flat teeth plates rubbing together, and they are amplified by their air bladders.
How big is Oriental Sweetlips?
Oriental sweetlips Plectorhinchus vittatus are medium-sized fish, which are slightly smaller than a chub mackerel.
How fast can an Oriental Sweetlips swim?
The swimming speed of these fish is unknown, but they are known to have a normal swimming speed.
How much does Oriental Sweetlips weigh?
Generally, these aquatic species can weigh up to 45 oz (1.3 kg).
What are their male and female names of the species?
Both the male and female species are known as oriental sweetlips.
What would you call a baby Oriental Sweetlips?
A baby oriental sweetlips are generally known as larvae or simply baby or juvenile.
What do they eat?
Their diet consists of small fish, clams, blackworms, shrimp, crustaceans, and so on. They require a large number of food daily, which makes it tough to raise them in tanks.
Are they poisonous?
No, they are not poisonous fish.
Would they make a good pet?
They would make a good pet with their calm nature, but their increasing size can be a trouble. When they are small, they are often raised in small aquariums, but quickly they outgrow the aquarium.
So, they are raised in huge tanks. Also, considering their fussy eating habits, they require only live food, and not dead ones. This can be quite hard to raise as a pet.
Did you know...
These fish goes through a dramatic color transformation, where the juvenile is totally different from the adult oriental sweetlips.
Oriental sweetlips got their name from their puffy yellow lips.
Do they bite?
It is unclear if they bite, but they rarely bite unless provoked, and if you hold them in the right way, they cannot bite you.
Do humans eat them?
It is reputed to be a tasty fish, and because of this, it is regarded as a gourmet delicacy in the Maldives. They are priced high since it is not easy to catch considering their food fussy behavior where they only prefer live foods.
It is largely consumed in Japan too. Unlike other fish, they are not high in mercury and do not have any side effects, but they are heavily priced.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these pumpkinseed fish facts and drum fish facts.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Oriental stork coloring pages.
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