🐠 Red Sea Bannerfish (Heniochus intermedius)
A White Body With Bold Black Stripes and a Yellow-Orange Dorsal Fin • Endemic to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden • Hardy Once Properly Acclimated
 
📋 The Red Sea Bannerfish, also known as the Red Sea Heniochus, Red Sea Golden Heniochus, or Poor Man's Moorish Idol, has an elegant white body marked with two bold black stripes, a yellow-orange soft dorsal and caudal fin, black marks above the eyes, and a pronounced, elongated white dorsal filament that moves like a banner as it swims.
This species is endemic to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, making it geographically restricted compared to its closely related cousins in the wider Heniochus genus, such as the Longfin Bannerfish and Pennant Bannerfish. Every Red Sea Bannerfish we ship is feeding well.
Unlike many butterflyfish, this species can be quite hardy once properly acclimated. It revels in swimming and needs real, ample open space, and is best maintained in pairs or small groups introduced together at the same time. This species is not reef safe, having been observed nipping at sessile invertebrates and corals, and it may pick at tube worms, crustaceans, and clam mantles if not kept well fed. It's infrequently available in the aquarium trade. It reaches up to 20cm, so a 470L tank suits it well.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 White and Black Body With a Yellow-Orange Dorsal Fin: An elegant, distinctive bannerfish
🌍 Endemic to the Red Sea: Geographically restricted compared to related species
💪 Hardy: Adapts well once properly acclimated
⚠️ Not Reef Safe: Will nip at sessile invertebrates and corals
💎 Infrequently Available: Not commonly seen in the trade