Banana Fish - Pentapodus emeryii

Banana Fish (Pentapodus emeryii)

The Banana Fish, Pentapodus emeryii, is an unusual and attractive marine threadfin bream with a sleek blue to silver body, bright yellow striping and elegant trailing tail filaments as it matures. Also known as the Blue Whiptail, Double Whiptail, Purple Threadfin Bream or Small-toothed Whiptail, this Indo-West Pacific species is an active sand-foraging fish for larger marine aquariums. It is peaceful with suitably sized tank mates, but it is best kept with caution in reef systems because it may eat small fish, worms, crustaceans and other small invertebrates.

Common Name:
Banana Fish, Blue Whiptail, Double Whiptail, Purple Threadfin Bream, Small-toothed Whiptail, Yellow Stripe Spinecheek. Former trade name: Pentapodus nemurus.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Pentapodus emeryii
Formerly or incorrectly traded as Pentapodus nemurus.

Maximum Size:
Up to around 35 cm total length, including the long trailing tail filaments. Body length is usually smaller, but this species should still be planned for as an active, medium-to-large marine fish.

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, including north-western Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. Naturally found on clear coastal reef slopes, often over sand, rubble and reef-edge habitats where it searches the substrate and lower water column for small prey.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Hardness or Salinity: SG 1.020–1.025

Temperament:
Generally peaceful to mildly predatory. It is not usually aggressive towards similar-sized fish, but it may eat very small fish or ornamental invertebrates if they fit its feeding behaviour. Best kept with peaceful to moderately robust marine fish that are too large to be swallowed.

Diet:
Carnivorous. In the wild, it feeds on small fishes, crustaceans, brittle stars, sipunculid worms and other small benthic prey. In the aquarium, offer a varied diet of frozen mysis, enriched brineshrimp, chopped prawn, krill, clam, mussel, squid, marine fish flesh and quality carnivore pellets. Feed a varied marine-based diet and ensure food reaches the lower water column and substrate.

Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 500 litres is recommended for a single specimen, with larger aquariums preferred for long-term care. This is an active fish that needs open swimming space, mature rockwork and sandy or rubble areas for natural foraging.

Behaviour & Activity:
An active, alert fish that spends much of its time cruising above the substrate, inspecting sand, rubble and rockwork for food. It may be seen singly or in small groups in nature, but aquarium compatibility depends on tank size and individual behaviour. Adults develop long, elegant caudal filaments, so avoid fin-nipping tank mates. Provide open swimming room, secure rockwork and a covered aquarium.

Reef Safe:
Reef Safe with Caution
Generally safe with corals, as it is not a coral-grazing species. The caution is due to its predatory feeding habits: it may eat small ornamental shrimps, tiny crabs, small snails, worms, brittle stars, very small fish and other bite-sized invertebrates. It is often better suited to fish-only-with-live-rock systems or robust reef aquariums where small invertebrate losses are acceptable.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Requires a spacious aquarium, strong filtration and good oxygenation. Do not treat it as a small reef fish, as adults become active and need significant swimming room. Avoid housing with tiny gobies, small dartfish, ornamental shrimps or delicate invertebrates if these are valued. Long tail streamers can be damaged by aggressive or nippy tank mates. Best added to a mature marine aquarium with stable water quality and suitable open space.

Suitable for:
Intermediate fishkeepers

Availability:
Rare or occasional in trade

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.