Spottedtail Morwong (Cheilodactylus zonatus)
Scientific Name: Cheilodactylus zonatus
Common Name: Spottedtail Morwong
Adult Size: Up to approximately 18 inches (45 cm)
Appearance: The Spottedtail Morwong (Cheilodactylus zonatus) is a distinctive marine fish featuring a white to silvery-gray body crossed by bold diagonal reddish-orange to reddish-brown bands. Its tail is decorated with contrasting white spots, giving the species its common name. A short head, large eyes, and thick fleshy lips add to its unusual appearance.
Natural Habitat: Native to the northwestern Pacific, including waters around Japan, Korea, Taiwan, southern China, and northern Vietnam. It is typically associated with shallow coastal environments, rocky reef faces, and reef slopes.
Behavior: An active bottom-oriented fish often displaying a distinctive start-and-stop swimming pattern as it searches around the substrate and rockwork for food. Individuals may establish and defend small feeding territories, particularly from similarly sized fish.
Diet: Carnivorous. In the wild, the Spottedtail Morwong feeds primarily on small bottom-dwelling invertebrates and crustaceans. In captivity, offer a varied diet of high-quality meaty marine foods, including mysis shrimp, chopped shrimp, krill, and other appropriately sized preparations.
Aquarium Notes: Due to its potential adult size, the Spottedtail Morwong should be provided with a large, well-established marine aquarium with ample swimming room and plenty of rockwork. A sandy or mixed substrate provides opportunities for natural foraging behavior. Tankmates should be selected with its eventual adult size and feeding behavior in mind.
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