A Few Facts About The Zebra Turkeyfish
When first hearing about the zebra turkeyfish, it’s only natural to look for an image or photograph of the fish, as a fish with such a name is almost guaranteed to be a little unusual in appearance. The zebra turkeyfish is not a particularly large fish, typically being between 2 and 4 inches long, and makes a colorful choice for an aquarium.
The facts that the zebra turkeyfish is brightly colored, has prominent dorsal spines, 13 of them in fact, and has no known predators, suggests that this fish might be one that should be handled carefully, or best not at all. It is a rather slow moving fish and somewhat docile, or at least not particularly aggressive. If you had 13 venomous spines on your back you could probably afford to be a bit docile as well, as there wouldn’t likely be anything around stupid enough to try to make a meal of you.
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Docile But Dangerous – The venom of the zebra turkeyfish isn’t considered to be lethal, but an encounter with the spines could be exceedingly painful. The fish isn’t likely to move out of the way if you approach it, as it really has not fear of anything. The danger lies in accidentally stepping on one, or touching one that is hidden amongst coral. In other words, getting stung by one of these fish is usually going to be by accident.
This is an exceedingly beautiful fish. It is similar in appearance to members of the lionfish family. It is a member of the scorpionfish and rockfish family, scorpaenidae. Its body has a zebra like pattern on the top and near its head. As far as resemblance to a turkey is concerned, that would be the fins and tail, which are large, spiny, and colorful, resembling a male turkey putting on a display with its tail feathers.
Close relatives to the zebra turkeyfish, and other species of the genus Dendrochirus, include the Hawaiian lionfish, the Bricked fire-fish, the Shortspined Butterfly-cod, and the Double-Ocellated scorpionfish. If some of these names are familiar, it may be because that they are among the world’s most venomous fishes, and are at the same time among the world’s most brightly colored fishes. The zebra turkeyfish and its relatives most often live and feed near the bottom in shallow waters, and feed on crustaceans and smaller fish.
Turkeyfish Care – The zebra turkeyfish, as mentioned, is a good candidate for a smaller saltwater aquarium. It prefers a low light environment, and if that isn’t possible, should have a cave or some other ample hiding place. It can be placed in an aquarium with larger fish as they won’t bother it, or if they tried would soon regret it. It may eat some species of smaller fish, those which are small enough to fit in its mouth, but usually subsists on a diet of brine shrimp or other types of commercial fish food. Regular shrimp, cut into small pieces are also excellent food for a captive fish, and can be fed two or three times a week. A good filtration system is recommended to keep a captive zebra turkeyfish disease free.
Be The First On Your Block To Have One – If you are a saltwater aquarium enthusiast, this fish would be a fine candidate, assuming you don’t plan on psychically handling it. The zebra turkeyfish is considered an easy fish to care for, and most certainly is a conversation piece. The mere mention of its name will probably bring people to you door, eager to see what a fish with such a strange and unusual name actually looks like. A nice pet, but not one to be petted.
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