Platax teira

Platax teira, commonly known as the Longfin batfish, is a very large batfish, which is only suitable for the largest home tanks and zoo's. As juveniles they look most like a very high build freshwater angelfish. As adults they lose the large fins, become more rouded and silvery white with bright yellow pelvic fins. The black verticals bands are only very faintly visible in this species.

In nature juveniles live in between debris, often in floating Sargassum weed. Adults are usually seen in small groups or sometimes form large groups and can be found in shallow as well as deeper waters. A few things to think about before purchasing a batfish are that wild caught fish can be hard to wean to food and might be susceptible to ich. Once adapted to captivity they usually pose no problems anymore.They can eat small fish and shrimps however, so make sure to pick their tankmates with care. Corals are generally left alone but some might haress anemones.