Spotted Sweetlips

Spotted Sweetlips: The Transformative Giant

The Spotted Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides) is one of the most unique and challenging species in the marine hobby. Juveniles are celebrated for their dramatic, cartoonish pattern of brown and large white spots, and for their peculiar "head-down," undulating swimming motion, which is believed to mimic a toxic flatworm to deter predators.

This species undergoes a complete transformation as it matures: the striking juvenile pattern fades into a gray or white body covered in dense dark spots, and its personality shifts from a shy bottom-dweller to a nocturnal, semi-aggressive predator. Most importantly, the Spotted Sweetlips achieves a massive adult size, often reaching 24 to 28 inches.

Due to its specialized care requirements, potential size, and delicate nature, this fish is strictly for the Expert-Only aquarist or public institutions.

Expert Care & Massive Requirements

The primary challenge in keeping this fish is feeding. Juveniles are notoriously **difficult to acclimate to prepared foods** and often require live feeder shrimp or black worms to initiate a feeding response. Once eating, they demand a highly varied, meaty, carnivore diet (squid, krill, fish flesh) fed multiple times daily. This heavy feeding regimen, combined with their eventual massive size, necessitates an advanced life support system and a minimum adult tank size of **500 gallons or larger**.

Compatibility: While peaceful as a juvenile, this fish will consume any crustacean, mollusk, worm, or fish small enough to fit in its large mouth as it grows, making it **NOT Reef Safe**. It is also easily intimidated by overly aggressive tank mates.

Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides
• Common Names: Harlequin Sweetlips, Clown Sweetlips, Harlequin Sweetlips
• Origin: Indo-Pacific
• Max Size: Up to 28 inches
• Temperament: Semi-Aggressive (as an adult predator)
• Diet: Carnivore (Difficult to feed; requires live/meaty foods)
• Minimum Tank Size: 500+ Gallons (Expert Only)