Goatfish
While not as common a choice for aquariums as many other species, they are typically hardy and brightly colored
Also known as the Yellowsaddle goatfish. May be up to 50cm long, has long barbels; the body is usually yellow with a bluish sheen to the dorsal part but there is a golden yellow variant.
Occurs solitarily or in groups, in all areas of the coral reefs and detrital bottom area from 1 to 95 metres depth. Uses its barbels to probe holes and force out prey.
Parupeneus multifasciatus is a Goatfish from the Pacific Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 35cm in length.
The dash-and-dot goatfish, Parupeneus barberinus, is a goatfish of the family Mullidae. The dash-and-dot goatfish has the twin chin barbels typical of goatfishes. The body color is white with a black to dark brown stripe (dash) reaching from the upper lip through the eye and along the body, followed by a black spot (dot) at the base of the caudal fin. Above the stripe, the body has a yellowish tint. Dash-and-dot goatfish from deeper water will usually have red stripes and spots. They can reach a maximum length of 60cm, making them the largest of the Mullidae family.
The dash-and-dot goatfish is considered one of the most abundant species of Parupeneus and is found in the Indo and Western Pacific Oceans. East coast of Africa, Gulf of Aden to Micronesia. Southern Japan to Australia. It is found off reef flats and lagoons on sandy bottoms up to 100 meters deep. Dash-and-dot goatfish spend most of their time moving slowly over the bottom searching for prey with their barbels. Their diet includes worms, small crustaceans, and small fish.