Balistes vetula Breeding Information

Species Data

Species:	Balistes vetula
Has Successfully been bred and raised in captivity Reference: http://www.marinebreeder.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=190&t=5375 http://www.worldzootoday.com/2009/09/28/hatching-a-marine-breakthrough/
Class:	C
Synonyms:	Balistes bellus, Balistes equestris
Environment:	Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 275 m (Ref. 4727 ), usually 3 - 30 m (Ref. 40849 )
Size/Weight/Age:	Max length : 60.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251 ); common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217 ); max. published weight: 5,440 g (Ref. 4699 ) - Length at first maturity Lm 23.5 range ? - ? cm
Distribution:	Eastern Atlantic: Ascension, Cape Verde, and Azores (Ref. 7348 ); ranges south to southern Angola (Ref. 4420 ). Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951 ) to Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Brazil (Ref. 7251 ).
Description:	Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 29-32; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 27 - 29. Greenish or bluish gray on back, orange-yellow on lower part of head and abdomen, with two broad diagonal curved bright blue bands running from snout to below and in front of pectoral fins, the lowermost continuous with a blue ring around lips; a broad blue bar across caudal peduncle, and blue sub-marginal bands in median fins (Ref. 13442 ).
Biology:	Found over rocky or coral areas (Ref. 5217 ). May form schools, sometimes solitary over sand and grassy areas. Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 4727 ). It preys on sea urchins by blowing water to overturn it and then attacks it where the spines are short (Ref. 9710 ). Excellent food fish but occasionally can cause intoxication due to the liver.
Data Sheet:	http://www.fishbase.org/summary/speciessummary.php?id=19
WoRMS:	http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxlist&tName=Balistes vetula
Classification Request:	Click to View Classification Request

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