Horned Bannerfish

About

The horned bannerfish (Heniochus varius) is one of the more unusual members of its genus, immediately set apart by the pronounced hump behind its head and the bony protrusions above its eyes that give this fish its common name. The bold black-and-white banding pattern is classic bannerfish territory, but that humped profile makes varius easy to distinguish from its relatives. In the wild it ranges widely across the Pacific, from Indonesia east to the Society Islands and north to southern Japan, typically found along deep lagoon walls and steep outer reef slopes where algae and coral growth mix together. It tends to be solitary or travel in small groups, feeding on corals and a variety of invertebrates in its natural habitat. A diet that creates real challenges for aquarium keeping, since it may nip at corals and other sessile invertebrates in a reef setup. This is a fish better suited to a fish-only or fish-only-with-live-rock system rather than a carefully curated reef. Temperamentally it is peaceful toward other species, but it can become territorial with its own kind if space is limited, so tankmates of the same species need to be introduced thoughtfully. Its care requirements place it squarely in intermediate territory. Not a beginner fish, but manageable for someone with a bit of saltwater experience.