Zebra Barred Dartfish, also known as Chinese Zebra Goby, has the scientific name Ptereleotris zebra. This fish is native to the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
It lives in reef environments and is typically found in groups at depths ranging from 6.6 to 101.7 feet, but mostly no deeper than 13 feet.
Zebra Barred Dartfish are often sold in the aquarium trade.
They prefer living in exposed seaward reefs with shallow waters over hard surfaces. These fish usually share their hiding spots with many other individuals.
They can handle strong currents and form small to large groups (aggregations). Their main diet consists of zooplankton, tiny organisms floating in water.
Zebra Barred Dartfish are safe for coral reefs.
Zebra Barred Dartfish Interesting Facts
- Zebra Barred Dartfish, found in the Indo-Pacific region, grows up to 4.7 inches (12.0 centimeters) long and thrives in shallow reef environments.
- They handle strong currents well and feed primarily on zooplankton.
- These fish are often found in groups and share hiding spots with other individuals.
- Their unique coloring includes yellowish fins, blue bands on the gill cover, and a red-purple area around the eye.
Zebra Barred Dartfish Habitat
Zebra Barred Dartfish is a tropical fish found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Its habitat ranges from the Red Sea and islands in the western Indian Ocean to areas like Line and Marquesas Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Mariana, and Marshall Islands.
This fish lives in marine environments near reefs at depths of 2 to 31 meters but is usually found between 2 to 4 meters.
It prefers water temperatures between 72°F to 82°F (22°C to 28°C) and is found in locations with latitudes of 30°N to 30°S.
| Water Temperature: | 72°F to 82°F (22°C to 28°C) |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Zebra Barred Dartfish Physical Characteristics
Size: 4.7 inches (12.0 centimeters)
Zebra Barred Dartfish grows up to 4.7 inches (12.0 centimeters) long. It has 7 dorsal spines, 27 to 29 dorsal soft rays, 1 anal spine, 25 to 28 anal soft rays, and 26 vertebrae.
Other key features of this fish include:
- Yellowish to greenish-gray color,
- A broad red-purple area edged in blue stretches from the lower half of the eye to the chin’s ventral side,
- Two bright blue diagonal bands on the opercle (gill cover),
- The base of the pectoral fin has an orange-red bar with wide blue borders,
- There is a chin barbel followed by a median longitudinal fold, and
- The fins are yellowish, with a row of blue spots on the second dorsal fin.
Zebra Barred Dartfish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gobiiformes |
| Family: | Gobiidae |
| Genus: | Ptereleotris |
| Scientific Name: | Ptereleotris zebra |
| Also Known As: | Zebra Barred Dartfish, Chinese Zebra Goby |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |