Time to dive back into saltwater! This week's species is Quoy's Parrotfish (Scarus quoyi).
Quoy's parrotfish is named after Jean René Constant Quoy (1790–1869), a French naval surgeon and zoologist who discovered several marine species. This parrotfish can be found in the tropical Indo-pacific ocean from India to the Great Barrier Reef. It spends most of its time alone or in small groups grazing on algae among rocks and coral. Like many reef fish it will sleep within a mucous bubble to stay hidden from predators. Many parrotfish species are sequential hermaphrodites; fish start as females and can irreversibly change into males when needed, such as to replace a dominant male. Females or immature males are dull in color, normally a brown or gray with pale green patches. Terminal phase males are noticeably brighter and can range from a vivid blue-green color to bright pink with green patches on the face and tail. Males and females form distinct pairs during breeding. Adults can reach 40 cm (~15 inches) in length and are very active fish, so they are best kept by experienced aquarists with large tanks. The diet should be diverse but primarily consist of algae. Live rock is essential for the parrotfish to maintain a healthy beak.
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