Gold Saddle Goatfish - Medium

These goatfish with yellowish-grey scale margins have a large bright yellow saddle covering on the upper half of the caudal peduncle. Some are completely yellow, while juveniles are brown with a golden spot on the caudal peduncle and blue lines on the head.

Adults become much stockier, with a prominent large underslung jaw. The overall colouration can be bluish-grey, with a large bright yellow saddle remaining on the caudal peduncle behind the second dorsal fin.

Gold Saddle Goatfish is also known as Yellowsaddle Goatfish or Yellow Goatfish. From head to tail, it has a solid golden-yellow colour. Goatfish are a relatively new addition to the hobby, but they are quickly gaining popularity.

These Goatfish are found over a large area from Rottnest Island to the offshore reefs of northwestern Australia. They're also found on the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, to at least Sydney, New South Wales, including reefs in the Coral Sea. They'te also found in the Eastern Indian Ocean are the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island. In the Indo-west-central Pacific, the species is found from the Red Sea and East Africa eastward to the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia, north to Japan's Ryukyu and Ogasawa islands, and south to Australia.

They can be found in depths of up to 125 meters, it lives in coral, rocky, or rubble areas on reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs.

Tank Recommendations for Gold Saddle Goatfish

As these active fish have a high metabolism and require small feedings several times per day, powerful filtration and protein skimming are required.

Many goatfishes use their two impressive unbranched sensory chin barbels to grub through the substrate. The Gold Saddle Goatfish spends more time in midwater than other species. Nonetheless, a fair amount of debris will be stirred up into the system whenever the goatfish disturbs the substrate, emphasizing the importance of adequate filtration.

At all times, a high level of water quality and oxygenation should be maintained. Juveniles congregate in large shoals in the wild, whereas adults are solitary.

When fully grown, this species requires a very large aquarium. It's difficult to say how big the aquarium should be, but this species is so large that it can't normally be kept in a home aquarium.

Tight-fitting tank cover slides are also essential, as these fish are expert jumpers.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The magnificent Gold Saddle Goatfish's large adult size makes this species unsuitable for all but the most spacious of show tanks or public aquaria. These nervous fish require plenty of open swimming and foraging space, as well as plenty of hiding places, a non-sharp substrate, and non-aggressive tankmates that are larger than the goatfish (which will prey on fish small enough to fit in their mouths).

Usually Compatible

This species may pose a threat to smaller fish, crustaceans, worms, and snails. However, Snappers and live Coral pose no issues for Goatfish.

Sometime Compatible

Groupers are sometimes compatible with Goatfish depending on the tank layout which may need to be quite large. up

Rarely Compatible

Because this species is shy and docile, it should be kept separately from more aggressive fish such as sharks. Considering the hunting habits of Goatfish Sea horses and Pipefish will be last in the queue for food.

Feeding your Gold Saddle Goatfish

This fish needs to be fed several times per day, especially if it is new to the tank. When the fish can find its natural food in the aquarium, it needs to be fed less frequently.

Feed small amounts several times per day, especially if the specimen is young. Provide a variety of meaty items such as krill, prawns, chopped squid, mussels, cockles, scallops, clam meat, and so on.

These fish are not well suited to aquaria because they frequently die after a few months due to malnutrition. To be successful with these fish, you must feed them a varied diet 4-5 times per day, in addition to allowing them to find their own food in the aquarium.

It can be difficult to meet their nutritional needs because they quickly consume the natural food in the tank and the amount of feeding puts a significant strain on the aquarium. They require a lot of food when they're young, but less when they're fully grown. Goatfish are naturally predators eating small fish and crustaceans.