Parrot fish question

[Bbentler]

Parrots I thought were supposed to get large and a TRUSTED friend of mine said one wouldnt go much past 6 inches if not stay smaller? He is well versed in saltwater aquaria, but I still want a double check cause I read they get 32 INCHES. So how small is the smallest parrot fish?

 

[ledford1]

Sounds like you're not talking about the same fish, but rather two fish that just look similar. Lunar Wrasse look something like a Parrot Fish, but even they get larger than 6". There is also a freshwater parrot fish.

 

[Bbentler]

my fish that I want looks exactly like a bicolor parrot, however, I just can't believe that the fish would wind up being that large considering what my reputable source suggests.

 

[SerranidTerror]

There are many members in the scaridae family. I believe the smallest member Leptoscarus viagiensis gets to almost 8 inches and the largest being Bolbometopon muricatum which grows to about 60 inches. Most will fall between that and get rather hefty (10-15 pounds at least) and about 2 or 3 feet in length. Beware they do not fare well in captivity, in fact I haven't seen any in the few larger public aquariums I've visited.

 

[Bbentler]

Thank you! I am beggining to believe this "parrotfish" isn't a parrotfish at all. The one I have seen is quite happy and eats quite a bit and doens't seem to have grown much over the three months the store has had him. I am quite intrigued to see what will happen with him over time.