Platax piñnatus feeding.

[Saltliquid]

Hey guys I keep reading so many reefers failing with these guys, isn't it common knowledge that they are algae dependent? Algae feeders are so easy to keep!
This is mine now, it was a mess when I got, all fins chewed and skinny, now with lots of algae and more it's quite chubby, lol. I only got it take fix up for pics, I don't overly like them, it goes to a new home in a week or so then onto a monster public viewing tank in years to come.

 

[pinnatus]

I think they are one of the most beautiful fishes out there when juveniles. Not so much as they grow up. Batfish are the fastest growing fish I have ever seen. You can literally see the difference in size from day to day as they grow. And, they grow large. That being said, the pinnatus bats can be difficult to feed, much more so than orbics and tierras.

 

[SDguy]

I would think the tank bred ones being produced wouldn't have feeding issues?

But they just get so big, and even without their juvi shape, as adults they are still REALLY tall fish, too.

 

[pinnatus]

They are just a big fish. Tall and wide.

 

[Saltliquid]

This an interesting bit from a web site and very true with the algae consumption of them.
Did you know?
The latest research suggests that the Shaded Batfish (Platax pinnatus) plays a very important role in keeping the reef free of algae, eating far more algae on reefs damaged by over fishing than traditional algae-eaters such as parrotfish and surgeonfish.