Bat Fish

As a complete contrast to the smallish fish that have been described so far, we come to the giant bat fish. This fish, although often acquired at2.5-7.5cm (1-3in) long, will grow prodigiously, even in an aquarium and very soon reaches 25-30cm (10-12in) in size, being tall rather than long. It is one of the few fish that actually outgrows its immediate environment, and many autarkists are faced with the problem of either buying another tank or part-exchanging their rapidly expanding fish. Bat fish like to 'rule' a tank by swimming unhindered in the open spaces and as long as other fish do not challenge this right of way, bat fish are normally content to live with any other fish, from small gobies up to larger groupers and triggers. However, choosing tank mates can be problem.

Bat fish are normally bought when small and at that size the yare very vulnerable and can soon end up quite battered, since their only natural protection seems to be their intimidating adult size. Obviously batfish will only grow if they are sufficiently well-fed - they are constantly hungry and seemingly greedy fish that eat virtually anything. Unfortunately, this includes most invertebrates, including supposedly poisonous species such as anemones.

The round fin bat fish (Platelayer, it is the size of a plate. The orbicular is) - here with a cleaner long-finned batfish (Plat ax Tierra) is wrasse - starts off like an autumn leaf also striking as a juvenile. It’s long, drifting in the current. A few months flowing fins seem to shorten as it ages. Bat fish is generally found in Indo Pacific, Philippines etc.

Common Types of Bat Fish

Platax Orbicularis,
Platax Teira,
Platax Pinnatus

Platax Orbicularis

This is very common type of bat fish and the color of this fish is brown to copper. As this fish grows up in the size the body becomes too large in comparison to its fins. The adult bat fish is more circular in shape in contrast to other fishes in the aquarium; other fishes are mostly disc shaped. They are usually found from Japan in the north to Australia and New Caledonia, and from Africa and Red Sea in the east to Tuamotu Islands in French Polynesia in the west.

Platax Teira

This fish is also known as Long fin Bat fish, Round-faced Bat fish etc. Platax teira can grow up to 24 inches. This fish requires 170-gallon tank so that the fish can swim. We can recognize the fish by the dark mark below the fin. Platax Teira bat fish is found in central coast of Western Australia and south to the southern coast of New South Wales etc.

Platax Pinnatus

Platax pinnatus bat fish is dark brown and it has brilliant orange pin striping marking out on its whole body. These fishes are very responsive, and keep increasing the quality of water. They can grow up to the size of 18 inches. This bat fish is found in western Pacific ocean, Australia, Indian Ocean, and Red Sea etc