Care guide at a glance
Platax pinnatus
Description
A juvenile batfish, jet black with a brilliant orange margin running the whole outline of an extraordinarily tall body. Spectacular, and among the most frequently lost fish in the marine trade.
Feeding
Feeds on sponge and encrusting invertebrates in the wild. Requires sponge-based preparations, live blackworm, mysis and clam, several times daily. Many specimens refuse food entirely and starve within weeks.
Compatibility
Peaceful but extremely timid. Not reef safe - will pick at corals and anemones. Cannot compete with boisterous tankmates.
Behaviour and personality
Drifts slowly, mimicking a toxic flatworm as a juvenile. Loses the orange margin entirely with age and becomes a large plain grey disc.
Before you buy
Please be aware before buying: this species has one of the worst survival records in the marine hobby, and most specimens die of starvation within the first months. The dramatic black-and-orange juvenile is also a temporary phase - the adult is a plain grey fish 40 cm tall. Many experienced marine keepers avoid it entirely.
Livestock Delivery
DX courier delivery is £29.95 per livestock order.
Free delivery when your livestock subtotal is over £350.
Delivery is scheduled for your selected delivery date and typically arrives before 1pm.
There is no minimum order value.
Additional information:
- In-stock livestock orders will be processed and dispatched for delivery on the date selected on the cart/basket page.
- Available delivery days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
- If any stock issues affect your chosen delivery date, we will contact you as soon as possible by email or telephone.
- Shipping for dry goods is charged separately from livestock delivery and does not count towards the £350 free delivery threshold. Dry goods are dispatched according to our standard delivery policy.