The Striped Squirrelfish or Sargocentron xantherythrum is commonly found in Hawaii where it is simply known as the Hawaiian Squirrelfish. This saltwater fish has a striking red coloration with white stripes along its body. While the Striped Squirrelfish is quite common to see while scuba diving, they are often kept in an aquarium as well. Reaching about 7" in maximum length, an aquarium of 80 gallons or more with plenty of live rock and hiding places is highly recommended. Water conditions of 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, and sg 1.020-1.025 are acceptable. The Striped Squirrelfish has very sharp gill spines and rougher than normal scales that can cause this fish to get snagged in netting materials. Handle with care as you can easily cut yourself. Don't worry too much though, they are not venomous, but they can cause some serious discomfort.
If you have a Striped Squirrelfish as an aquatic pet already you may notice that they tend to hide when the lights are turned on, this is because they are a nocturnal fish that is much more active at night. These fish are carnivore that will eat worms, crustaceans and starfish in the wild, but in an aquarium they can be fed live and freeze dried shrimp as will as other meaty foods. Striped Squirelfish can be kept in multiples and with other non aggressive saltwater fish if you have a large enough aquarium. You can check out the Hawaiian Squirrelfish in the video below.
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