Old Wife Fish
Enoplosus armatus
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
|---|
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | No |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 180 gallons |
| Max Size | 18 inches |
| Temperature | 70–74°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.020–1.023 |
The Old Wife Fish (Enoplosus armatus) is a temperate Australian marine fish with a deep, laterally-compressed body and bold black vertical striping over a silver base. It’s known for its long, sickle-like second dorsal fin and its distinctive “zebra” pattern that stands out in large, cooler-water saltwater displays.
What You’ll Observe:
- Regular cruising in open water with frequent pauses near rockwork and ledges
- A steady daily pattern where it becomes most visible around feeding time
- Confident, deliberate strikes at meaty foods as they drift through the water column
- In larger systems, a calm presence that helps define the “center” of the aquarium
To succeed long-term, provide a large aquarium with ample swimming room plus live rock arranged to create caves and shaded retreats. Offer a variety of chopped marine meaty foods, and keep feeding consistent so it settles into a predictable routine. If you plan to keep more than one, introduce them together so they establish the tank as a shared space.
Can temperate marine fish be slowly acclimated to a typical warm-water marine aquarium?
Most hobbyists report that long-term success comes from matching the fish to a temperate system rather than trying to “meet in the middle” on temperature.
What equipment planning matters most for a temperate fish system?
A dependable cooling strategy and controller-based safeguards are commonly emphasized, especially for seasonal room-temperature swings.
Does extra aeration or surface agitation matter more in cooler systems?
Many hobbyists focus on maintaining strong gas exchange (good surface movement and stable circulation) as part of an overall “temperate stability” approach.
Is it realistic to build a display around temperate fish instead of a traditional reef?
Yes—keepers often frame it as its own category of marine aquarium, planned around temperate livestock choices rather than tropical coral norms.
If I already keep tropical tanks, what’s the main mindset shift with temperate species?
The recurring theme is consistency: choose livestock that fits the system you can hold steady, and build the stocking plan around that baseline.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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