Quoyi Parrotfish (The Only Reef Safe Parrotfish)

Description

Quoyi Parrotfish

Scarus quoyi

Origin: Indo-Pacific – Great Barrier Reef, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Micronesia

Size: Up to 40 cm

Reef Compatibility:

• Small Fish Safe: ✅ Yes
• Invert Safe: ✅ – but may nip at some smaller inverts
• Coral Safe: ✅ – but can disturb coral frags while grazing due to its size

Diet: Herbivore – feeds on algae and detritus by rasping surfaces with its beak-like mouth. In captivity, requires a constant supply of natural algae, supplemented with nori, spirulina, and high-quality herbivore preparations.

Care Level: Difficult – very active, requires a very large aquarium (minimum 800 L) with strong filtration and abundant grazing surfaces. Not recommended for inexperienced aquarists.

Aggression: Generally peaceful, but can become territorial with similar parrotfish or large herbivores in smaller tanks.

Captive-Bred Available: No

Notes:

The Quoyi Parrotfish is one of the more colourful and “reef-safe” members of the parrotfish family, displaying bright turquoise, purple, and green hues. Unlike many parrotfish, it is less destructive but still needs abundant rockwork to graze. Its large adult size and demanding diet make it a challenging but rewarding species for advanced aquarists with very large reef displays.

Why We Like It:

With its dazzling rainbow colours and engaging feeding behaviour, the Quoyi Parrotfish is a true reef spectacle. When kept correctly, it becomes a stunning centrepiece fish that brings a slice of the wild reef into the aquarium.