Parrotfish are brightly colored tropical fish that spend the majority of their day eating algae from coral reefs. This almost incessant eating habit accomplishes the vital role of cleaning the reefs, allowing the corals to remain healthy and growing. There are around 60 kinds of parrotfish that dwell in reefs throughout the world, but they all live for about 5-7 years and grow to a maximum length of 1-4 feet. They normally feed during the day and sleep at night, either by enclosing themselves in a mucus cocoon or by locating a hiding hole in the coral.
They change sex all through their lives, shifting from female to male as they get older. When there are many smaller, duller females, one big, rich-colored male will protect them and give them all the sperm they need to mate. However, as females mature, they frequently switch sexes and then challenge other males for leadership of the community. This is referred to as "protogynous hermaphroditism," and each time they undergo this process, their color changes dramatically as well.
Hundreds of bump-head parrotfish assemble en masse under the light of a full moon, a practice known as "lek mating." Males will beat their heads together to protect their territory, then put on displays for females when they pass by. Fertilization will be possible when they release their eggs and sperm into the water together.
Parrotfish Facts
Parrotfish are named by their unusual teeth, which distinguishes them from other fish, especially other labrids. Their teeth are arrayed in a closely packed pattern on the outside of their jawbones, generating a parrot-like beak with which they eat algae from coral and other stony substrates.
Maximum sizes vary considerably within the family, although the majority of species reach a maximum length of 30–50 cm. However, a few species can grow over 1 meter long like green humphead parrotfish reaching up to 1.3 meters. The bluelip parrotfish is the tiniest of the species, reaching a maximum size of 13 cm.
Parrotfish Habitat
Parrotfish prefer shallow oceans, as coral thrives in locations with abundant light. They live in both tropical and subtropical environments. Coral reefs are their preferred habitat, but they can thrive in seagrass beds and along rocky shores.
Parrotfish Diet
Parrotfish are bright, tropical fish that spend most of their time eating algae from coral reefs. This almost continual eating performs the vital role of cleaning the reefs, allowing the corals to remain healthy and growing.
There are around 60 species of parrotfish that dwell on reefs all over the world, but they all live for about 5-7 years and grow to be 1-4 feet long. They normally feed during the day and sleep at night, either by wrapping themselves in a mucus cocoon or by locating a hiding hole in the coral.
Parrotfish Teeth
Each parrotfish has approximately 1,000 teeth, which are arranged in 15 rows and cemented together to form the beak structure used for biting into the coral. The teeth eventually wear out and fall to the ocean floor. This is not an issue for the parrotfish, as another array of teeth is located directly below the first, ready to munch on coral.
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