Candy Snapper (Lutjanus synagris)

Description:
The Candy Snapper is reddish to silvery pink in color, with irregular yellow lines on its sides. Some specimens may have a greenish hue and diffused vertical barring. Adults will have a black spot located below the anterior portion of the soft dorsal fin that touches the lateral line.

Natural Ecology:
Candy snappers typically inhabit coral reef and sandy areas with abundant vegetation. Juvenile fish are often spotted inshore on shallow reefs of seagrass beds.

Distribution:
Western Atlantic: from North Carolina to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Behavior:
Mature Candy Snapper often found in large aggregations, especially during the spawning season.

Compatibility:
Usually ignores corals but will eat small fish and invertebrates. These fish grow large – up to 36 cm (14 in).

Food:
Proaquatix specimens have been weaned to accept a nutritionally complete pelletized diet. Freshly frozen invertebrates such as ocean plankton, Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and chopped squid will be readily accepted.