Razorfish (Aeoliscus strigatus)
The Razorfish, also known as the Shrimpfish or Grooved Shrimpfish, is one of the most bizarre and captivating creatures you can find in the reefs of Indonesia. It looks more like a piece of silver driftwood or a blade of grass than a fish. Their most famous trait is their swimming posture: they spend almost their entire lives swimming vertically (head-down).
Key Information
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Common Names: Razorfish, Shrimpfish, Jointed Razorfish
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Scientific Name: Aeoliscus strigatus
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Origin: Indo-Pacific (Indonesia, Philippines, to Australia)
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Max Size: 14–15 cm (approx. 5.5 inches)
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Lifespan: 3–5 years
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Temperament: Very Peaceful / Shy
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Diet: Carnivore – Specialized micro-predator
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Care Level: Difficult (Expert only)
Appearance & Identification
The Razorfish is built like a precision tool:
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The Body: Extremely thin and laterally compressed (like a razor blade). Its body is encased in transparent, bony plates that act like a suit of armor.
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The Stripe: A prominent dark horizontal line (which appears vertical when they swim) runs from the snout all the way to the tail.
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The Snout: A long, tubular, bird-like snout used to "pipette" tiny crustaceans out of the water column or from between sea urchin spines.
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The Tail: Interestingly, their "tail" is actually a dorsal spine that has moved to the back of the body; their real tail is tucked underneath!
Behaviour & Tank Compatibility
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Vertical Living: They move in a synchronized, "dancing" fashion. In the wild, they often hide among the long spines of Diadema Sea Urchins for protection.
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Schooling: They are obligate schoolers. You should never keep a Razorfish alone; they must be in groups of 3 to 5 or more. A lone Razorfish will likely die of stress.
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Reef Safe: 100% Reef Safe. They are completely harmless to corals and sessile invertebrates.
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Tank Mates: Must be kept with extremely peaceful, slow-moving fish. They are easily outcompeted for food and can be bullied by even moderately active fish. Excellent with Seahorses, Pipefish, and Dragonets. Avoid Wrasses, Tangs, or aggressive Damsels.
Ideal Tank Setup
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Tank Size: A minimum of 115L (30 Gallons) for a small group, but the tank must be tall to accommodate their vertical swimming.
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The Urchin Connection: They feel much more secure if you provide a Long-spine Sea Urchin (Diadema) or a fake "Urchin" made of plastic rods. They will hover between the spines for safety.
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Water Flow: They prefer low flow. High-velocity wavemakers will blow them around the tank and prevent them from feeding properly.
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Maturity: Like Dragonets, they require an established reef with a thriving population of copepods.
Dietary Needs: The Main Challenge
This is the hardest part of Razorfish husbandry:
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The Diet: They are planktivores. They eat tiny, live swimming crustaceans.
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Feeding Frequency: They must be fed 3–5 times per day with live or very high-quality frozen foods like Cyclops, Nutramar Tigrio, or baby brine shrimp.
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Note: They rarely "chase" food across the tank; the food needs to drift past their snouts.
Why Choose the Razorfish?
The Razorfish is for the specialist aquarist who wants to create a unique, "macro" style reef or a dedicated seahorse tank. They are not "showy" in the traditional sense, but their synchronized, head-down swimming is one of the most hypnotic sights in the hobby. If you are a fan of unusual biology and have the patience for multiple daily feedings, the Razorfish is a masterpiece of Indonesian marine life.
