blotcheye soldierfish
Myripristis berndti
Soldierfish of shallow reefs, with a projecting lower jaw and red-edged scales. It is sold fresh and also used in aquariums.
Also called: soldado-olho-manchado, candil ojo manchado, soldado azotado, blotcheye soldierfish
- maximum
- 30 cm
- depth
- 3–15 m
who is the blotcheye soldierfish
The spot-eyed soldierfish belongs to the family Holocentridae, the squirrelfishes and soldierfishes. It reaches 30 cm, and its common size is 22 cm. It lives on shallow reefs, in caves and under ledges, usually from 3 to 15 m deep. It occurs in the Indo-Pacific and in the eastern Pacific, as far as Cocos Island, Costa Rica, and the Galápagos. It feeds mainly on plankton, such as crab larvae, forms loose aggregations, and is almost always caught at night. The species is also traded for aquariums.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the blotcheye soldierfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Reddish body, with scales that have a silvery-pink or pale yellow center and red edges. The lower jaw projects when the mouth is closed. The gill cover has a black spot that extends below the spine, and the bare part of the pectoral axilla is black. The outer half of the spiny dorsal fin is yellow to orange, and the lower half of the other fins is red, with white leading edges. Compare it with Sargocentron punctatissimum, which has a small, nearly terminal mouth and a broad red margin on the dorsal fin.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Found in the Indo-Pacific and the eastern Pacific, on shallow reefs, as far as Clipperton Island, Cocos Island (Costa Rica) and the Galápagos.
Habitat: Shallow reefs, caves and reef ledges, usually 3 to 15 m.
when to fish
best time of day
Nighttime. It is almost always caught at night; by day it stays in caves and under reef ledges.
rules for the blotcheye soldierfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No danger to anglers. If released, return it to the water carefully.
in the kitchen
The flesh is sold fresh in markets.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01995, b = 3.01; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Myripristis berndti (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Myripristis berndtiNames by country and language.
