I am from Puerto Rico and I have one of this goatfish in my saltwater aquarium I love it
Spotted Goatfish
Pseudupeneus maculatus
Also known as: Copper Pilot, Goat Mullet, Queen Mullet, Red Goatfish
- Copper Pilot
- Goat Mullet
- Queen Mullet
- Red Goatfish
Overview
Found singly or in schools, foraging for food, over rock, sand, and seagrass beds of reefs.
Juveniles found in seagrass beds.
Goatfish have two barbels extending form the chin, these are used to probe the sand for food such as worms, brittle stars, crustaceans and small fish.
They often have other fish in tow which hoover up any creatures left behind.
Some Goatfish can rapidly change colour and spots that were there magically disappear!
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
- Country only · 9
Found singly or in schools, foraging for food, over rock, sand, and seagrass beds of reefs.
Adult photos 9
Discussion 1
1 comment
- widalys23· 21 Apr 2012
Deep dive
More in the family
Goatfishes (Mullidae)

Bicolor Goatfish
Parupeneus barberinoides
23 photos

Blackspot Goatfish
Parupeneus spilurus
12 photos

Cardinal Goatfish
Parupeneus ciliatus
4 photos

Cinnabar Goatfish
Parupeneus heptacantha
7 photos

Dash-and-Dot Goatfish
Parupeneus barberinus
31 photos

Doublebar Goatfish
Parupeneus crassilabris
8 photos

Freckled Goatfish
Upeneus tragula
14 photos

Goldsaddle Goatfish
Parupeneus cyclostomus
15 photos

Heemstra goatfish
Upeneus heemstra
2 photos

Indian Doublebar Goatfish
Parupeneus trifasciatus
11 photos

Indian Goatfish
Parupeneus indicus
16 photos

Island Goatfish
Parupeneus insularis
9 photos