Two-banded Soapfish Diploprion bifasciatum

The Two-banded Soapfish, also called Barred Soapfish/Grouper, is in the Bass and Grouper family. The name Two-banded, because of its usual two black bands on yellow, can be misleading since they are variable and some can be wholly black with yellow fins. The name Soapfish is due to a slightly toxic mucus which the fish excretes when stressed and which froths up with water as a defence mechanism. It is native to the Indo-western Pacific, grows to 25cm and eats other fish.