Short mackerel (Rastrelliger brachysoma)

Scientific name: Rastrelliger brachysoma Bleeker, 1851

The Short mackerel (Rastrelliger brachysoma) is a brackish-water fish of the family Scombridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 20–30°C (68–86°F). Native range: Pacific Ocean, Andaman Sea to Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Fiji.

Short mackerel care at a glance

Temperature: 20–30°C (68–86°F)

Biology

Found in estuarine habitats with slightly reduced salinities and in areas where surface temperature range between 20? and 30?C, forming schools of equally sized individuals. Batch spawning is believed to extend from March through September. Feeds chiefly on microzooplankton with a high phytoplankton component. Marketed fresh, frozen, canned, dried salted and smoked.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Rastrelliger brachysoma
Family: Scombridae (Mackerels, tunas, bonitos)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 34.5
Common length: 20.0
Depth range: 15–200 m (49–656 ft)
Environment: Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous; depth range 15 - 200 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Pacific Ocean: Andaman Sea to Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Fiji.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.6-1.6; tmax=2)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026