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A silvery bream instantly known by 10–11 thin golden horizontal stripes running the length of its body and a small dark spot at the pectoral base. Largely herbivorous, it grazes algae over Egyptian Mediterranean rocks and seagrass in tight shoals.
Algae-covered rocks and seagrass meadows in shallow inshore water
Sunny calm days over weed-covered rock, fishing with vegetable baits
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Light with small hooks; with bread — salema graze algae, so fish vegetable baits.
Algae, bread or dough paste under a light — salema are grazers, not predators.
Eating & safety
Generally safe, but at certain times of year salema can cause ichthyoallyeinotoxism (hallucinogenic poisoning) if eaten — avoid the head and gut.
Stung or poisoned? First-aid steps →Best conditions: Sunny calm days over weed-covered rock, fishing with vegetable baits
When salema feed on certain algae they can become hallucinogenic, a phenomenon recorded since Roman times as "dreamfish" poisoning.