Animal Crossing: New Horizons Zebra Turkeyfish: When Does it Spawn?

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Zebra Turkeyfish is actually a rather common catch—despite its extraordinary name.

This fish only appears in the spring half of the year in the northern hemisphere before traveling to the south. While it may not be the most difficult or bells-worthy catch, the zebra turkeyfish still remains highly sought after due to its brilliant coloring and unique nature.

Although we may have to bid adieu to the popular stringfish, coelacanth, and sturgeon, at least we'll have this funky dude to keep our spirits up.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Zebra Turkeyfish

In the northern hemisphere, the zebra turkeyfish appears from April to November. This switches in the southern hemisphere from October to May. It can be caught in the ocean all day long and has a medium shadow in New Horizons.

Zebra turkeyfish have appeared in every major Animal Crossing title beginning with Wild World for the Nintendo DS. In previous games, their shadow size was small. They are classified as a "fairly common" catch and typically grow to be about 12 in. long.

An individual fish can be sold to the Nooks for around 400 bells.

Blathers will draw direct attention to the fish's poisonous nature upon receiving it as a donation, saying, "As its flashy coloration suggests, the zebra turkeyfish is poisonous. In other words, it's trying to tell you, 'Touch me and you're sure to be right sorry, my fine friend!'" He also mentions that, while he doesn't recommend trying to eat one, he will not dissuade the player and suggests smothering it in batter.

In New Horizons, Blathers goes on to say that he imagines two passing zebra turkeyfish give each other a "mean fin bump" as they pass since they aren't susceptible to each other's poison. This is a direct contradiction to the information found in New Leaf, which states that, "Aside from protection against predators, this poison comes in handy for turn wars between males. The losing male succumbs to the poison in a matter of days, making these battles life and death."