Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island to Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands.
Size: 12 inches (30 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoons seagrass beds, back reefs, reefs faces and fore-reef slopes at depths between 3 - 530 feet (3 – 160 m) and throughout the day feed on shrimp, crabs, worms, snails, bivalves, and small fishes.
General Husbandry: One of the more commonly seen goatfish in the trade and often sold as the Hawaiian Red Goatfish. Most often a reddish brownish body with two black markings, one under the second dorsal and the other near the tail, and also a dark spot just aft of the eye. Can change overall body coloration quite rapidly to grey when excited.
Best maintained in large fish-only aquariums with wide-open swimming and unencumbered substrate areas so it can use its barbels to sift through the sand. As to diet, will consume a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, scallops, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.), including any ornamental crustaceans and possibly very small fishes in the aquarium, and should be fed at least several times daily. Live glass/ghost shrimp, live black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), and sinking shrimp pellets are also welcomed foodstuffs.
FYI: Will decimate aquarium benthic invertebrate population in a very short period of time. Yet, a good sand sifter, if desired.
Can jump out of uncovered aquariums.
Of all the goatfish species, possibly one of the best for hobbyist aquariums.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: No
Fish Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 150+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 79°F (22 – 26°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
