Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Melanesia and the Great Barrier Reef.
Size: 5 inches (14 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy areas on patch reefs where it lives with Alpheid/pistol shrimp and usually found at depths between 15 – 50 feet (5 – 15 m) where it feeds upon benthic invertebrate.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, having a brownish body with white saddles over the head and body and blue on the anal fins.
Best maintained in fish-only or reef aquariums with wide-open course grained (2 – 4 mm) sandy areas where it can form a burrow, and also some loose rubble where it can hide if feeling threatened.
Should not be housed with aggressive or fin-nipping fishes, such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or angelfishes.
As to diet, should be fed finely chopped fresh or frozen meaty foods, e.g., krill, marine fish flesh, mysis, scallops, shrimp, clams, and be fed twice daily. Small sinking enriched shrimp pellets are also an excellent way of keeping them well fed.
If difficult to get feeding, try live adult fortified brine shrimp and black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus).
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Gobioidei
Family: Gobiidae
Genus: Cryptocentrus
FYI: May jump out of uncovered aquariums.
May hide for days when first introduced into the aquarium.
One per aquarium unless a mated pair.
Each of its eyes moves independently, allowing it to watch various directions at the same time.
Will consume ornamental shrimp and small crabs.
Feisty towards other gobies and small fishes.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
