Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West and Central Pacific Ocean: Red Sea east to the Tuamotu Archipelago, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia and Queensland Australia.
Size: 10 inches (25 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits clear lagoons, patch reefs, and reef channels that are rich in coral growth at depths of 10 to about 250 feet (3 – 75 m) and feeds on sponges and tunicates.
General Husbandry: The juvenile is quite pretty with it being an overall orange with several vertical white bands edged in black and that begin on the face and end at the peduncle. Its dorsal fin is orange, yet its anal fin is yellow, as are its pelvic fins. It also has a large black ‘eye’ spot edged in white on the rear upper body that somewhat extends into the lower dorsal fin. As for the adult, it has an overall yellowish orange body with several vertical white bands that are edged in black, with its anal fin yellow and filled with blue stripes. Its tail is yellow and the dorsal is blue and edged in bright blue. Those from the Indian Ocean have a yellow breast, with those from Indo-Pacific areas having a blue grey breast. Simply an amazing combination of colors and no doubt one of the most colorful of all angelfish!
Juveniles and subadults are fairly often seen in the trade, and should be introduced into well-established fish-only aquarium with lots of live rock and cave areas and offered numerous daily feedings so as to quickly acclimate it to its surroundings. Like many others in this genus, their captive diet should consist of a wide variety of frozen foods including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and especially those containing sponge matter/angelfish food preparations and continued to be offered at least several times daily thereafter. Furthermore, flake foods, and especially those containing Spirulina and/or Nori should be also offered.
Depending upon its tankmates, juveniles and subadults are somewhat shy when first entering the aquarium and may hide in caves and crevices. But as time passes, will become more outgoing and begin to establish its territory. As they grow into adulthood, they may begin annoying more docile tankmates, smaller or larger; therefore take into consideration what species will remain in the aquarium before this species is added.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Pygoplites
FYI: Keeping more than one genus of angelfishes in the same aquarium is possible, yet depends upon several aspects. The following suggested circumstances are just that, possibilities that when heeded and adjusted to actual aquarium conditions ‘may’ make multiple angelfish collections feasible.
Aquarium size – the larger the better.
Species from the same genus should not be in the same aquarium.
The smallest and most docile genus species should be the first introduced with the largest and most malicious the last to be added.
Do not place similar coloration species in the same aquarium.
Those already in the aquarium should be well fed before adding a newcomer.
Have sufficient hiding places/rocky caves.
Do not overfeed meaty foods, especially juveniles, as it may lead to a fatty deposit around the liver that could stop production of vitamin A. This could cause blindness, often referred to as nutritional blindness.
Keep in mind all angels have cheekspines at the edge of their gill cover; therefore use caution when handling and also avoid using a net to capture it, as it may become stuck or tangled in the net and become damaged when removed.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only and Reef Aquariums (See Below)
Reef Safe: Juveniles – Yes/Adults - No - will nip clam mantles, large and small polyped stony (LPS/SPS) corals, and also some soft corals and tubeworms.
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
