Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Southern Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, West Indies, and south to Argentina.
Size: 12 inches (30 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow lagoons and most often seen in seagrass areas. Hides during daylight hours in caves and crevices in lagoon reefs, and is found at depths between 6 – 100 feet (2 – 30 m). Feeds at night, mainly on crabs and small fishes.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade and is a mottled red and brown. Yet colors vary with areas of collection.
Can be maintained in large reef or fish-only aquariums with several caves and ledges where it will continue to be somewhat shy. Will dash from its hiding areas to feed when food becomes available, then return to its hiding area. May become more social as time passes, nevertheless, overall quite peaceful, at least to tankmates too large to be eaten.
As to diet, these are carnivores and require a diet high in protein and amino acids (lipids/fats). Products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should make up the majority of their diet. Therefore a meaty diet such as enriched chopped fresh fish or shrimp flesh, and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed. And because these are not overly active fish, their metabolism is somewhat low, so feeding once every other day should suffice nicely. Best to feed in early morning hours.
May be difficult to feed in the early days in the aquarium and if so, (if small live marine fish are not available) live glass/grass shrimp and/or small crabs, e.g., fiddler crabs may be needed to sustain the fish.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Epinephelinae
Genus: Alphestes
FYI: Not actually a Hamlet, but a small genus consisting of three species, with this species the only occasionally seen in the trade.
Not safe with smaller fishes, crabs, and ornamental crustaceans.
Will usually stay near areas offering protection, i.e., caves and ledges.
One per aquarium.
Enhanced filtration is recommended as these fish produce a large amount of waste products.
As to live foods, occasional small live mollies and/or guppies can provide for that natural feeding excitement found in the wild should live marine fish not be available. Nevertheless, feeding small freshwater live fish should be considered a special treat and not become a steady diet since they lack the fatty acids that marine fish need to stay healthy.
Also, keep in mind that feeder goldfish, which cannot survive but a few minutes in seawater, also carry many different bacteria, fungi, and protozoa that can cause parasitic and infectious diseases. Furthermore, feeder goldfish can also cause blockage in the digestive track and/or kidney along with liver damage due to fatty degeneration in the consuming fish. And this will ultimately lead to the consumer’s death. In fact, fatty liver degeneration is a common cause of death in cases where marine fish are fed a diet that primarily consists of goldfish (as with Lionfish for example). Also, its possible the large air bladder in the goldfish can upset the internal balance in this fish, sometimes causing it to float at the surface, possibly killing it.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful (will eat smaller fish and crustaceans)
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 75+ gallons
Temperature Range: 68 - 82°F (20 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
