Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and South Africa to Japan, and south to Australia and New Zealand.
Size: 16 inches (40 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits caves and crevices in rocky reefs and is found at depths between 65 – 1000 feet (20 – 300 m) where it feeds mainly on small fishes.
General Husbandry: Rarely ever seen in the trade, yet an attractive species having a deep blue body with a narrow yellow horizontal bar from the snout to the caudal peduncle.
Best maintained in a cool water dimly lit fish-only aquariums with several hiding places, as it’s initially quite shy. Yet will leave hiding places when food is introduced into the aquarium, where it will grab its share, then return to its hiding area. As time passes, usually will become more social and spend most of its time in open areas. Not aggressive, except to tankmates that can be swallowed.
As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should make up the majority of its diet. Therefore a meaty diet such as enriched chopped fresh fish or shrimp flesh, and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed at least once per day.
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: Grammistinae
Genus: Aulacocephalus
FYI: Not safe with smaller fishes, small crabs, or small ornamental crustaceans.
As with all soapfish, if stressed, may release a toxic substance (grammistin) from the skin that could kill it and all tankmates.
Prevent any stressful conditions in the tank!
Brightly lit reef aquariums are not recommended for this species, as that can be a stressful environment.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive (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: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful to moderately aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 100+ gallons
Temperature Range: 68 - 75°F (20 – 24°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
