Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Comoros to Line, Marquesan, and Society Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to New Caledonia.
Size: 14 inches (35 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits large coral heads in lagoons and is usually found at depths between 30 – 500 feet (10 – 150 m) and feeds mainly on small fishes and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, having a light greyish body with numerous small white spots, a black eye band, several upper body saddle-like black bands and a fleshy tassel hanging from the lower lip.
Best maintained in a fish-only aquarium with several hiding places, as it’s initially quite shy. As time passes, will be 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 their 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: Pogonoperca
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!
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: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
