Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to Marquesan Islands and north to Southern Japan and Hawaiian Islands, south to Kermadec and Rapa Islands.
Size: 12 inches (30 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow reef fronts and rocky shorelines exposed to moderate and strong surges, and generally found at depths between 3 – 10 feet (1 – 3 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Rarely in seen the trade and quite feisty and very secretive. This large hawkfish, one of the largest in the family, is basically an olive white overall with reddish brown spots that are somewhat arranged in vertical bands.
Best maintained in a fish-only aquarium, which should contain various rocky areas where the species can take shelter if needing it, as its quite secretive and will remain so during its time in the aquarium. Nevertheless, will become bolder and get its share of the food when it enters the aquarium. But will return to its hiding place, where it will remain until the next time the aquarium is fed.
Since this species is quite feisty, should only be housed with large moderately aggressive tankmates.
As to diet, finely chopped products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed twice daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Cirrhitidae
Genus: Cirrhitus
FYI: Will eat small crustaceans/tubeworms and smaller fishes.
Will defend its preferred hiding areas.
Adults do not possess a swim bladder.
Strong pelvic fins are used as supports when perching.
A similar species, C. atlanticus is found in the southeast Atlantic Ocean.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Feisty/moderately aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Moderately aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 75+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
