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 Hawaiian, Tuamotu, and Marquesan Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to Australia and New Zealand.
Size: 15 inches (37 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy areas in coastal waters and can be found at depths between 3 – 300 feet (1 – 90 m) and feeds on crustaceans, clams, and small fishes.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade. Has a creamish colored body with brown patches, with its pelvic fins used for walking, and large, almost wing-like pectoral fins. Ocassionally finds its way into the trade when dredged up by fishing trawlers. It’s a bottom dweller and feeder, often burying itself in the substrate and/or probing the substrate in search of food.
Requires a wide-open sandy bottom environment with little or no decore, as it can injure itself when bumping into decor.
As to diet, small pieces of fresh fish and/or crustacean flesh impaled on a long feeding stick and waved near its head will usually entice it to grab the food, and should be offered once daily.
May be difficult to get feeding, and if so, live foods, e.g., live enriched adult brine shrimp, grass/glass shrimp and/or black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) should be offered and placed on the substrate, as those in this family feed mainly on foods found ‘on’ the substrate.
Taxonomy:
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Suborder: Dactylopteroidei
Family: Dactylopteridae
Genus: Dactyloptena
FYI: If housed with tankmates, they should be peaceful and slow moving.
Cannot compete with more aggressive species for food.
Best displayed in ‘special species’ type aquariums/public aquarium displays
Unsuitable for the average home aquarium.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 200 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
