Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Line, Marquesan, and Society Islands, and the Izu Islands of Japan, and south to New South Wales.
Size: 6 inches (15 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy and coral rubble substrates near coral heads on coastal reefs at depths between about 3 to 300 feet (1 – 90 m), and basically feeds on small fishes and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Has a brownish body with dark brown patches and a large black spot on the caudal peduncel. Not collected for the trade.
Taxonomy:
Order: Aulopiformes
Suborder: Alepisauroidei
Family: Synodontidae
Subfamily: Synodontinae
Genus: Synodus
FYI: Those in this family are termed ‘Lizardfishes’ and are quick moving and voracious predators! Most reside either buried in the sand with only their head showing, or sitting on some form of the substrate waiting for a tasty meal to come close enough to be captured and eaten.
Highly territorial.
Tankmates must be large enough not to be eaten.
Basically unsuitable for the average home aquarium as they require live foods, e.g., live grass shrimp/small fishes.
Shown here for identification only.
Best displayed in ‘special species’ type aquariums/public aquarium displays.
