Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island, Indonesia, and the Hawaiian Islands.
Size: 5 inches (12 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits caves and crevices in sheltered rocky reefs at depths between 3 - 100 feet (1 - 30 m) where it feeds mainly on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Extremely rare in the trade, yet quite attractive, having cream-colored body with lenghtwise red band.
As with others in this family (as there is little aquarium husbandry on this species) would be best maintained in small aquariums with minimum water currents, as this is a slow moving species. Aquarium environment should have sufficient caves and crevices that they can explore or take shelter as needed. Tankmates must be quite peaceful, as pipefish make good targets for fin-nipping species.
Even though only a live food consumer in the wild, a meaty diet such as enriched live adult brine shrimp and/or enriched frozen brine shrimp, mysis, and krill may suffice and should be offered twice daily by dispensing it up stream so the water current will slowly carry it towards the species.
May be difficult to feed in the early days in the aquarium and if so, live enriched adult brine shrimp should be offered several times daily. Over time, it may learn to accept various frozen foods.
Taxonomy:
Order: Gasterosteiformes
Suborder: Syngnathoidei
Family: Syngnathidae
Subfamily: Doryrhamphinae
Genus: Dunkerocampus
FYI: This is a slow moving fish that can easily get sucked into an open intake siphon; therefore these type intakes must have a strainer on their intake areas.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
