Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Central Pacific Ocean: Hawaiian Islands.
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits areas of heavy coral growths and usually found at depths between 3 to 100 feet (1 - 30 m) where it feeds mainly on benthic invertebrate and algae.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, with a blackish body with numerous white dots. Lacks pelvic fins, but uses the pectoral fins for movement.
Best maintained in fish-only aquariums with live rock caves and crevices for browsing, and also wide-open swimming areas with peaceful, swift moving tankmates, such as damselfish.
Should not be housed with aggressive tankmates such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or angelfishes, as this is a somewhat slow moving species.
Requires a varied diet, i.e., finely chopped fish or shrimp flesh, krill, clams, squid, earthworms and/or carnivore frozen foods, along with some vegetable matter. Should have numerous/at least three daily feedings.
Taxonomy:
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Suborder: Tetraodontoidei
Family: Tetraodontidae
Subfamily: Canthigastrinae
Genus: Canthigaster
FYI: Will eat small ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, and tubeworms.
Will nip stony corals.
A major fin nipping species.
One per aquarium unless a mated pair.
May need to be dewormed and have its teeth filed to prevent overgrowth.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: No
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: No
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful, and swifter
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 - 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
