Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indian Ocean: East Africa to the Cocos-Keeling and Christmas Islands and north to the Andaman Sea.
Size: 5 inches (12 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits outer-reef slopes/drop-off areas where they form large groups and usually found at depths between 15 to about 100 feet (5 – 30 m) where it feeds on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, yet quite attractive. Has a yellow back with the undersides violet with yellow dots, and a yellow dorsal and tail.
One of the more problematic species in this family diet-wise to maintain. Best maintained in aquaria with some rocky caves and strong water movement that has a large unencumbered area for schooling, which will occur in the upper third of this area. Tankmates should be peaceful and all should be last to enter the aquarium.
As to diet, often difficult to get feeding, and if so, fortified live adult brine shrimp may be necessary until they accept other types of aquarium foods, e.g., frozen foods and fresh marine fish and invertebrate flesh. Once accepting regular aquarium foods, those foods should be finely chopped and be offered at least twice daily, and dispensed upstream so water currents carry food to their location.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Anthiinae
Genus: Pseudanthias
FYI: Can jump out of the aquarium, therefore some sort of cover may be necessary.
Difficult to maintain long-term.
Experience Level: Intermediate/Professional
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: Yes
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
