Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Maldives to Solomon Islands, north to Southern Japan, south to New Caledonia.
Size: 24 inches (60 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal lagoons, reef channels, outer reef faces and slopes at depths between 10 – 300 feet (3 – 90 m) and mainly feeds on zooplankton, yet its also said to consume crustaceans and small fish.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade. Quite attractive as a juvenile, having a black and white oddly marked body. As it grows into adulthood, goes through several color and marking changes, resulting a drab brownish body.
Best maintained in very large fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming areas and non-aggressive tankmates, as juvenile long fins can be targets for more aggressive tankmates.
As to diet, will eat a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.), including any ornamental crustaceans and small fish in the aquarium, and should be fed several times daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Lutjanidae
Genus: Macolor
FYI: May be a difficult feeder when initially placed in the aquarium, and if so, small live baitfish and or grass/ghost shrimp may be required to get it feeding until regular aquarium foods are accepted.
If feasible and desired, more than one specimen can be maintained in the same aquarium.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful (will eat small fish/crustaceans)
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: No
Fish Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 300+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 84°F (22 – 29°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
