Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Oceanic islands of Oceania to the Hawaiian and Pitcairn Islands, also Wake, Marcus and Mariana Islands. Also Eastern Central Pacific Ocean: Southern tip of Baja California, Mexico and other offshore islands.
Size: 9 inches (24 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow coastal reefs and lagoons and usually found at depths between 3 - 15 feet (1 - 5 m) where it feeds upon filamentous and fleshy alga, and some benthic invertebrate.
General Husbandry: Common in the trade having a laterally compressed body and small mouth, such as angelfishes and butterflyfishes, with a dark brown body and an orange teardrop shaped blotch near the tail, and orange and white highlights in the tail
Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having wide-open swimming areas and somewhat turbulent, well-oxygenated water flow.
Requires a varied vegetable diet, including fresh macroalgae, Spirulina, zucchini, broccoli, dried seaweed (Nori), and enriched vegetable flakes, and requires two or three feedings per day. Will browse on filamentous and microalgae.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Acanthuroidei
Family: Acanthuridae
Genus: Acanthurus
FYI: Easily contracts Marine Ich.
One per tank and a constant grazer.
Has a sharp forward pointing spine on each side of the caudal peduncle, which folds into a groove. Erected when excited. Handle with care!
Should have peaceful, none fin-nipping tankmates.
Becomes quite feisty in too small environments.
Can be quite aggressive towards others in the family.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Herbivore
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 - 82°F (22 - 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.025
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
