Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Bulari Pass, New Caledonia.
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits deep coral reefs with rocky/rubble bottoms and usually found at depths between 100 – 300 feet (30– 90 m) where it feeds on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade with the male having a pinkish-red body with a pale pink belly, yellow dorsal and anal fins, and a centrally long tail. Females lack the yellow in the dorsal and anal fins and extended tail. Colors vary greatly depending upon the age of the specimen, collection areas, and breeding timeframes.
Best maintained in a dimly lit fish-only aquarium since it's a deeply collected species, yet can be also maintained in reef aquariums, with ample crevices and caves to become accustom to its new shallow environment. Must have peaceful tankmates so it feels comfortable to enter mid-water areas to feed.
As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and should be offered two to three times daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Labridae
Genus: Cirrhilabrus
FYI: Those in this genus may hide for several days when first introduced, and are also good jumpers, therefore covered aquariums, possibly with eggcrate, are necessary to prevent them from jumping out of the aquarium.
They don't bury themselves in the sand at night, as do many other wrasses. Instead, they may form a mucus cocoon similar to some parrotfishes and/or wedge themselves into a rock crevice. It should be noted the cocoon remnants do not seem to harm water quality or other aquarium inhabitants.
Males may be aggressive towards other fairy wrasses and zooplankton feeders in the aquarium.
Experience Level: Intermediate
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: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
