Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Size: 8 inches (20 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits reef crests, reef faces, and fore-reef slopes at depths between 10 – 150 feet (3 – 45 m) and feeds mainly on zooplankton, yet also some stony coral polyps, worms, small crustaceans, sea squirts, and various benthic invertebrates.
General Husbandry: Quite attractive, hardy and somewhat common in the trade, having a yellowish body with two large black slightly diagonal bands, black crown connecting the eyes, with the leading edge of dorsal extended into a somewhat long white filament. Remaining dorsal is yellow, as are the pectoral, anal and caudal fins, and black pelvic fins.
Easily maintained in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, live rock to browse on, and having some micro and macroalgae growths.
As to diet, not a difficult species to get feeding in captivity as it will feed on a wide range of regular aquarium foodstuffs. Yet keep in mind its basically a meat eater in the wild, therefore begin with various frozen meaty foods such as mysis and enriched brine shrimp, and feed several times daily. And even though mostly a meat eater, flake foods/frozen herbivore foods, especially those containing Spirulina and/or Nori should also be occasionally offered.
Small human consumption clams/black mussels purchased in local grocery stores and placed on the half-shell in the aquarium, enriched live brine shrimp and live black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) should be considered healthy additional treats!
Can be maintained with others its genus, or as a mated pair, yet all should be introduced at the same time.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Heniochus
FYI: Pressing some soft foods into openings/crevices on a piece of old dead coral skeleton can sometimes encourage finicky eaters to begin feeding.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Only with soft corals, then with caution
Invertebrate Safe: No
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
