Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: West Pacific Ocean: Philippines to Samoa, Ryukyu Islands, Moluccas and Admiralty Islands, and Palau and the Caroline Islands in Micronesia
Size: 2 inches (6 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits steep outer reef slopes and outer channel walls and usually found at depths from 3 to 50 feet (1 – 15 m) where it feeds on small worms and crustaceans/zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Common in the trade and quite attractive having an overall purplish body and fins.
Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums with hiding places as this species, in this genus, is a little more tolerant of its tankmates. Yet, best kept with larger and moderately aggressive fishes. Should not be kept with very docile fishes, especially in small aquariums, as it will then get very aggressive.
As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should make up the majority of their diet. Therefore a meaty diet such as enriched finely chopped fresh fish or shrimp flesh, and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed daily.
Adult enriched live brine shrimp and/or black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) will also be greedily accepted.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Pseudochromidae
Subfamily: Pseudochrominae
Genus: Pictichromis
FYI: One to aquarium, even in large aquariums.
Prone to color loss in aquariums.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Aggressive/larger
Minimum Tank Size: 20+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
