Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Malaysia to Hong Kong, north to Southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Size: 3 inches (6 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits holes and crevices in exposed outer reef flats and reef margins and is usually found mostly in areas of surge. Usually found at depths between 3 – 65 feet (1 – 20 m) where it feeds mainly on small crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, with males generally yellowish green on the front body and head, and dark blue on the remaining body. It also has a yellow line under the dorsal and bright blue vertical stripes on the aft body. Females are usually brown with an orange-yellow tail fin. Colors vary greatly depending upon area of collection and mating seasons.
Can be maintained in a reef or fish-only aquarium, with either having many rocky hiding places/crevices to investigate or take shelter when needing to do so, as this species is extremely shy/secretive. Will continue to hide and only leave hiding places to feed. Even then, due to its secretiveness, may starve to death if the aquarium has slightly aggressive tankmates. Will never become a more outgoing/social tankmate, i.e., swimming in the open with other tankmates.
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 chopped fresh fish or shrimp flesh, and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed once daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Pseudochromidae
Subfamily: Pseudochrominae
Genus: Pseudochromis
FYI: Not safe with small ornamental crustaceans.
Since they are extremely fast moving and secretive, if having to remove it from a reef aquarium with many hiding areas, it would be a major task!
Should be last fish in the aquarium.
One male per aquarium except in very large aquariums, as they may fight among themselves.
Captive bred.
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: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
