Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Sumatra to the Society Islands, Pakistan and the Red Sea.
Size: 5 inches (14 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits live and dead branching corals and found in estuaries to outer reef lagoons and usually seen at depths between 6 – 40 feet (2 – 12 m) where it feeds on filamentous algae, various protozoan, and detritus.
General Husbandry: Somewhat common in the trade and usually having a blackish body and fins. Males are larger than females, and colors vary during breeding season.
Can be maintained in either fish-only or reef aquariums with each having rocky areas with caves to hide in when needing to do so, and if feasible, containing heavy growths of algae that it can dine on.
Tankmates must be peaceful, as even moderately aggressive tankmates may prevent this species from getting its share of the food when available.
Requires a diet high in vegetable matter, and if sufficient aquarium algae is not present, its diet must be supplemented with vegetable matter including frozen and dried foods containing ‘marine’ algae and especially Spirulina algae. It should be fed as often as necessary to maintain its health.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Blennioidei
Family: Blenniidae
Genus: Atrosalarias
FYI: Known to nip corals and clams, which may make it use in some reef aquariums somewhat risky.
Unless there is a sufficient amount of greens this fish will slowly waste away.
One per aquarium.
Can be aggressive in small aquariums.
There is some thought there are two distinct subspecies - A. fuscus holomelas and A. fuscus fuscus. The first hails from Sumatra to the Society Islands. The latter from Pakistan and the Red Sea. Usually, (it is said) the second is seen in the trade, mostly as juveniles with yellow on the head, body and fins. Adults are less colorful, turning brown to black.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Herbivore
Coral Safe: With caution
Fish Safe: Yes
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 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
