Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean
Size: 3 inches (7 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rock and rubble areas covered in algae and also seen in seagrass beds.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the home aquarium trade.
Basically stays still, usually under ledges during daylight hours and when evening arrives, begins its search for food, usually algae/coralline algae.
Can be maintained in a reef or fish-only aquariums and if somewhat devoid of algae, small plaster-of-Paris feeding stones that contain seaweed and algae can sometimes help lengthen lifespans of these urchins in aquariums, as will sheets of Nori weighted down with small rocks.
Has a desire for calcium carbonate, which is a mainly coralline alga. Therefore can be given pieces of cuttlebone or algae blocks to prevent it from consuming coralline algae, which most aquarists cherish. Place in aquarium in early evening hours.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Echinoides
Order: Temnopleuroida
Family: Temnopleuridae
Genus: Salmacis
FYI: Vulnerable to sudden salinity/specific gravity changes.
Triggerfish and large wrasses will eat these urchins.
Experience Level: Beginner
Diet: Herbivore
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: Yes
Acclimation Time: Sensitive to specific gravity/salinity changes, therefore be sure to adjust the bag's water to that of the aquarium in which it will be placed by slowly adding small amounts of aquarium water to the bag every few minutes. In most cases, this process should take at least 15 minutes.
Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
Temperature Range: 72 - 83°F (22 - 28°C)
Minimum Tank Size: 60 gallons
Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025
pH: 8.0 - 8.4
