Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East coast of Africa to the Society Islands, and north to Southern Japan.
Size: 5 inches (13 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits intertidal reef flats and surge-swept seaward reefs and usually found at depths between 3 – 20 feet (1 – 6 m) where it feeds on microalgae, various protozoan, and detritus.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade and usually having a whitish body with narrow vertical reddish-orange irregular bands and spots.
Can be maintained in either fish-only or reef aquariums having rocky areas with caves to hide in when needing to do so, and if feasible, containing heavy growths of microalgae that it can dine on.
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: Istibennius
FYI: Known to nip corals and clams when hungry, which may make its use in some reef aquariums somewhat risky.
May jump out of an uncovered aquarium.
Unless there is a sufficient amount of greens this fish will slowly waste away.
One per aquarium.
In the wild, known to flip/skip across the surface substrate between tidepools.
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
