Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.
Size: 17 inches (43 cm)
Natural Environment: Burrows into sandy and seagrass beds near inshore reefs and is usually found at depths between 3 feet to 50 feet (1 - 15 m) and feeds on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Has an overall white body with many small black spots. Not collected for the trade.
Taxonomy:
Order: Anguilliformes
Suborder: Congroidei
Family: Congridae
Subfamily: Heterocongrinae
Genus: Heteroconger
FYI: Those in this genus are termed ‘Garden Eels’ and reside buried in the sand or mud with only their upper length/head showing while awaiting a tasty meal to come close enough to be captured and eaten without going too far their burrow. They require at a minimum, for the shortest species, very deep fine sandbeds, e.g., 8 inches (20 cm), more if a large species, and tankmates large enough not to be eaten.
Best displayed in tall ‘special species’ type aquariums/public aquarium displays.
Minimum decor is ideal, as they prefer wide-open areas to see incoming food possibilities, and to be maintained in small groups/colonies.
Basically unsuitable for the average home reef or fish-only aquarium as they require very deep substrates to encompass their entire body.
Shown here for identification only.
