Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Eastern Pacific Ocean: Sea of Cortez to Peru.
Size: 7 inches (17 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow rocky shores and reefs, yet prefers surge zone and usually found between depths of 3 – 50 feet (1 – 15 m) where it mainly feeds upon filamentous algae and detritus.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade and having a blunt head, with cirri over the eyes and on the nape and near the nostrils, and large lips. Has a greyish brown body with several white vertical bands and a brown spot edged in light tan just behind the eye.
Best maintained in fish-only aquariums having rocky areas having caves to hide/explore, and if feasible, containing heavy growths of algae that it can feed upon.
Tankmates must be at least moderately aggressive, as those in this genus are feisty/aggressive and will even attack fish twice their size.
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: Ophioblennius
FYI: Highly territory.
Unless there is a sufficient amount of greens this fish will slowly waste away.
One per aquarium.
Will consume cyanobacteria/slime algae and other types of microalgae.
Can be a real pest in any style aquarium and pick on all but the most aggressive tankmates.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Herbivore
Coral Safe: With caution
Fish Safe: No
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Larger and at least moderately aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 79°F (22 – 26°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
