Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Central Pacific: Hawaiian Islands
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits caves and crevices between 350 to 700 feet (105 – 210 m) near steep drop-offs and feeds on sponges, worms, crustaceans and other benthic invertebrates.
General Husbandry: This rarely ever collected, very deep water species has a silvery body with a dark narrow black band over the head connecting both eyes, two wide vertical black bands on the body, with its aft edge, edged in reddish-tan and the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins are mostly yellow.
When available and provided suitable living conditions, is said to adapt quite easily to aquarium life in larger peaceful fish-only community aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space. Cannot be housed with others in the same genus, nor is safe with tubeworms, and quite posibly many other forms of benthic invertebrates.
A meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), and/or various frozen meaty foods such as mysis should be offered several times daily.
Should there be a problem getting this species to feed in the aquarium, small human consumption clams/black mussels purchased in local grocery stores and placed on the half-shell in the aquarium may help entice it to begin feeding.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Prognathodes
FYI: Quite attractive, hardy, but quite expensive because it needs to undergo decompression stops to prevent injury to its gas bladder since its captured in deep waters.
Those in this genus are usually referred to as ‘Longnose Butterflyfish.’
Pressing some soft foods into openings/crevices on a piece of old dead coral skeleton can sometimes encourage finicky eaters to begin feeding.
Experience Level: Professional
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: No
Invertebrate Safe: No
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 79°F (23 – 26°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
