Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Pacific Ocean: Taiwan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Marshall Islands.
Size: 5 inches (13 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits deep drop-off areas where gorgonians and black corals abide in depths between 50 to 250 feet (15 – 75 m) and feeds on gorgonians, black corals, worms, crustaceans, sponges, and other invertebrates.
General Husbandry: This attractive species has a silvery body with three slanted black bands, with the first through the eyes, a second just aft of the head, and the third, which is quite wide, encompassing the rear third of the body and most of the dorsal and anal fins. There’s also a variant having similar body markings, yet the body is a creamy yellow. They are quite hardy and easy to maintain since it often readily accepts a wide range of foodstuffs.
Adapts quite easily to aquarium life, even though somewhat shy when first introduced, in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, live rock hiding places and somewhat dimmed lighting.
This species should be offered a meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), and/or various frozen meaty foods such as mysis, and also flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina, and be offered several times daily
Will also decimate Aiptasia anemones, yet if more suitable/preferred foods are available, that may not always occur.
Rarely is there a problem getting this species to feed in the aquarium, yet should that occur, 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. Over time, frozen foods like mysis and brine shrimp, and various fake foods should be more readily accepted.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
FYI: Juveniles acclimate more easily to aquarium life than do adults.
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: Omnivore
Coral Safe: No
Invertebrate Safe: No
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
