Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean:Malaysia to Papua New Guinea, north to Philippines and Belau.
Size: 5 inches (14 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoon reefs and fore-reef slopes at depths of 3 – 60 feet (1 – 30 m) and feeds almost exclusively on soft coral polyps, along with very minor amounts of stony coral polyps, sea anemones, and algae.
General Husbandry: An attractive species having a silvery body with slanting horizontal black lines, black eye band, yellow mouth, and yellow dorsal, anal, pelvic and tail fins. Almost an exact duplicate of C. melannotus (Blackback Butterflyfish) except this species has a black spot on the caudal peduncle.
Peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, and live rock hiding places will suite this very hardy species quite well. As to diet, a meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp and/or black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) can be considered a treat, as this species is quite easy to feed on various frozen meaty foods such as mysis, which should be offered several times daily. An additional treat would be small human consumption clams/black mussels purchased in local grocery stores and placed on the half-shell in the aquarium. Once feeding, a very hardy species.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
FYI: Juveniles acclimate more easily to aquarium life than do adults.
Does not do well with other members in the family, or any species having similar colors.
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: Intermediate
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: 55 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
