Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indian Ocean: Northern and Central Red Sea.
Size: 5 inches (14 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits reef flats, reef faces and slopes at depths between 10 to 100 feet (3 – 30 m) and feeds on filamentous algae, worms, stony corals, sea urchin feed, and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Quite attractive and hardy, as it has a yellowish body, greyish brown chevron body bands, orange eye band and a black patch on the head both edged in white, and a large slanted red band on the aft body that flows into the rear portion of the yellow dorsal to the lower upper aft portion of the yellow anal fin. There’s also a red band on the mostly yellow tail.
Fairly easy to adopt to aquarium life in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, hiding places and having micro and macroalgae growths. This is an excellent browser of filamentous algae, therefore flake foods, and especially those containing Spirulina and/or Nori should be offered, as should a meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), and/or various frozen meaty foods such as mysis, and overall be offered several times daily.
There’s rarely a problem getting this species to feed in the aquarium, nevertheless 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 will be more readily accepted.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
FYI: In aquaria, is said to also nip gorgonian polyps and soft corals.
More than one can be maintained in the same aquarium, however all should be introduced at the same time.
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: 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: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
