Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Persian Gulf and Red Sea south to Mozambique and east to Fiji, north to Southern Japan and Bonin Islands, and south to New Caledonia.
Size: 3 inches (8 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits small holes and areas under ledges in protected lagoons and on seaward reefs and usually found at depths between 3 – 150 feet (1 – 45 m) where it feeds during evening hours on small fishes and crustaceans/zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Somewhat common in the trade with this very hardy species having a golden brown body with several horizontal yellow stripes and blue stripes on the head, mostly just above and below the eyes.
Best maintained fish-only aquariums with subdued lighting, yet can also be maintained in reef aquariums, with both having several rocky caves/hiding areas. If maintained with moderately aggressive tankmates, will remain in hiding during daylight hours and may not get its fair share of the food when the aquarium is fed. If maintained with peaceful tankmates, will spend a good portion of its time in the aquarium open areas.
As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should be enriched and finely chopped and fed several times daily. Depending upon the environment in which its maintained, the best time of the day to feed are early morning and evening hours.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Apogonidae
Subfamily: Apogoninae
Genus: Apogon/Ostorhinchus
FYI: Best maintained in small groups of five or more.
A threat to small tankmates, shrimp, and small worms/feather dusters.
Their diet should contain a color enhancer, such as Spirulina.
Often shows up in the trade as an Apogon species, be can be technically found also listed as: Ostorhinchus cyanosoma.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
