Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Central Pacific Ocean: Malaysia to Solomon Islands.
Size: 3 inches (7 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits seagrass beds in sheltered lagoons and hides near long-spine urchins. Usually found at depths between 3 – 15 feet (1 – 5 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans/zooplankton during evening hours.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade and this very hardy and quite nice looking species has a pearly colored body with two red horizontal stripes and several shorter brownish bars.
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.
Can technically be found also listed as: Ostorhinchus margaritophorus.
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
