Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: South Africa and India, eastward to Fiji, north to Taiwan, and south to Australia.
Size: 3 inches (9 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow muddy lagoon caves and often also lives among the tentacles of anemones. Usually found at depths between 10 – 100 feet (3 – 30 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans/zooplankton during evening hours.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having a tannish body with a short black bar from the snout through the eye to just aft of the eye, which is edged in white both on the top and lower side. There’s also a white spot on the upper body just aft of the dorsal fin.
Can be maintained well lighted fish-only or reef aquariums as this species does not seem to be negatively affected by bright lighting. Aquariums should also have several rocky caves/hiding areas if needed by this species. 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 almost all 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.
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 moluccensis.
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
