Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Eastern Central Pacific Ocean: Johnston Atoll, and rarely seen in Hawaii.
Size: 4.5 inches (11 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits seaward slopes in fairly deep water, i.e., 80 to 200 feet (25 – 60 m) and forms small groupings where rubble collects.
General Husbandry: This beautiful deep water dwarf angelfish has a body that has its upper half a dark blue, with its lower half mostly yellow, and has several squiggly black and bright blue lines over the eye. Its anal fin is black and edged with bright blue, with the tail a bright yellow.
Not normally seen in the U.S. aquarium trade, but has ‘very’ rarely been available in the Japanese aquarium trade, and when so, at a high cost! Not much is known about its diet/aquarium care, nevertheless, it should no doubt mimic that of other species in this genus, i.e., it be added to only well established aquariums containing lots of live rock that will provide it many caves and crevices to explore and/or hide in when feeling threatened. And that frozen foods including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and flake foods be offered several times a day. Yet, more definitive information is needed before one can precisely denote its care/needs.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Centropyge
FYI: FYI –All Centropyge species start life as unsexed individuals, but begin their adult life as females. Then, the larger or more dominant individual within small groups will change sex within a few days to a couple of weeks and become a male. Knowing that size is the main difference between the sexes, and not so much its coloration, all one needs to do is place a small and larger specimen together. Within approximately sixty days one of the two fish will have physically changed sex to accommodate the other. A reversal of this sex change is possible if the need arises, but that requires much more time, e.g., weeks to months.
Keep in mind all angels have cheekspines at the edge of their gill cover; therefore use caution when handling and also avoid using a net to capture it, as it may become stuck or tangled in the net and become damaged when removed.
Experience Level: Professional
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Reef Safe: With caution – has a tendency to nip clam mantles, sea anemones, large–polyped stony (LPS) corals and some soft corals such as zoanthids, especially so when underfed.
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 70 - 79°F (21 – 26°C).
Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.027
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
