Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Eastern Indian Ocean to the Philippines, Palau, Indonesia, New Guinea, New Britain, Solomon Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south New Caledonia, and the Great Barrier Reef.
Size: 3 inches (7 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal to outer reef crests at depths between 3 to about 70 feet (1 – 20 m) and mainly feeds on algae, along with some benthic invertebrates.
General Husbandry: Quite attractive and ocassionally available in the trade, where its coloration depends upon area of collection. Those coming from the Palau area have a whitish body with a bluish head, while those collected in other locations often have a greyish head with the remaing body and fins somewhat yellowish, pinkish orange.
Best maintained in aquariums having hiding places, as this docile species is sometimes picked on by slightly more aggressive fishes.
As to diet, a meaty diet, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina, and Nori should also be offered several times daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Pomacentrinae
Genus: Chrysiptera
FYI: May annoy smaller fishes.
A single male and female can be kept in small aquariums, while a male and several females are best maintained in larger aquariums, e.g., 50+ gallons.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 84°F (23 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
