Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Eastern Atlantic Ocean: Annobon Islands in the Gulf of Guinea and north to Ghana.
Size: 11 inches (27 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky and rubble inshore reefs exposed to strong surge at depths between 3 to about 15 feet (1 – 5 m) and mainly feeds on algae, yet also somewhat on benthic invertebrates.
General Husbandry: Not normally collect for the trade, yet sometimes exported from Guinea where it enters the trade as an assorted damselfish. Quite simply not a peaceful community fish, nor an attractive species. The juvenile has a dark brownish body with a bluish eye, whereas adults are overall blackish grey.
Must be housed with very aggressive fishes, e.g., dottybacks, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes, and triggerfishes.
As to aquarium environment, provide a boulder habitat with hiding places, and swift water movement.
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 should be offered several times daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Pomacentrinae
Genus: Microspathodon
FYI: Large and very aggressive! Think twice before putting these in your aquarium!
One per aquarium!
Best left in the wild.
Experience Level: Professional
Temperament: Very aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Very aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 300 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 86°F (22 – 30°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
