Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Moluccas to Samoa, north to Izu Islands, and south to northwestern Australia and New Caledonia.
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoons and seaward reefs at depths between 3 to about 150 feet (1– 45 m) and mainly feeds on filamentous algae and somewhat on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, with adults having a bluish body with yellow on the head and dorsal fin, which also has a black eyespot edged in white on the lower aft dorsal fin.
Best maintained in aquaria having live rock with growths of various forms of algae and somewhat aggressive tankmates, e.g., dottybacks, hawkfishes, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes.
As to diet, plant material (its main food in the wild), e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and Nori, along with most regular aquarium foods, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., should be offered once or twice daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Pomacentrinae
Genus: Pomacentrus
FYI: In small aquariums, will annoy peaceful tankmates.
One per aquarium, unless being maintained in very large aquariums, >75 gallons.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Semi-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 84°F (23 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
