Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Eastern Pacific Ocean: West Coast of Baja California to Bahia Santa Elena, Ecuador.
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky inshore reefs at depths between 3 to about 30 feet (1– 10 m) where juveniles feed on zooplankton, and adults mainly feed on filamentous algae and somewhat on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, and somewhat drab, as the adult is brownish grey with yellow on the aft dorsal and anal fins, and has a yellow tail. Juveniles, which are quite attractive, are yellow topped in dark blue, with a black spot on the upper caudal peduncle.
Best maintained in aquaria having live rock with growths of various forms of algae, hiding places, and somewhat aggressive tankmates, e.g., dottybacks, hawkfishes, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes.
As to diet, plant material (adults main food in the wild), e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and Nori, combined 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., which would be mainly for juveniles, should be offered once or twice daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Pomacentrinae
Genus: Stegastes
FYI: One per aquarium, unless being maintained in large aquariums, >75 gallons.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 84°F (23 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
