Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Zanzibar to New Caledonia.
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits protected sandy areas in shallow coastal bays and on deep offshore reefs at depths between 25 - 300 feet (8 - 90 m) where its thought to feed mainly at night on small fishes, worms, crabs and shrimp.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, with it having a mottled brownish or white and red body.
Best maintained in small dimly lit aquariums with minimum water currents, as this is a slow moving, bottom dwelling species that feeds at night. Aquarium environment should have open areas of sand and/or rubble where the species can dwell while waiting a meal. Its also somewhat shy, especially when first introduced into the aquarium and should have several caves to hide when feeling the need. Tankmates must be quite peaceful, as waspfish have large fins, making good targets for fin-nipping species.
As to diet, lives foods are necessary, and enriched live adult brine shrimp, live glass/grass shrimp and/or black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) should be offered twice daily, if accepted during daylight hours. If not, then during evening hours after main system lights have dimmed/gone off.
Over time, it may learn to accept various meaty frozen foods offered to it on a feeding stick.
Taxonomy:
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Suborder: Scorpaenoidei
Family: Tetrarogidae
Genus: Richardsonichthys
FYI: One per aquarium, unless a mated pair.
Highly venomous, - has very poisonous spines on its back - take special care when your hand is near a submerged specimen or when catching the species!
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
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 - 80°F (23 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
