Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank
Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: New Jersey south to Bermuda, and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.
Size: 100 inches (250 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky shorelines and mangroves at depths about 3 - 30 feet (1 – 10 m) and stays under rocks and/or in caves during daytime and hunts prey during evening hours when it feeds mainly on small fishes and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Extremely rare in the trade, and for good reason, …its size! Quite drab, as its a greenish brown overall.
Best maintained in very large aquariums having live rock, hiding places/caves, and tankmates large enough not to be eaten.
As to diet, fresh fish and/or crustacean flesh impaled on a long feeding stick and waved near its head, which usually sticks out of a hiding area, will entice it to grab the food and should be offered twice weekly.
Taxonomy:
Order: Anguilliformes
Suborder: Muraenoidei
Family: Muraenidae
Subfamily: Muraeninae
Genus: Gymnothorax
FYI: Avoid hand feeding!
May be difficult to get feeding, if so, try feeding live ghost/grass shrimp and/or small crabs, e.g., fiddler crabs.
Aquarium must be covered, as they can get out of the aquarium through very small openings.
Rockwork in the aquarium should be quite stable, as they can undermine rock structures and cause their collapse.
Unsuitable for most home aquariums. Best left in the wild.
Experience Level: Professional
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: No
Invertebrate Safe: No
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Best in an environment by itself.
Tankmates: Aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 240 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
