Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Hawaiian Islands, Marquesas and Mangareva Islands, and south to Austral Islands.
Size: 7 inches (18 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits surge zones in seaward reefs at depths between 3 to about 200 feet (1 – 60 m) and and stays under rocks and/or in caves during daytime and hunts prey during evening hours when it feeds mainly on smaller fishes and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Somewhat unusual and rare in the trade, however a gem if interested in having a very small moray in the aquarium. Has a light brown to bright yellow to white body with deep blue eyes.
Best maintained in an aquarium having hiding places/caves large enough to conceal its entire body, and peaceful tankmates.
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!
Ideal community fish.
Highly secretive.
May eat ornamental crustaceans.
If difficult to get feeding, try providing it live ghost/grass shrimp and/or small crabs, e.g., fiddler crabs to induce feeding.
Aquarium must be covered, as they can get out of the aquarium through very small openings.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
