Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa and the Red Sea to Southern Japan and Hawaiian Islands, and south to New Caledonia.
Size: 48 inches (120 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits inner and outer reef slopes at depths between 6 to about 100 feet (2 – 30 m) and stays under rocks and/or in caves during the daytime and feeds at nighttime on smaller fishes and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Rarely ever seen in the trade, having a bright yellow mouth, and tannish body containing numerous small white spots. As it grows into adulthood, the frontal body becomes light tan and the spots fade.
Best maintained in a dimly lit aquarium 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!
Often 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. It’s an escape artist.
Rockwork in the aquarium should be quite stable, as they can undermine rock structures and cause their collapse.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
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: Semi-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 150 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
