Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa and east to Fiji, north to Southern Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits seagrass beds in shallow protected lagoons and usually found at depths between 3 – 85 feet (1 – 25 m) where it feeds upon benthic invertebrates.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, and having a whitish-grey body with black on the forehead and two black saddle-like bars on the mid body and black above the caudal peduncle, and some yellow on the tail.
Best maintained in well-established fish-only aquariums with, if feasible, lots of plant growth having a steady supply of naturally existing small live crustaceans to feed upon. Slow moving, and does not do well in aquariums with swift water movement. Requires peaceful tankmates, e.g., non fin-nipping species, as this is a slow moving and very shy species.
As to diet, should there not be enough naturally found live food to consume, target feeding may be necessary, and if so, should be fed a diet of finely chopped fresh or frozen meaty foods, e.g., krill, marine fish flesh, mysis shrimp, shrimp, scallops, squid, and clams and be fed twice daily. Even though basically a meat eater, some algae containing foods should be included in its diet and overall, should be fed three times daily.
May be difficult to get feeding, and if so try live adult fortified brine shrimp and black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus). Nevertheless, such foods are usually not sufficient to maintain this species.
Taxonomy:
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Suborder: Tetraodontoidei
Family: Monacanthidae
Genus: Paraluteres
FYI: One per aquarium.
Most specimens in captivity waste away from lack of proper diet.
Has an extremely abrasive skin and sometimes called 'leatherjackets' because of their skin texture.
May eat Aiptasia anemones.
May nip stony and soft corals.
Not safe with small crustaceans, snails, and crabs.
Mimics the poisonous puffer Canthigaster vallentini, which it resembles.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: No
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
