Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Kryptophanaron

Kryptophanaron alfredi

Silvester & Fowler, 1926

Atlantic Flashlight Fish

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Caribbean, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits deep caves on steep drop-offs, at about 300 feet (90 m) during daylight hours, and ascends at night to areas about 100 to 200 feet (30 – 60 m) where it feeds on crustaceans and small fishes.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, having a mostly dark brown body with black fins with a white dotted line the length of the body and a photophore located just below each eye.

Best maintained in dimly lit aquariums with several caves/hiding are and few tankmates, as they are quite shy. Often frightened by the movements of other very active fishes, or even that of traffic outside the aquarium.

May be difficult to get feeding, and if so, live foods, e.g., live enriched brine shrimp, grass shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), baby mollies and/or guppies should be offered. Over time, frozen foods like mysis, krill and brine shrimp may be more readily accepted and be fed once or twice a day.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Beryciformes

    Suborder: Trachichthyoidei

    Family: Anomalopidae

    Genus: Kryptophanaron

FYI: Best maintained in small groups.

Must have several caves/hiding areas.

Squrrelfishes, soldierfishes, and cardinalfishes make good tankmates.

Flashlight fish should always be introduced first into the aquarium.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 75+ gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 78°F (22 – 26°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Kryptophanaron alfredi (Atlantic Flashlight Fish)
Photo © mbed.ucsd.edu
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