Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Fishy Bizness 

Stegastes

Stegastes flavilatus

Gill, 1862

Beaubrummel Gregory

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Eastern Pacific Ocean: West Coast of Baja California to Bahia Santa Elena, Ecuador.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky inshore reefs at depths between 3 to about 30 feet (1– 10 m) where juveniles feed on zooplankton, and adults mainly feed on filamentous algae and somewhat on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, and somewhat drab, as the adult is brownish grey with yellow on the aft dorsal and anal fins, and has a yellow tail. Juveniles, which are quite attractive, are yellow topped in dark blue, with a black spot on the upper caudal peduncle.

Best maintained in aquaria having live rock with growths of various forms of algae, hiding places, and somewhat aggressive tankmates, e.g., dottybacks, hawkfishes, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes.

As to diet, plant material (adults main food in the wild), e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and Nori, combined with most regular aquarium foods, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., which would be mainly for juveniles, should be offered once or twice daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Labroidei

    Family: Pomacentridae

    Subfamily: Pomacentrinae

    Genus: Stegastes

FYI: One per aquarium, unless being maintained in large aquariums, >75 gallons.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Aggressive

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 84°F (23 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Stegastes flavilatus (Beaubrummel Gregory)
Photo © Bob Fenner
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Real Reef Rock