Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Mauritius Islands east to Japan and the Hawaiian Islands.
Size: 5 inches (12 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky reef areas, and generally found at depths between 10 – 150 feet (3 – 45 m) where it feeds on small fishes, worms, and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen the trade and quite feisty. Has a whitish body and head with reddish or brown vertical body bands and a speckled face.
Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums, which should contain various rocky areas where the species can take shelter if needing it, or perch/sit on and watch the activity of other tankmates or see where food enters the aquarium. This species is quite feisty and should only be housed with moderately aggressive/aggressive tankmates.
As to diet, finely chopped products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed twice daily. Will also consume flake foods.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Cirrhitidae
Genus: Cirrhitops
FYI: Will eat small crustaceans/tubeworms and smaller fishes.
Will defend its preferred sitting areas.
May annoy sessile invertebrates by sitting on them.
Adults do not possess a swim bladder.
Strong pelvic fins are used as supports when perching.
Should be the last fish to go in the aquarium.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Feisty/moderately 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: Moderately aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 30+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
