Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef, Lord Howe and Rapa Islands.
Size: 12 inches (30 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy and muddy areas in lagoons, reef flats and sheltered seaward reefs at depths between 3 to 400 feet (1 – 120 m) and basically feeds on small fishes and crustaceans, mostly in evening hours.
General Husbandry: Has a mottled brownish coloration that helps it blend into surroundings. Not collected for the trade.
Taxonomy:
Order: Aulopiformes
Suborder: Alepisauroidei
Family: Synodontidae
Subfamily: Harpadontinae
Genus: Saurida
FYI: Those in this family are termed ‘Lizardfishes’ and are quick moving and voracious predators! Most reside either buried in the sand with only their head showing, or sitting on some form of the substrate waiting for a tasty meal to come close enough to be captured and eaten.
Highly territorial.
Tankmates must be large enough not to be eaten.
Basically unsuitable for the average home aquarium as they require live foods, e.g., live grass shrimp/small fishes.
Shown here for identification only.
Best displayed in ‘special species’ type aquariums/public aquarium displays.
