Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Gulf of Thailand east to Palau, northwards to Japan, and south to Java.
Size: 5 inches (14 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoon reefs and protected reef faces at depths between 3 to about 40 feet (1 – 12 m) and usually found inhabiting only the Entacmaea quadricolor anemone where it feeds mainly on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), and filamentous algae.
General Husbandry: Often available in the trade, with this quite hardy species adults having a bright orange head with a white vertical band just aft of the head, and the remaining body blackish. Juveniles retain the white vertical band, yet are orange throughout the body and head.
Best maintained in aquaria having live rock, hiding places, macroalgae, and semi-aggressive tankmates.
As to diet, will eat 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., and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and should be offered once or twice daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Amphiprioninae
Genus: Amphiprion
FYI: In the wild, its hosting anemone is only the Entacmaea quadricolor.
Maintain only as a single specimen, or as a mated pair.
Do not house with other species in this family or with peaceful tankmates. Can be housed without a hosting anemone.
If maintained with a hosting anemone, aquarium size should be >50 gallons.
Females are larger than males.
If the female is removed, the male will change sex and one of the juveniles will become the new functioning male.
A member of the Tomato Complex.
Captive bred specimens available and are far hardier than wild caught specimens.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Semi-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
