Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Mariana Islands, Southern Japan, south to the Hawaiian Islands, New Caledonia, Rapa Islands, and Easter Islands.
Size: 10 inches (25 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky boulder-strewn areas in surge zones and usually found at depths between 3 - 300 feet (3 - 90 m) where it feeds mainly on filamentous algae.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having a laterally compressed body and a small mouth, such as angelfishes and butterflyfishes, and having a pale grey body with a wide vertical white bar edged on both sides in dark brown just behind the eyes.
Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having wide-open swimming areas and somewhat turbulent, well-oxygenated water flow.
Requires a varied vegetable diet, including fresh macroalgae, Spirulina, zucchini, broccoli, dried seaweed (Nori), and enriched vegetable flakes, and requires two or three feedings per day. Will browse on filamentous and microalgae, and consume meaty foods such as pieces of fish flesh and mussel meat.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Acanthuroidei
Family: Acanthuridae
Genus: Acanthurus
FYI: One per tank and a constant grazer.
Has a sharp forward pointing spine on each side of the caudal peduncle, which folds into a groove. Erected when excited. Handle with care!
Should have peaceful, none fin-nipping tankmates.
Can be quite aggressive towards others in the family.
Can be somewhat aggressive if maintained in an aquarium too small for its size.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Herbivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: Yes
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 79°F (22 - 26°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.025
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
