Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Eastern Indian Ocean: Western Indonesia – Sumatra, and Mentawai Islands.
Size: 3 inches (6 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rubble areas on outer reef slopes and usually found at depths between 30 – 100 feet (10– 30 m) where it feeds on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Occasionally available in the trade, with the male an overall whitish-pink with two red blotches on the upper front body and a red border on the upper dorsal fin. The female is reddish pink overall with a black spot on the upper caudal peduncle.
Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums that should have ample crevices and caves, and peaceful tankmates.
As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and should be offered two to three times daily.
Sometimes difficult to get feeding, and if so, fortified live adult brine shrimp may be necessary to get them feeding.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Labridae
Genus: Cirrhilabrus
FYI: May hide for several days when first introduced, and also a good jumper, therefore covered aquariums, possibly with eggcrate, are necessary to prevent them from jumping out of the aquarium.
They don't bury themselves in the sand at night, as do many other wrasses. Instead, they may form a mucus cocoon similar to some parrotfishes and/or wedge themselves into a rock crevice. It should be noted the cocoon remnants do not seem to harm water quality or other aquarium inhabitants.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
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: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
