Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Size: 5 inches (11 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits fringing reef areas rich in stony coral growth and usually found at depths between 25 – 100 feet (8 – 30 m) where adults feed on stony coral polyps and juveniles clean fishes of skin parasites.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having a blackish blue body with two bright blue lengthwise bands from the face to the caudal peduncle.
Best maintained in fish-only aquariums only, with juveniles requiring a large population of fishes willing to be cleaned. As for adults, they consume stony coral polyps to survive, yet may accept some frozen meaty foodstuffs, e.g., adult brine shrimp and mysis, and/or live fortified adult brine shrimp and need to be fed numerous times daily.
FYI: Even though attractive, does not do well long term in captivity.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Labridae
Genus: Larabicus
FYI: Even though attractive, does not do well long term in captivity.
Will annoy tankmates.
One per aquarium.
Will eat stony coral polyps; pick on some soft corals, clams and feather dusters.
May jump out of uncovered aquariums.
Experience Level: Professional
Temperament: Bothersome
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: No
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: No
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 80°F (23 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
