Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Cocos-Keeling Islands east to the Great Barrier Reef.
Size: 5 inches (11 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits deep and dark areas of the reef and usually found at depths between 65 – 200 feet (20 – 60 m) where it feeds on small benthic invertebrates, mainly small snails, worms, and shrimp.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade with juveniles having a reddish body with fine horizontal white lines, yellow face with pink irregular lines, and a black eyespot edged in white on the caudal peduncle. As it grows into adulthood, body white lines fade/grow thinner/disappear. Colors vary depending upon the age of the specimen.
Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having ample crevices and caves, as this is a shy species. Should also be maintained with larger and more aggressive fishes, e.g., dottybacks and some damsels.
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 fed once daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Labridae
Genus: Pseudocheilinus
FYI: Can become quite aggressive if maintained in very small aquariums.
May bite off brittle star appendages, and also consume smaller fishes.
One male per aquarium.
They don't bury themselves in the sand at night, as do many other wrasses. Instead, they rest in rock crevices/caves or branches of corals.
Quite hardy.
If harassed or frightened, may jump out of uncovered aquariums.
An adequate diet seems to be a problem with maintaining those in this genus.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Larger, and moderately aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
