Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea, Maldives to Samoa and Palau, north to Japan, and south to Australia.
Size: 6 inches (15 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits exposed reefs and usually found at depths between 3 – 65 feet (1 – 20 m) where it feeds on benthic invertebrates.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade with the male often having a dark greenish body with several lengthwise blue lines, and red on the dorsal. Females are brownish with a white belly.
This species and those in this genus ‘can’ be maintained in fish-only aquariums having a fine sand bed, (0.5 – 2.0 mm) and at least 4 inches deep, along with several rocky crevices to hunt and also open swimming areas. Those in this genus will not only rearrange bottom dwelling corals in its search for tasty bottom dwelling invertebrates, as it will eat smaller fishes, snails, tubeworms, sea stars, cucumbers, urchins, crabs, and shrimp that it can find, it will also quickly burrow into the sand if frightened or for sleeping at night. This diving into the sand bed will cause clouds of sand particles to be dispensed into the water, and would cause various corals harm, therefore those in this genus are not recommended for reef aquariums.
Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and other meaty type marine-based frozen or fresh foods, and should be fed numerous times daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Labridae
Genus: Stethojulis
FYI: With all of the above said, all in this genus are very difficult to maintain long term and they are better left in the wild!
Experience Level: Professional
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful, yet larger
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
