Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Philippines, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon, Fiji, and Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea and also in Rowley Shoals in the Eastern Indian Ocean.
Size: 3 inches (8 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits caves in coral reefs and is found at depths between 65 – 150 feet (20 – 45 m) where it feeds mainly on small crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, and quite attractive having the front third of its body a pinkish orange, the central third yellow, and the remaining bright red with a central white line.
Best maintained in reef aquariums, yet can also be maintained in fish-only aquariums if they have many rocky hiding places/crevices to investigate or take shelter, as most in this family are quite shy/secretive. May hide for several days upon entering the aquarium, yet will become bolder as time passes and will spend most of its time in full view.
As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should make up the majority of their diet. Therefore a meaty diet such as enriched finely chopped fresh fish or shrimp flesh, and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed every other day, or about three times per week in well-established aquariums. In newly established aquariums, feed once every day.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Liopropomatinae
Genus: Liopropoma
FYI: Not safe with small ornamental crustaceans.
May be seen more often if maintained in a dimly lit tank.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution/will eat small crustaceans
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
