Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Liopropoma

Liopropoma susumi

(Jordan & Seale, 1906)

Meteor Perch

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to the Line Islands and Samoa, north to Southern Japan, south to Reunion and New Caledonia.

Size: 4 inches (9 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits caves and crevices in lagoon and seaward reefs and is found at depths between 6 – 100 feet (2 – 30 m) where it feeds mainly on small crustaceans.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, and quite attractive having a cream colored body with several dark red horizontal lines.

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.

Reported to be as very sensitive to poor water quality.

    Experience Level: Intermediate

    Temperament: Peaceful, yet will eat smaller fishes and crustaceans

    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: 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

 Liopropoma susumi (Meteor Perch)
Photo © John Randall
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