Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea.
Size: 4 inches (9 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits caves and crevices in rocky reefs and is usually found between depths of 3 to 65 feet (1 – 20 m) where it feeds on smaller fishes and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade having an olive-black body with a black spot on the gill plate, and a yellow tail.
Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having some rocky hiding places/crevices to take shelter, as this species is secretive, especially upon first entering the aquarium. However, it will become bolder and quite aggressive to smaller tankmates, and will also dig under rocks and corals or hide in branches of corals. Tankmates should be larger and at least moderately aggressive.
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 chopped fresh fish or shrimp flesh, and/or frozen carnivore foods should be fed once daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Pseudochromidae
Subfamily: Pseudochrominae
Genus: Pseudochromis
FYI: Since they are extremely fast moving and secretive, if having to remove it from a reef aquarium with many hiding areas, it would be a major task!
One per aquarium.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: 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/moderately aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 30+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
