Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Mozambique to Kenya, throughout Indian Ocean and western Central Pacific to the Marshall and Samoan Islands.
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky and coralline areas and sometimes found among Acropora and Pocillopora corals. Usually found at depths between 3 – 65 feet (1 – 20 m) where it feeds on filamentous algae, various protozoan, and detritus.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, having a reddish brown body with numerous grey spots.
Can be maintained in either fish-only or reef aquariums having numerous hiding places and rocky crevices, Tankmates must be peaceful, as even moderately aggressive tankmates will prevent this species from getting its share of the food when available.
Requires a diet high in vegetable matter, and if sufficient aquarium algae is not present, its diet must be supplemented with vegetable matter including frozen and dried foods containing ‘marine’ algae and especially Spirulina algae. Should be fed as often as necessary to maintain its health.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Blennioidei
Family: Blenniidae
Genus: Cirripectes
FYI: Unless there is a sufficient amount of greens this fish will slowly waste away.
One per aquarium.
Can be aggressive in small aquariums.
May consume cyanobacteria/slime algae, and filamentous algae. May nip coral polyps and clam mantles.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: With caution
Fish Safe: Yes
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 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
