Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Philippines and southeastern Indonesia to Australia.
Size: 5 inches (13 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs where it prefers drop-off areas, and usually found close to corals and sponges. Found from depths of about 65 to 100 feet (20 – 30 m) where it feeds on small worms, fishes, and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Rarely ever seen in the trade, having a dark greyish body with horizontal rows of yellowish dots on the body, dorsal and anal fins. Also has yellow on the foreface, black eye band, yellow tail, and blue edging on the dorsal and pelvic fins. Juveniles tend to have more yellow in their coloration.
Can be maintained in a reef or fish-only aquarium having rocky hiding places/crevices as this species will select a protective area and guard it against all comers, large or small. Will remain somewhat secretive and is a threat to smaller fishes and may also eat ornamental shrimps. Yet long-term, will get along with larger peaceful and/or slightly aggressive tankmates unless they try to enter its home space.
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 daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Pseudochromidae
Subfamily: Pseudochrominae
Genus: Manonichthys
FYI: Not safe with smaller fishes and crustaceans.
Extremely fast moving and secretive.
Formerly known as Pseudochromis splendens.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-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: Moderately aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 50+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 81°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
.jpg "Manonichthys splendens (Splendid Dottyback)")
