Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Western and Southern Australia.
Size: 10 inches (25 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky reefs and normally found on vertical rock faces at depths to about 160 feet (50 m) and feeds mainly on worms, algae, and crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Rarely ever seen in the U.S. trade, nevertheless, maintained by Australian aquarists. Resembles the Copperband in body and fin shape, and also has the long narrow snout used to search crevices for food, and a black false eyespot on the rear upper body and lower dorsal fin. The biggest exception is that of coloration, as it has a darkish tan body with five black vertical white edged bands and that its a somewhat cooler water species, requiring aquarium temperatures in the low 70’s.
Best maintained in a cool-water fish-only aquarium and supplied a meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), red worms (genus Tubifex) and/or mysis and occasionally some foods containing Spirulina, with two or three feedings per day highly recommended.
Theres not any information on whether it could be safely maintained in a cooler water reef aquarium, nevertheless those in this family are not fully trustworthy with corals and some of the smaller invertebrate. There’s also no history on whether it would consume Aiptasia anemones.
Said to be hardy, and a species that is easy to feed, nevertheless, should feeding difficulties arise, recommend supplying live foods such as feeder shrimp and bloodworms, and also small human consumption clams/black mussels purchased in local grocery stores and placed on the half-shell in the aquarium.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chelmonops
FYI: Resembles Chelmonops truncatus; however C. curiosus has longer dorsal and anal fins.
Preferably maintained without others in the same genus, except as a male-female pair, as it can become quite territorial and battle others for territorial rights.
Pressing some soft foods into openings/crevices on a piece of old dead coral skeleton can sometimes encourage finicky eaters to begin feeding.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Caution advised
Invertebrate Safe: Caution advised
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef aquarium with caution (see above) and fish-only aquarium.
Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
Temperature Range: 66 - 77°F (19 – 25°C).
Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
