Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Southwest Indian Ocean: Kenya, Madagascar, and Mauritius.
Size: 5 inches (12 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow rocky reefs and calm bays with marginal amounts of coral growth and feeds on clams, soft coral polyps, crustaceans and worms.
General Husbandry: This species, which is somewhat drab and rarely seen in the trade, has a mostly browish black body with bright yellow on the frontal area, and a black vertical band running through the eye. The dorsal and anal fins are brownish-black and the pelvic fins are bright yellow.
Not a lot of information exists as to its husbandry, yet what is said, is that it adapts somewhat easily to aquarium life in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space and live rock hiding places. However, diet problems exist, as this is mainly a soft coral polyp consumer. Therefore, a meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp, black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), and/or various frozen meaty foods such as mysis should be offered several times daily.
Should there be a problem getting this species to feed, small human consumption clams/black mussels purchased in local grocery stores and placed on the half-shell in the aquarium may help entice it to begin feeding. Over time, frozen foods like mysis and brine shrimp may be more readily accepted. Nevertheless, a species that is difficult in captivity to feed!
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
FYI: Juveniles may acclimate more easily to aquarium life than adults.
Pressing some soft foods into openings/crevices on a piece of old dead coral skeleton can sometimes encourage finicky eaters to begin feeding.
Best left in the wild!
Experience Level: Professional
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: No
Invertebrate Safe: No
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
