Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Central Pacific Ocean: Christmas, Marquesas and Line Islands.
Size: 5 inches (12 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits coral reef slopes at depths of 80 – 130 feet (25 – 40 m) and natural diet consists of coral polyps, fanworms, crustaceans, tunicates, and algae.
General Husbandry: Quite pretty as it has silvery-white body highlighed with black spots, with the upper aft portion of the body blackish, (diagonal shaped, hence the common name Declivis (latin for sloping) Butterflyfish). There is also a vertical yellow band passing through the eyes, with its dorsal yellowish-orange, and a yellow tail.
A very hardy species, and best maintained in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, live rock hiding places, and having micro and macroalgae growths.
Should be housed in larger peaceful fish-only community aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, live rock hiding places, and having micro and macroalgae growths. As to diet, a meaty diet of live fortified brine shrimp and/or black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) is a good beginning. Once feeding regularly, various frozen meaty foods such as mysis, can be offered several times daily. Since its known to also injest algae in the wild, flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and/or Nori should also be occasionally offered.
Even though known for feeding immediately upon entering the aquarium, 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.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
FYI: Can be maintained with others in the same genus or with others from other butterflyfish genera.
Juveniles acclimate more easily to aquarium life than do adults.
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: 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
