Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Eastern Indian Ocean: Andaman Islands to Java.
Size: 5 inches (14 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits shallows, reef faces and reef slopes at depths between 6 to about 50 feet (2 – 15 m) and usually found inhabiting the preferred Entacmaea quadricolor anemone where it feeds mainly on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), and algae.
General Husbandry: Occasionally available in the trade, with this quite hardy species with adults having a bright red head and body with a large black patch on the rear body. Juveniles tend to be all orange, with a narrow white vertical line just aft of the head.
Best maintained in aquaria having live rock, hiding places, macroalgae, semi-aggressive tankmates, and a hosting anemone.
As to diet, will eat most regular aquarium foods, e.g., live fortified brine shrimp and/or finely chopped various frozen or fresh meaty foods such as mysis, squid, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc., and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and should be offered once or twice daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Amphiprioninae
Genus: Amphiprion
FYI: In the wild, its hosting anemones are: Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis crispa.
If maintained with a hosting anemone, aquarium size should be >50 gallons.
Maintain only as a single specimen, or as a mated pair.
Do not house with other species in this family or with peaceful tankmates. Should be housed with one of the hosting anemones listed above.
Females are larger than males.
If the female is removed, the male will change sex and one of the juveniles will become the new functioning male.
Very sensitive to copper.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Semi-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
A member of the Tomato Complex.
Captive bred specimens available and are far hardier than wild caught specimens.
