Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to Hawaiian, Marquesas and Ducie Islands, north to Southern Japan, and south to Lord Howe Island.
Size: 12 inches (30 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoon reefs, reef faces and fore-reef slopes rich in coral growth at depths between 6 – 550 feet (2 – 165 m) and feeds on soft coral polyps (zoanthids), stony coral polyps, worms, hydroids, sea anemones, and some algae.
General Husbandry: Quite nice looking, and has a whitish body, with thin black vertical lines that join a wide black band at the base of the dorsal and tail fins, black eye band, with the tail, dorsal and anal fins yellow.
One of the larger species in this genus and should be housed in larger peaceful fish-only aquariums, especially those with lots of open swimming space, live rock hiding places, and having some micro and macroalgae growth. 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. Its also known to injest some algae in the wild, therefore flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and/or Nori should also be occasionally offered.
Occasionally there is a problem getting this species to feed, which usually depends upon the area of collection, and if so, 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. Furthermore, if feeding in captivity begins, this becomes a very hardy species!
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
FYI: Should not be maintained with others in the same genus, unless a mated pair.
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: 125 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
