Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Maldives and Sri Lanka to Papua New Guinea, north to the Philippines and Belau, south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Size: 10 inches (25 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits fore-reef slopes and drop-offs at depths between 30 – 130 feet (10 – 40 m) and feeds on soft and stony coral polyps, sea anemones, mushroom corals and other benthic invertebrates.
General Husbandry: This nice looking yet rarely collected species looks somewhat like the Raccoon Butterflyfish (C. lunula), as it has a whitish body with a wide black band through the eyes, small black crown on the forehead, single black slanted band below the aft dorsal fin, and yellow dorsal, anal and tail fins. There’s also a very narrow orange line midway through the dorsal fin, and one near the caudal peduncle.
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 and live rock hiding places. 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.
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.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
FYI: Should not be maintained with others in the same genus, unless a mated pair or having similar coloration.
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: Carnivore
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
