Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Abudefduf

Abudefduf saxatilis

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Sergeant Major

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Atlantic Ocean: Canada to Rhode Island, south to Uruguay, Caribbean, Cape Verde, and tropical coast of western Africa south to Angola.

Size: 6 inches (15 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow reef tops at depths between 3 to about 70 feet (1 – 20 m) and feeds on algae, benthic invertebrates and soft corals.

General Husbandry: Rarely ever seen the trade. Has a whitish lower body and yellowish upper body with five black vertical bands.

Best housed with dottybacks, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes, and triggerfishes.

As to diet, similar to other species in this genus - a meaty diet, 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 be offered several times daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Labroidei

    Family: Pomacentridae

    Subfamily: Pomacentrinae

    Genus: Abudefduf

FYI: Has been raised in captivity.

Will feed on zoanthids.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Feisty/belligerent

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

Temperature Range: 68 - 82°F (20 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Abudefduf saxatilis (Sergeant Major)
Photo © Bob Fenner
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