Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Central Pacific Ocean: Hawaiian and Johnston Islands.
Size: 7 inches (17 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rocky bottom areas around caves at depths between 20 to about 500 feet (6 – 150 m), yet usually seen at slightly over 100 feet (30 m) where it feeds mainly on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), fish eggs, and algae.
General Husbandry: Very rarely seen in the trade due to its drab appearance and that its one of the largest in this genus. Has a dark grey body with three white spots at the rear of the body, one above, one below and one on the base of the tail. Sometimes, the entire body turns a silvery grey.
Quite hardy, peaceful, and better maintained in small groups of at least five to seven members. Should be given wide-open swimming areas, yet an aquarium having caves and ledges to take shelter. This is also mostly a low light/deep water species, therefore a dimly lit aquarium would suit this species much more than a brightly lit reef aquarium.
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 several times daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Chrominae
Genus: Chromis
FYI: Even though quite passive and will ignore other fish in the aquarium, larger aquariums, e.g., 75 gallons and above for this species provide far more openness for small shoals to ‘peacefully’ coexist.
If maintained in groups of less than mentioned above, they tend to be over dominate of each other and may force some members into hiding. The bigger the group, the less intergroup picking on each other exists.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Zooplanktivore/Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: Yes
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 70 - 82°F (21 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
