Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Taiwan east to Fiji, north to Southern Japan, and south to New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands.
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits outcrops and sand channels on outer reefs at depths between 20 to about 150 feet (6 – 45 m) and mainly feeds on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), fish eggs and algae.
General Husbandry: Occassionaly seen the trade and a quite attractive species having a dark blue body with yellow on the forehead and upper body including the dorsal, with the tail yellow, and blue pelvic and anal fins.
Fairly docile and a good community aquarium species while young. Nevertheless, as they grow older, may pick on more peaceful fish such as gobies, cardinalfishes, blennies, and firefishes.
As to diet, 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 and plant material, e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina should also be offered several times daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Pomacentrinae
Genus: Chrysiptera
FYI: May be maintained in small groups if desired; yet best accomplished in larger aquariums, e.g., 50+ gallons, as they tend to pick on each other in smaller aquariums.
Best not maintained with other damselfish species, as they are somewhat combative with other members of the family.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 84°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
