Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa and Red Sea east to Fiji, north to Southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Size: 3 inches (8 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits rubble areas in lagoon areas and on reef faces at depths between 3 to about 15 feet (1 – 5 m) and mainly feeds on filamentous algae, and somewhat on small benthic crustaceans.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade and often quite drab, having various body colors, often a dark greenish blue body with a black spot egded in bright blue at the rear bottom of the dorsal. Sometimes a more yellowish body, with a bright blue band over the eye to the mid body black spot.
One of the more feisty species in this genus!
Very hardy, and best housed with dottybacks, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes, and triggerfishes.
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 be offered several times daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Pomacentrinae
Genus: Chrysiptera
FYI: One per aquarium unless a mated pair.
Best not maintained with other damselfish species, as they are combative with other members of the family.
Photo, a juvenile, supplied by an aquarist in the Philippines.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Feisty/belligerent
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: Yes
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
