Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: South China Sea and Java Seas, and also Papua New Guinea to eastern Queensland, Australia.
Size: 3 inches (8 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal reefs around outcrops with soft bottoms at depths between 10 to about 40 feet (3 – 12 m) where it feeds mainly on zooplankton (copepods, mysis, and shrimp larvae), fish eggs, and algae.
General Husbandry: Occasionally available in the trade, and there are two origins for this species, each having slightly different markings. Those from Papua New Guinea to eastern Queensland have a greyish body with yellow and black on the tail, with those from the South China Sea the same coloration except for a small spot just aft of the gills.
As with all species in this genus, quite hardy, peaceful, and better maintained in small groups of at least five to seven members. Should be given wide-open swimming areas, as they are open water swimmers almost always in the upper aquarium areas, and non-aggressive tankmates. Should also have hiding places, as they are shy and can be picked on by slightly aggressive tankmates.
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: Pomacentrinae
Genus: Neopomacentrus
FYI: Please note the yellow spot at the origin of the lateral line in this Hong Kong and South China Sea species. This differentiates it from the similar N. azysron and N. cyanomos (per com w/Vincent Hargreaves).
Even though quite passive and will ignore other fish in the aquarium, larger aquariums, e.g., 50 gallons and above for this species provide far more openness for small shoals to ‘peacefully’ coexist.
In smaller aquariums, only one per aquarium is recommended, as it will fight with conspecifics.
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: 50 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 84°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
