Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Southern Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, and south to Brazil.
Size: 4 inches (10 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits seagrass beds, and sandy areas on coral and rocky reefs and often found in mangrove areas at depths between 3 to about 30 feet (1– 10 m) where juveniles feed on zooplankton, and adults mainly feed on filamentous algae and somewhat on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, having a black frontal body and fins with the aft body and fins white, and with some yellow on the frontal belly and pelvic fins.
Best maintained in aquaria having live rock with growths of various forms of algae, hiding places, and somewhat aggressive tankmates, e.g., dottybacks, hawkfishes, large angelfishes and surgeonfishes.
As to diet, plant material (adults main food in the wild), e.g., flake foods, especially those containing Spirulina and Nori, combined with 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., which would be mainly for juveniles, should be offered once or twice daily.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Pomacentridae
Subfamily: Pomacentrinae
Genus: Stegastes
FYI: Will pick on and annoy peaceful fishes.
One per aquarium, unless being maintained in large aquariums, >100 gallons, and if so, can be maintained in small groups.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Semi-aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 84°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
