Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Indies to Line, Marquesan, and Austral Islands, and north to Southern Japan.
Size: 2 inches (5 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits the branches of Pocillopora and Stylophora stony corals in shallow surge zones on reef crests at depths between 3 - 50 feet (1 - 15 m) where it feeds mainly on snapping shrimps and somewhat on coral mucus.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade and hides in the branches of stony corals as noted above. Has a light grey body with small red spots and a deeply notched dorsal fin
Best maintained in small reef aquariums with branching corals, as noted above, as they will spend the majority of their time hiding within the crevices of the branches. Only when food is nearby, will they enter surrounding waters to capture the food. Tankmates should be somewhat docile, such as those in the Chromis genus.
As to diet, even though only a live food consumer in the wild, a meaty diet such as enriched live adult brine shrimp and/or enriched frozen brine shrimp, mysis, and krill will usually suffice and should be offered twice daily by dispensing it close to where its hiding. Its also said to consume coral mucus, another reason why it should only be housed with live stony corals.
May be difficult to feed in the early days in the aquarium and if so, live enriched adult brine shrimp and/or tiny live glass/grass shrimp should be offered several times daily. Over time, it should learn to accept various frozen foods.
Taxonomy:
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Suborder: Scorpaenoidei
Family: Caracanthidae
Subfamily: Caracanthinae
Genus: Caracanthus
FYI: Has venomous dorsal spines: avoid handling.
Dorsal spines can also be caught in nets, therefore transfer using a small container, if feasible.
Not suitable for fish-only aquariums, as it must have the security of branching live corals.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
