Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Pempheris

Pempheris vanicolensis

Cuvier, 1831

Vanikoro Sweeper

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to Samoa, north to Philippines, and also in the Mediterranean Sea.

Size: 8 inches (20 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coral overhangs and caves during daytime at 3 to 85 foot depths and feeds on zooplankton during evening hours.

General Husbandry: Does not seem to be available in the trade. Has a golden brown body and fins, large head and eye, with the dorsal, anal and tail fins often edged in black.

Would be best maintained in in small groups in low light fish-only or reef aquariums with many caves and overhangs and wide-open swimming areas. As to diet, initially feed fortified live brine shrimp and live ghost/glass shrimp. Once feeding normally, a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (finely chopped squid, scallops, fish flesh, shrimp, clam, etc.) can be fed several times daily.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Percoidei

    Family: Pempheridae

    Genus: Pempheris

FYI: Known to be quite susceptible to skin parasites.

Known to be a poor shipper.

Basically unsuitable for the average home aquarium.

Very possibly best left in the wild.

Experience Level: Professional

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only or reef aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 100+ gallons

Temperature Range: 74 - 82°F (23 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Pempheris vanicolensis (Vanikoro Sweeper)
Photo © Richard Field
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