Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Southern Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas and to northern Brazil.
Size: 15 inches (38 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy, muddy, rubble, and seagrass bed areas in lagoons and fore-reefs between a depth of 3 – 900 feet (1 – 275 m) and feeds mostly at night on crabs, worms, snails, bivalves and small fishes.
General Husbandry: Has a greyish brownish body and fins along with an extended snout. Not puposely collected for the trade, however, ocassionally finds its way into the trade when dredged up by fishing trawlers. It’s a bottom dweller and feeder, often covering its self in substrate.
Requires a wide-open sandy bottom environment, preferably dimmly lit, with little or no decore, as it can injure itself when bumping into decor or even that of aquarium side panels.
As to diet, small pieces of fresh fish and/or crustacean flesh (they have small mouths) impaled on a long feeding stick and waved near its head will usually entice it to grab the food, and should be offered once daily.
May be difficult to get feeding, and if so, live foods, e.g., live enriched brine shrimp, grass shrimp and/or black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) should be offered.
Taxonomy:
Order: Lophiiformes
Suborder: Ogcocephalioidei
Family: Ogcocephalidae
Genus: Ogcocephalus
FYI: If housed with tankmates, they should be peaceful and slow moving.
Cannot compete with more aggressive species for food.
Best displayed in ‘special species’ type aquariums/public aquarium displays
Basically unsuitable for the average home aquarium.
Experience Level: Intermediate
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Fish only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 100+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
