Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Mauritius to Samoa, north to Southern Japan, south to New Caledonia.
Size: 3 inches (9 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits areas above gravel and rocky bottoms and usually found at depths between 85 – 200 feet (25 – 60 m) where it feeds on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Common in the trade, and a very pretty fish. Has an elongated yellowish body often with purplish-blue on the aft body and violet on the forehead with red edging on dark blue dorsal and anal fins, and red upper and lower tail lobes.
Can be maintained in either fish-only or reef aquariums with moderate currents and having numerous hiding places, e.g., rocky crevices. Will hover in open water, yet near the safety of an area where it can quickly retreat if threatened.
Should not be housed with aggressive fishes such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or aggressive angelfishes, which would interfere with its feeding and cause this fish to starve to death.
Requires a meaty diet, including fortified brine shrimp, mysis, and other meaty type marine fresh or frozen foods, including flake foods, which should be finely chopped and dispensed upstream so the water current brings the food to within the area it inhabits. Needs two feedings per day.
If difficult to get feeding in the beginning, try some live foods, such as adult fortified brine shrimp.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Microdesmidae
Genus: Nemateleotris
FYI: One per tank unless a mated pair.
Colors fade if it has an inadequate/varied diet.
Covered aquariums are required as this a good jumper.
Naturally faces into the current to capture zooplankton, and highly disease resistant.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: Yes
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
