Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Hawaiian, Marquesan and Pitcairn Islands, north to Southern Japan and south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands.
Size: 3 inches (9 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits upper areas of outer reef slopes and usually found at depths between 20 – 85 feet (6 – 25 m) where it feeds on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Common in the trade, having an elongated body with its frontal area white and the remaining body and tail bright to dark red.
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. Those in small groups will often chase others causing injuries or death.
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.
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
