Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Bermuda, Bahamas, and Central America to northern South America.
Size: 3 inches (8 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits inshore reef areas and found near and in caves where they swim with their belly towards the roof of the cave and sometimes live in groups of up to 100 individuals. Often form small groups that will associate with different coral species such as Acropora, Montastraea, and Diploria. Found at depths between 3 to 130 feet (1 – 40 m) and feeds on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Common in the trade and quite attractive with the front half of the body a bright purple, and the remaining body yellow.
Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having many rocky hiding places/crevices to investigate or take shelter when needing to do so, as this species is shy, and somewhat secretive. Will defend its hiding place from all on-comers and may annoy small peaceful tankmates!
As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods/freeze-dried foods should be enriched, finely chopped and be fed two to three times daily. Flake foods are also accepted.
Adult enriched live brine shrimp and/or black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) will also be accepted.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Grammatidae
Genus: Gramma
FYI: Can be kept in small groups in larger aquaria (over 100 gallons), yet in small aquariums it may be best to maintain only one.
Not possible to distinguish males from females; however, the male is generally larger than the female.
Can jump out of uncovered aquariums.
May pick on/damage small shrimps.
As for the preferred aquarium environment, a vertical wall structure with a large overhanging edge or a cave with only one entrance and large enough to hold all specimens would be ideal.
Slightly more feisty than G. melacara, the Blackcap Gramma.
Has an odd behavior in the wild of swimming upside-down or in a somewhat head-up or down position as it maneuvers cave areas and/or the overhangs of ledges. This same orientation is seen occasionally in aquariums, bringing concern to some that don’t realize these tendencies are normal. As for tankmates, aggressive damselfishes and wrasses are not good choices.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Feisty
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Moderately aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 20+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
