Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Java to Fiji, north to Southern Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Size: 3 inches (8 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits inshore lagoons and often found among the branches of Porites nigrescens and P. cylindrical stony corals. Usually found at depths between 3 – 50 feet (1 – 15 m) where it feeds on crustaceans/zooplankton during evening hours.
General Husbandry: Somewhat common in the trade with this very hardy and popular species having a greenish yellow face, orange eyes, a silvery body with a central body vertical mottled black band, and the aft body dotted with orange spots.
Best maintained in fish-only aquariums with subdued lighting, yet can also be maintained in reef aquariums, with both having several rocky caves/hiding areas. If maintained with moderately aggressive tankmates, will remain in hiding during daylight hours and may not get its fair share of the food when the aquarium is fed. If maintained with peaceful tankmates, this slow moving fish will spend a good portion of its time in the aquarium open areas.
As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should be enriched and finely chopped and fed several times daily. Depending upon the environment in which its maintained, the best time of the day to feed are early morning and evening hours.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Apogonidae
Subfamily: Apogoninae
Genus: Sphaeramia
FYI: Best maintained in small groups of five or more.
A threat to small tankmates, shrimp, and small worms/feather dusters.
Their diet should contain a color enhancer, such as Spirulina.
Captive bred.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
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: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
