Marine Fish
There are almost 20,000 species of marine fish in the world, but only a small minority is of any interest to the aquarist. Of these, most come from the Pacific and Indian oceans, although a few are native to Australia and the tropical Atlantic ocean. Marine fish are usually collected in their natural environment and rarely reproduce in captivity. They find it more difficult to acclimatize than freshwaterfish, particularly as regards feeding some refuse to eat artificial food, and others have...
tSuperorder POROLEPIMORPHA
Branchiostegal rays 0-3, gular plates present caudal fin heterocercal or diphycercal. Unfortunately, a stable cladistic classification of members of this group, which may be paraphyletic, does not exist. Campbell and Barwick 2001 critically discussed problems arising in hypothesizing, in cladistic analysis, relationships in lungfishes in particular, whether or not Diabolepis is, as regarded by some, the sister group of the Dipnoi. Some of the fossil families recognized in Cloutier and Ahlberg...
Algaeeating fish
The leaves of aquatic plants are ideal surfaces on which algae can grow and if such algae is not removed from large-leaved or slow-growing plants, it can hinder photosynthesis see pages 89-91 . Removing algae growth by hand is tricky and usually results in damage to the leaves, so you need to find an alternative method of dealing with it. Most types of algae have high levels of protein and are very nutritious, making them an ideal food source for fish. Not all fish will eat large amounts of...
Origin
Pterophyllum altum probably does not occur in eastern tributaries of the Orinoco, or in the Rio Negro, or in any other portions of the Amazon basin, according to several of today's experts. The fact remains, however, that at least one collection reports it from the Rio Negro. If P. altum has indeed crossed from the Orinoco drainage into the Rio Negro, il would have been through a legendary natural connection called the Rio Casiguiare, or the Casiquiare Canal. This high water bridge between the...
Family Hippolytidae
Shrimp of the genus Savon are occasionally offered for sale to aquarists. When kept in fish only aquariums, they make very Saron marmoratus female . A.J. Nilsen. interesting additions. They are also easy to sex and should prove to be a good breeding challenge. However, they can wreak havoc in a reef aquarium with corals and clams. The Marble shrimp, Saron marmoratus, so named due to their green mottled appearance although they can alter their colour to blend in with the background , is a large...
Cryptocoryne affinis
Synonyms C. haerteliana Milk., C. affinis Hook. f. subsp. haerteliana Milk. Schopfel. Etymology Cryptocoryne Greek kryptos - hidden, koryne spadix, refers to the spa-dix hidden in the kettle affinis related to, cognate with. Distribution Malay Peninsula. Description Marsh plant, submersed up to 40 cm tall, emersed much smaller. Leaves up to 20 cm petiolate. Blades lanceolate to narrow lanceolate, up to 23 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, more or less bullate. Apex acute base acute or round. Coloration...
Cryptocoryne parva
Synonyms C. nevillii sensu auct., non Hook, f. Etymology Cryptocoryne see C. affinis parva small. Distribution Central Sri Lanka. Description Marsh plant, up to 10 cm tall. Leaves l-6 10 cm petiolate. Blade narrow elliptical to lanceolate, entire, emersed 1.5- 2.5 cm long, 0.4-0.8 cm wide, submersed up to 2 cm long, 0.2-0.3 cm wide, smooth, medium to dark green. Apex acute base cune-ate. Indistinct venation. Spathe 1.5-2.5 3.5 cm long. Tube 0.7-1.5 cm long. Limb 0.4-1.2 cm long, not caudate,...
Cryptocoryne nurii
Synonyms Cryptocoryne serrulata. Etymology Cryptocoryne see C. affinis nurii after the plant collector Nur. Distribution Malay Peninsula. Description Petiole 3-10 -20 cm long. Leaf blade lanceolate to narrow ovoid, 5-18 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, dark green to red-brown marmorate, often with short red lines. Apex acute base round or slightly cordate. Margin more or less crispate. Spathe about 5 cm long. Tube 1.5 cm, kettle 1 cm long. Limb about 2.5 cm long, wide cordate, recurved, short caudate,...
Echinodorus cordifolius 1
Family Alismataceae. Etymology 'Tropica Marble Queen' cultivar description, refers to the highly spotted leaves, especially on emersed plants. This pattern occurs through a differing quantitative distribution of chlorophyll within the leaf cells, resulting in a color pattern consisting of light and dark green and brown color tones. Description Sturdy marsh plant, up to 50 cm tall. Leaves long petiolate, emersed narrow ovoid with a cordate base, acute, 15-20 cm long and 6-9 cm wide. Submersed...
Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
Family Araceae. Synonyms C. sulphured de Wit Etymology Cryptocoryne see C. affinis pontederiifolia refers to the similarity of the leaves of the genus Pontederia. Distribution Sumatra Padang Province . Description Marsh plant, 10-40 cm tall. Blade lanceolate to narrow ovoid, 9-14 cm long, 3-8 cm wide, smooth or slightly bull-ate, light to olive green, occasionally brownish or mild violet. Apex acute base usually cordate. Spathe 4-7 cm long. Tube up to 0.5 cm long. Limb 1.5-5 cm, cuspidate,...
Cryptocoryne minima
Synonyms Cryptocoryne zewaldiae de Wit. Etymology Cryptocoryne see C. affinis minima very small. Distribution Malay Peninsula. Description Petiole up to 12 cm long. Leaf blade very variable, lanceolate to ovoid, 5-7 cm long, 1.5-5 cm wide, smooth or slightly bullate, light green, brownish or purple-red. Apex acute base acute, round or slightly cordate. Spathe 3.5 cm, tube 0.5 cm, limb 2 cm long, cuspidate, recurved backwards and downwards, not twisted, interior mammillate, colored very...
Blackline Tetra
Family Characidae. Distribution Para region, Brazil. Description Shape very elongated. Color back greenish or brownish sides silver, with a bluish or brassy sheen belly silvery. A broad black band runs from the gill cover to the base of the caudal fin, forming a large diamond-shaped patch at the end. The black band is topped by a thin gleaming metallic line. Colorless pelvic fins all others pale reddish, anal fin edged with black at the front. Size up to 2 in 5cm . Sexual differences male...
Aponogeton distachyos
Synonyms Aponogeton distachum var. la- Etymology Aponogeton see A. abyssinicus distachyos 2-spiked, refers to the 2-spiked inflorescence. Distribution South Africa Cape Province , naturalized in many countries, also found in southwestern Europe. Description Amphibious plant. Tuber up to 6 cm diameter. Floating leaves up to 1 m long petiolate. Blade up to 23 cm long and 7.5 cm wide, medium green coloration. Peduncle up to 80 cm long, hardly swollen towards the inflorescence. Spathe up to 3 cm...
The substrate
Since the substrate forms the anchor and growing medium for plant roots, it is vital to choose a material, or combination of materials, that will not only sustain the plants both mechanically and nutritionally, but also look attractive as part of the tank decor. Here, we consider the options available for successful plant growth. Gravel is the universal substrate in aquarium circles. It can be used as the sole substrate in planted aquariums, although it is best employed as a top layer covering...
Cryptocoryne gasseri
Etymology Cryptocoryne see C. affinis gasseri after R.A. Gasser Florida . Distribution Native locations are unknown. Export shipments arrived together with C. scurrilis from Sumatra. Description Leaf blade narrow ovoid with a slightly caudate base, up to 4 cm in length and 2.5 cm wide, highly bullate, dark green. Spathe about 4 cm, tube about 1-2 cm, limb 2 cm long, aciculate, reflexed far downwards, interior rough or slightly mammillate, light yellow. Margin of limb with small warts. Collar...
Dodecahexaenoic acid a HUFA or highly unsaturated fatty acid
H3C - CH CH CH CH2 - CM CH -CH CH - CH CH - COOH foods, and even increase the nutritive value of live baby brine shrimp, by adding a cheap source of carotenoids ordinary kitchen paprika. The highly unsaturated fatty acids, or HUFAs, are long-chain versions of fatty acids. Simple fatty acids might contain just 2 to 8 carbon atoms in a line, but the long-chain acids might have 18 to 24 carbons. Fatty acids can be saturated or unsaturated, and this refers to whether each carbon atom is singly or...
Scientific Names Plerogyra sinuosa Dana 1846 Physogyra lichtensteini Edwards
Common Names Bubble Coral, Pearl Coral, Bladder Coral Colour Usually whitish gray, bluish gray, or brown. Sometimes green, especially the unidentified Plerogyra species described below. Plerogyra sinuosa often has a cats-eye appearance in the bubbles. Distinguishing Characteristics Three species of bubble corals are imported from Indonesia, Plerogyra sinuosa Dana, 1846 , Pbysogyra lichtensteini Edwards and Haime, 1851, and an unidentified Plerogyra sp. All have bubble-like polyp vesicles, light...
Bacteria and Viruses
Very little research has been done on the types of bacteria and viruses that can afflict corals. This is unfortunate as it is becoming increasingly clear that in areas such as the Caribbean these organisms are potentially more devastating to coral reefs than the mechanical effects of storms and humans Shinn, 1989 . The research on bacteria and viruses affecting bivalves, especially mussels and oysters, is much better. This is solely due to the fact that they represent billions of dollars in...
Wildenow 1810
Synonyms Azolla cristata Kaulfuss, Sal-vinia azolla Raddi, Azolla densa Desvaux, A. portoricensis Sprengel. Etymology Azolla from azo Greek drought and ollyo to kill, points to the dying off of the fern during drought periods caroliniana originating from Carolina North America . Distribution North, Central and South America, naturalized in Europe, two discovery cases in Asia. Description Aquatic plant, floating on the water surface or rooted in bog 0.7-2.5 cm in size. Horizontal stem, hardly...
Scientific Name Thalassianthus aster
Common Name None Colour Grayish white Distinguishing Characteristics Looks like a cluster of soft coral polyps, like Anthelia, Xenici or Cluvuluria. Natural Habitat Reef flats or back reef margins among rock rubble. Aquarium Care Strong light and water motion. This is a pest species that can be difficult to eradicate. It stings and kills many coral species. Nevertheless it is a beautiful anemone, worthy of a small display by itself. Reproduction Asexual reproduction is typical, via longitudinal...
Filtration
Filtration is a catchall term for any technique that seeks to maintain appropriate water quality in an aquarium. I define water quality as that set of physical and chemical parameters regarded as typical for the wild aquatic habitat being duplicated. In the case of the tropical coral reefs, very low concentrations of dissolved organic matter and inorganic nutrient ions are the rule, and preventing the accumulation of these pollutants in the aquarium is the primary goal of filtration....
from terrestrial sources such as freshwater runoff resulting in
elevated nutrient levels. This is particularly pronounced when the land is heavily forested. Islands or coastlines that are drier tend to show reef formations more like those found on oceanic reefs. Both stony and soft coral diversity tends to be lower on near-shore reefs Along the coastline, one can often find extensive mangrove beds. These areas are home to many of the juvenile forms of creatures found on the nearby reef. It is not unusual to find some stony corals in this area as well,...
Family STERNOPTYCHIDAE 180marine hatchetfishes Marine Atlantic Indian and
Six to 10 branchiostegal rays, three on epihyal posterior ceratohyal 3-7 usually six branchiostegal photophores pseudobranch present reduced or lost in most other stomiiforms . Ten genera and about 67 species. Subfamily Maurolicinae. Body elongate, never extremely compressed adipose fin present or absent 19-38 anal fin rays photophores present on isthmus, six on branchiostegal membrane. This taxon is probably paraphyletic Harold and Weitzman, 1996 . Seven genera, Araiophos, Argyripnus,...
Lighting Systems
Fluorescent lamps come in many types that vary in terms of their intensity, color, and the amount of electricity they consume. The most important of these factors from a purely aesthetic point of view is the color. Ever notice how people appear unhealthy under industrial fluorescent lighting This is because the lamps typically used in such applications are the cool white type. This lamp imparts a yellowish green cast to everything, although it is supposedly the best for illuminating a work...
Cryptocoryne purpurea
Synonyms Cryptocoryne griffithii sensu Hooker, non Schott, C. aquatica J J. Hoede-man, C. purpurea Ridley f. concolor de Wit, C. hejnyi Rata , C. purpurea Ridley f. nana de Wit. Etymology Cryptocoryne see C. affinis purpurea purple-red color of the limb . Distribution Malay Peninsula. Description Marsh plant. Leaves 5-25 cm petiolate. Blade ovoid to elliptical, obtuse to slightly cordate at the base, 5-12 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, submersed upperside dark green, underside light green, with...
Aponogeton boivinianus
The attractive crinkled leaf and large size of this plant make it an ideal specimen plant for the midground of a larger aquarium. In a heavily planted aquarium where there is competition for light and nutrients, A boivinianus may produce smaller and fewer leaves. The leaves are bright green and sometimes slightly transparent in places. Maximum height 16 in 40 cm , sometimes taller Growth rate Initially fast, but slows as the plant ages Area Midground, Specimen, or unusual Temperature 68-79 F...
Induction of Flowering in Echinodorus Species
Vegetative propagation in small species usually occurs through cuttings on runners in larger species juvenile plants occasionally develop on rhizomes. Most productive, though, is reproduction through adventitious plants which, in many Echinodorus, are formed on the whorls of the inflorescences. These will also appear occasionally in aquariums, which is always an indication of good growth. If the inflorescence strives to protrude from the water, it should be pressed back under water to enable...
Schultes Schultes f 1830
Family Cabombaceae. Synonyms Nectris Jurcata Leandro nom. nud. , Cabomba piauhyensis Gardner 1844 C. warmingii Caspary, C. pubescens Ule. Etymology Cabomba see C. aquatica furcata fork-shaped, bi furcate, refers to the leaf blade. Distribution In the warmer regions of South America, occasionally in Central America. Description Aquatic plant with 40-100-cm long shoots. Leaves usually in 3-leaved whorls, rarely opposite, 0.3-2.0 cm petiolate. Leaf blade reniform to almost circular in contour,...
Family MONOCENTRIDAE Monocentrididae 279pinecone fishes Marine tropical and
Body covered with large, heavy platelike scales phosphorescent luminous bacteria light organs on lower jaw pelvic fin with one large spine and two to four small soft rays two dorsal fins, the first with 4-7 strong spines alternating from side to side and the second with 9-12 soft rays anal fin with 10-12 soft rays no spines pectoral fin with 13-15 rays branchiostegal rays eight. Maximum length about 21 cm. Two genera, Cleidopus and Monocentris, with four species Kotlyar, 1996 . They occur...
Pedersons Commensal Shrimp Periclimenes pedersoni
To 2 cm 0.8 in. long Caribbean, Tropical Western Atlantic Lighting Requires intense lighting for its host sea anemone. Compatibility Reef safe. Lives individually, in pairs, or in larger groups associated with sea anemones. Needs a healthy host sea anemone for example, Condylactis gigantea to survive in captivity. A lovely little commensal shrimp that is easy to keep in a quiet dedicated aquarium, but which will often disappear in a reef community tank. Must have slow, careful acclimation to...
Cryptocoryne thwaitesii
Etymology Cryptocoryne see C. affinis thwaitesii after G.H.K. Thwaites 1812 1882 . Distribution Southwestern Sri Lanka. Description Marsh plant, emersed 5-10 cm, submersed up to 20 cm tall. Emersed blade 1-5 cmpetiolate, ovoid, 3.5-12 x 1.5-4.5 cm in size, crispate margin, rough upperside, olive green to brownish, underside paler. Submersed up to 15 cm petiolate, lanceolate, 5-8 x 2-3 cm in size, entire to slightly toothed, flat upperside, bronze-colored, red-brown underside. Apex acute to...
Scientific Name Palythoa spp
Colour Golden brown, to cream, polyps often darker, will darken in aquaria with inadequate lighting. Sometimes with fluorescent green or yellow tentacles. Distinguishing Features Thick encrusting growth coenenchyma embedded with sand grains polyps open during the day and night zooxanthellate single sphincter muscle few mesenteries 15-20 mesenteries not mesh-like Mather and Bennett, 1993 . Palythoa mammillosa forms thicker, more cushion-like growths than the other species.
Echinodorus paniculatus
Synonyms Echinodorus cylindricus Rataj, Etymology Echinodorus see E. aschersoni- anus paniculatus paniculate, refers to the Distribution Central and South America from southern Mexico to Argentina , frequent. Description Strong marsh plant, more than 1 m tall, with a thick, short rhizome. Petiole triangular, more than twice the length of the blade. Leaf blade from linear, lanceolate to narrow ovoid, up to 25 cm long, 1-8 cm wide, aciculate, acute or obtuse at the base, medium green in color,...
American Giant Hermit CrabPetrochirus diogenes
To 25-30 cm 9.8-11.7 in. Caribbean Western Atlantic Aquascaping Lives on sandy bottoms and on seagrass beds perfect for a special aquarium replicating this habitat. Feeding A scavenger and carnivore, grazing rather indiscriminately on small invertebrates e.g., mollusks and worms . Accepts substitute meaty foods in the aquarium. Compatibility Not reef safe. The largest hermit crab from the Caribbean region and a possible choice for a biotope or fish-only reef tank. Hardy and long-lived. Polkadot...
Cryptocoryne ferruginea
Synonyms Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia Schott var. sarawacensis Rataj, C. sarawa-censis Rataj Jacobs. Etymology Cryptocoryne see C. affinis ferruginea rust-colored limb . Distribution Borneo Sarawak . Description Blade narrow ovoid to ovoid, with a truncate or cordate base, 3-12 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, upperside green, often horizontally striped, underside occasionally purple-red and more or less short pubescent. Spathe 10-15 cm, tube 1-2 cm, limb 8-11 cm long, very long caudate, more or less...
Continental
Reef Zonation a cross-sectional map of the natural habitats a marine aquarist can choose to mimic in a captive setting. imens offered for sale were illegally collected. The same holds true for Australia. Given the growing success of stony coral propagation at the hands of a number of pioneering marine aquarists, it is possible that captive-grown specimens of currently banned Caribbean species will be available. The tons of cultured live rock now being readied for harvest off the Florida...
Scavenging fish
Many fine-leaved, grasslike, foreground plants will trap debris between their leaves. In nature, this debris would be Above Although the popular red-tailed black shark Epalzeorhynchus bicolor can get quite large, it is a useful addition to a planted aquarium. This attractive, lively, and strikingly colored fish spends most of its time grazing algae from rocks and plant leaves. swept away by water currents and scavenging fish. Small scavenger fish can be introduced to a planted aquarium for the...
Family ECHENEIDAE Echeneididae 363remoras sharksuckers Marine Atlantic Indian
Body elongate, head flattened, and lower jaw projecting past upper jaw scales small, cycloid dorsal and anal fins lacking spines, each with about 18-45 soft rays swim bladder absent branchiostegal rays 8-11 26-41 vertebrae sucking disc on head developed from a transformed spinous dorsal fin, the spines of which are split to form 10-28 transverse movable lamina inside a fleshy margin . The remora presses the disc against other fishes and creates a partial vacuum by operating the movable disc...
Turbidity
The turbidity of water refers to the presence of suspended matter - either living organisms forming plankton rare in an aquarium or inert matter, such as animal or vegetable remains or particles of sediment, particularly mud. The size of this suspended matter ranges from a few thousandths of a millimeter to several millimeters. In calm, unstirred water it forms sediment at a speed in proportion to its weight. In running or turbulent water, some of the matter remains permanently suspended,...
Houttuynia cordata
Synonyms Polypara cochinchinensis Lou-reiro, P. cordata O. Kuntze. Etymology Houttuynia after the Dutch doctor M. Houttuyn 1720-1798 cordata heart-shaped. Distribution East Asia, from India to Japan and Taiwan. Description Marsh plant growing up to a height of 80 cm, with a creeping, strongly branched rhizome. Stem erect, hard, glabrous, up to 3 mm thick, green to reddish. Leaves alternate, 2-4 cm petiolate. Petiole up to 2 cm long, curled up at the base, unfolded about 1 cm. Above the leaf...
Subclass Malacostraca Superorder Hoplocarida
Common Names Mantis Shrimp, Thumb Splitters Mantis shrimp are the bane of almost every reef aquarist. We all dread hearing that tell-tale snapping sound coming from deep within the rock-work of our aquaria. These shrimp are voracious predators feeding on small fish, shrimp, worms, clams and crabs. They have an elongated body with two well-developed eyes located on short stalks, and a pair of powerful pincers held folded underneath the body similar to the terrestrial praying mantis. There are...
Plant diseases and poisoning
Plants are as susceptible to disease as any other complex living organism, but luckily, plant diseases in the aquarium are very rare except in one case cryptocoryne rot. Cryptocoryne rot is a disease that affects mostly the cryptocoryne family of plants. Its cause is not entirely understood, but it is often triggered by changes in environmental conditions. The symptoms include holes or perforated patches in the leaves, followed by a complete degradation of the leaf tissue, sometimes resulting...
Echinodorus grandiflorus
Chamisso and Schlechtendal Micheli 1881 Family Alismataceae. Synonyms For subsp. grandiflorus Alisma grandiflorum Cham, and Schlecht. 1827 , E. argentinensis Rataj, and others. For subsp. aureus Fassett Haynes and Holm-Nielsen E. grandiflorus var. aureus Fassett, E. muri-catus Grisebach, and others. Etymology Echinodorus see E. aschersoni-anus grandiflorus featuring large flowers. Distribution Subspecies grandiflorus from central Brazil to Argentina, subsp. aureus from Cuba, Mexico to...
Exercise Caution
An important subset of fish families are those that will not bother corals, anemones, and other cnidari-ans, but may feed on mollusks, worms, shrimps, other crustaceans, and or smaller fishes, if the food item is small enough for the fish to swallow. A member of any of these families is not to be trusted with any active organism that will fit into its mouth. Therefore, although the following families are generally hardy in captivity, exercise caution in choosing specimens from them for your...
Family ENGRAULIDAE Engraulididae and Stolephoridae 95anchovies Marine
Suspensorium inclined forward with head of hyomandibular well in front of quadrate, hind tip of upper jaw maxilla extending well behind eye in most species and jaw articulation well behind eye mesethmoid projecting in front of vomer and supporting a paired sensory rostral organ snout blunt, prominent, projecting beyond tip of lower jaw in most species only just beyond in some Old World anchovies gill rakers 10-50 or more on lower limb of first arch, 90 or more 100 or more on both limbs in...
The OuterReef Habitat
Outer reefs of the Indo-Pacific are the home of the most widely available giant clam, Tridacna derasa, which is an adaptable species that can be recommended to any aquarist. This is a good species to accompany SPS corals. Dartfishes, such as the Common Firefish, Nemateleotris magnified, and the Purple Firefish, N. decora, occur here in pairs, and shoals of anthias hover in the strong currents. See the discussion of anthias in Chapter Ten before attempting these fish, however. The striking...
Acontia Filaments
Sometimes a stressed coral may appear to be covered with fine white strings. These are its digestive filaments that can be ejected externally for defensive purposes see photo chapter 3 . Acontia are used to attack neighboring corals and where they contact another species, tissue disintegration is sure to follow. The release of terpenoid compounds by soft corals can also stimulate acontia release in stony corals, as can the presence of other noxious compounds in the water. Supersaturation of...
Suitable Fish
Choose surface-dwelling fish for movement when seen from above. Floating plants and tiger lotus leaves provide cover for hatchetfish Carnegiella, Gasteropelecus and Thoracocharax spp. , livebearers, and gouramis. Small algae-eating fish, such as Otodnclus, will browse on the leaves of Echinodorus tenellus. Larger algae-eaters may damage the thin tiger lotus leaves. Small Corydoras catfish will remove debris from the smaller-leaved foreground plants. Tetras and small rasboras make good shoaling...
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
This plant is similar in appearance to Cardamine lyrata although the leaves are much larger, reaching 1.2-2 in 3-5 cm in diameter. It adapts to most aquarium conditions, although it does appreciate good lighting. The shoots quickly reach the surface, where the leaves spread rapidly, cutting out light to the aquarium. To prevent other plants from losing light, be sure to prune Brazilian pennywort regularly. It will also grow in damp bog conditions. Area Midground, Foreground, Floating, Specimen,...
Acorus gramineus Variegatus
Common name Variegated Japanese rush This tall, grassy plant produces numerous stiff, leathery leaves with a green base color and two or three white stripes along their entire length. The plant will survive up to a year submersed and grows in most rooting mediums. Potted plants produce thick, heavy roots that take nutrients directly from the water. In a reasonable substrate and with at least half the length of the leaf above water, the plant will spread by producing new shoots from the base. If...