The regal angelfish is considered by various enthusiasts for being one of the most wonderful big angelfish in the markets. It can be also one of the most difficult to rear in captivity.
The scientific title given to this beauty is Pygoplites Diacanthus. It is the solitary part of the genus Pygoplites. The regal angel has a full vivid yellow main body as well as vertical white streaks that are outlined by blue.
Comparable to all members of the larger angelfish group, young specimens sport a plainly different color pattern than adults. Young specimens do not possess blue colors and are mainly seen with yellow in addition to white with a distinctive spot close to the tail.
These fish have been renowned to exceed a foot in length in the wild. In the aquarium however, these fish commonly attain a maximum length of roughly 12 inches.
They are generally found across the Indo-Pacific, Fiji and a few locations in Africa. Angels found from the Phillipines and Indonesia tend not to do very well in the aquarium and usually have a high mortality percentage. Such a case might have something to do with collection methods.
In their natural habitats these fish are grazers that eat solely on tunicates in addition to sponges. This is the prime reason why Regal Angelfish do badly in the aquarium. They are tricky feeders that usually starve to death over a time frame. They must be offered a top mixture of seafood, marine algae and especially sponges every day if possible.
Always quarantine new fishes to ensure they are disease and parasite free. Every so often you may stumble upon 2 inch juveniles for sale at the marine store. Resist the urge to purchase them if you do not possess a big enough saltwater aquarium. The regal angelfish is the most beautiful and highly regarded larger angelfish by enthusiasts. Sadly, their high death rate in captivity does put off a lot of hobbyists.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Basslets - A Guide For The Marine Aquarium
Marine Bassletss are small, meat eating saltwater aquarium fish that are very well represented in the industry. The overwhelming majority of them are somewhere between two to 4 inches in length and come in a broad diversity of coloration. They are all strictly meat eaters and are regularly some of the easiest fishes to feed in the marine aquarium. They are caught in a mixture of depths and are ordinarily living in habitats which have a lot of caves.
Basslets hail from a range of families in addition to genera. Some of the more recognizable basslets in the industry hail from the genus Liopropoma, Gramma and Serranus.
The most popular among them is undoubtedly the royal gramma. Not to be mixed up with the bicolor dottyback. Basslets in the genus Liopropoma are several of the most sought after saltwater fishes in the industry and can cost more than of $600 for exceptional deepwater kinds for example the stunning candy basslet.
All basslets are considered exceedingly resilient specimens that fare well in the aquarium. Due to their food regimen, smaller fish and invertebrates are not safe around them. Crustaceans to avoid consist sexy shrimp, smaller pistol shrimp for example the randall's pistol shrimp along with any saltwater aquarium fishes that is small enough to put in into their mouths. Although they can be taught to consume dry foods like pellets or flakes, they have a propensity to take frozen foods a great deal sooner. Because of this, some of the most recognizable fish feeds for the marine basslets consist of staple frozen foods such as frozen mysis shrimp, krill along with various seafood mixes such as prime reef.
In their natural habitats, they are located alone or dwelling in pairs. They are frequently caught living in or in the vicinity of live rock that gives them plenty of hiding spaces. Such a rockscape ought to be mirrored in captivity if you intend to keep these beautiful fishes.
For the most part, many of the general basslets have not been bred in captivity. The staple Royal Gramma sees the most tries but because of its low cost, such activities have not garnered much attention from private captive breeders or large scale breeders. The one genera that is worth looking into is Liopropoma as they are normally deep dwelling fishes that command expensive prices.
Basslets hail from a range of families in addition to genera. Some of the more recognizable basslets in the industry hail from the genus Liopropoma, Gramma and Serranus.
The most popular among them is undoubtedly the royal gramma. Not to be mixed up with the bicolor dottyback. Basslets in the genus Liopropoma are several of the most sought after saltwater fishes in the industry and can cost more than of $600 for exceptional deepwater kinds for example the stunning candy basslet.
All basslets are considered exceedingly resilient specimens that fare well in the aquarium. Due to their food regimen, smaller fish and invertebrates are not safe around them. Crustaceans to avoid consist sexy shrimp, smaller pistol shrimp for example the randall's pistol shrimp along with any saltwater aquarium fishes that is small enough to put in into their mouths. Although they can be taught to consume dry foods like pellets or flakes, they have a propensity to take frozen foods a great deal sooner. Because of this, some of the most recognizable fish feeds for the marine basslets consist of staple frozen foods such as frozen mysis shrimp, krill along with various seafood mixes such as prime reef.
In their natural habitats, they are located alone or dwelling in pairs. They are frequently caught living in or in the vicinity of live rock that gives them plenty of hiding spaces. Such a rockscape ought to be mirrored in captivity if you intend to keep these beautiful fishes.
For the most part, many of the general basslets have not been bred in captivity. The staple Royal Gramma sees the most tries but because of its low cost, such activities have not garnered much attention from private captive breeders or large scale breeders. The one genera that is worth looking into is Liopropoma as they are normally deep dwelling fishes that command expensive prices.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Surgeonfish Overview
One of the most popular kinds of marine aquarium fish are made up by the big family of surgeonfish. Usually thought of a big fish, the smallest of them can reach a length of at least 7 inches in captivity. The biggest of them can reach a length no less than three feet in their natural habitats. Made up of some very colorful fishes, they are a tropical species that are usually found in large groups. They fall under the family Acanthuridae which translates into thorn tail, describing the blade that all surgeonfish have near their caudal fins.
Among all the species present within this family, two of them are one of the most admired saltwater fish in the marine aquarium hobby. They can be found on stickers, magazines, advertising banners and big range of other products. They are the yellow tang along with the blue tang.
Due to their large size, they require tanks no smaller than a 100 gallons for the smaller surgeonfish species. The largest among them such as the Sohal Tang require tanks surpassing the 200 gallon mark.
They mouths are specially intended for tearing algae from rock. They form huge shoals in the day time as they scour the reef for algae to graze on. The vast majority of them are very social fish that can usually be found among huge shoals that may include one or two other species of surgeonfish. Prices for specimens range from as little as $20 all the way up into the thousands of dollars as is the case for the Gem Tang.
They do not eat corals and are thought of as reef safe. This fact merely adds to their popularity within the hobby. There is difficulty in getting a few species to feed in captivity such as the Achilles Tang.
The majority of them however, will eat some if not all meaty and dried foods that are offered. To mimic their diets in the wild, they should be offered greens in the form of Seaweed or spirulina on a daily basis.
They are also some of the most parasite contracting prone fish and are also susceptible to lateral line erosion. Appropriate quarantining practices are needed to ensure they are healthy and do not spread any saltwater parasites to other tank mates.
Among all the species present within this family, two of them are one of the most admired saltwater fish in the marine aquarium hobby. They can be found on stickers, magazines, advertising banners and big range of other products. They are the yellow tang along with the blue tang.
Due to their large size, they require tanks no smaller than a 100 gallons for the smaller surgeonfish species. The largest among them such as the Sohal Tang require tanks surpassing the 200 gallon mark.
They mouths are specially intended for tearing algae from rock. They form huge shoals in the day time as they scour the reef for algae to graze on. The vast majority of them are very social fish that can usually be found among huge shoals that may include one or two other species of surgeonfish. Prices for specimens range from as little as $20 all the way up into the thousands of dollars as is the case for the Gem Tang.
They do not eat corals and are thought of as reef safe. This fact merely adds to their popularity within the hobby. There is difficulty in getting a few species to feed in captivity such as the Achilles Tang.
The majority of them however, will eat some if not all meaty and dried foods that are offered. To mimic their diets in the wild, they should be offered greens in the form of Seaweed or spirulina on a daily basis.
They are also some of the most parasite contracting prone fish and are also susceptible to lateral line erosion. Appropriate quarantining practices are needed to ensure they are healthy and do not spread any saltwater parasites to other tank mates.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Flame Angelfish
The flame angelfish (Centropyge Loriculus) is possibly the most familiar member of the genus centropyge in the saltwater aquarium hobby now. It owes this fact to the beauty this saltwater aquarium fish possesses. The entire angelfish is a very intense red to orange while its dorals fin ends and accentuated by an electric blue patch.
Also present are the tiger like black stripes that run down its main body. Flame angelfish generally differ greatly with regards with their general color mix and the number of stripes found on each specimen. Some have more orange than others.
Marine aquarium fish that have an abnormally uniform red can be found in Hawaii. Unlike other variants, their black stripes are not thick but almost always narrow. Hawaiian variants are very rare in the marine aquarium trade as most angelfish are usually collected from Marshall and Christmas Islands.
With proper acclimation and feeding, they can become a robust fish to have. They are a grazing fish their natural habitats that consume algae, detritus and have been known to nip on corals . Coral nipping is generally hit or miss and there is never a way to tell if such a behavior is about to take place.
Many enthusiasts have kept them in full reef aquariums without any troubles but there is always a chance this may change. In large systems with plenty of live rock, removing the offending flame angel is a tricky task that typically requires the use of a trap or physical removal of the rock structure to capture it.
They are not tricky feeders and will try out a wide range of foods in captivity. These fish are semi aggressive and can become the dominant fish in an aquarium with smaller fishes. Never put more than one flame angelfish in the same tank except if you have a exceptionally big aquarium as there will be heightened aggression between the two.
Also present are the tiger like black stripes that run down its main body. Flame angelfish generally differ greatly with regards with their general color mix and the number of stripes found on each specimen. Some have more orange than others.
Marine aquarium fish that have an abnormally uniform red can be found in Hawaii. Unlike other variants, their black stripes are not thick but almost always narrow. Hawaiian variants are very rare in the marine aquarium trade as most angelfish are usually collected from Marshall and Christmas Islands.
With proper acclimation and feeding, they can become a robust fish to have. They are a grazing fish their natural habitats that consume algae, detritus and have been known to nip on corals . Coral nipping is generally hit or miss and there is never a way to tell if such a behavior is about to take place.
Many enthusiasts have kept them in full reef aquariums without any troubles but there is always a chance this may change. In large systems with plenty of live rock, removing the offending flame angel is a tricky task that typically requires the use of a trap or physical removal of the rock structure to capture it.
They are not tricky feeders and will try out a wide range of foods in captivity. These fish are semi aggressive and can become the dominant fish in an aquarium with smaller fishes. Never put more than one flame angelfish in the same tank except if you have a exceptionally big aquarium as there will be heightened aggression between the two.
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