Every marine aquarist is well acquainted with the clownfishes (Amphiprion spp.). The most recognizable of the group are the ocellaris and percula clowns (A. ocellaris and A. percula). In addition to their wild types, these two species are additionally available to the hobby in myriad domesticated varieties. However, among the 28 or more described clownfish …
Captive Bred Fish
The last decade has seen enormous advancements in the culture of marine ornamental fish. It might seem as though there is some announcement of the first-time rearing of some new species every other day now. Aside from the obvious benefits for the natural environment, this trend has been a significant boon for saltwater aquarists from beginner to expert. It should be immediately obvious why; frankly any animal raised in captivity is going to be more adapted to captive conditions.
Imagine a wild fish, just minding its own business, swimming around in the ocean, doing its thing like countless ancestors before it. Then, out of nowhere comes the net (or in some cases a mini spear gun!). This may or may not be preceded by a shot of sodium cyanide (you never really know for sure). The fish is crowded into a holding tank with many other fish and eventually transported to a holding facility. Then to another. And perhaps another. But then, some number of days later, there is the big day—the big flight. It may or may not have eaten by then. So it might already be hungry, but it certainly won’t be eating during this trip. After a day, or two, or maybe even three, of wallowing in its own wastes and choking for oxygen, it arrives somewhere. By then the pH is dangerously low… the transport water may be extremely warm, or cold…
And just when it needs relief more than ever, now comes the worst part: unboxing and acclimation. It has spent days in total darkness, only to be blinded suddenly by bright light and jerked from the box. It’s stressed, panicking even. Then shocked as it is immersed in water of very different chemistry, something it has never had to cope with before it its ever stable ocean home. Home… not what it seems as it is finally netted again (not again!) and plunked into–a tiny glass box. A miniscule, rough representation of where it grew up. Exhausted and shaken, it’s now an easy victim for the pathogens and parasites it was exposed to in the numerous holding systems along the way. And it does get sick. But will it survive?
Maybe the above narrative is a bit dramatic. But that is essentially the reality for a wild-caught fish. Contrast that with a farmed fish, raised from a larva in the same glass box. Already adapted to a life in captivity. Adapted to aquarium food. Accustomed to a human, even with a hand in the tank. It’s hard to frighten such an animal, which is more likely to start begging for food at your approach. Certainly, it is comparatively very rare for a captive bred fish to contract and spread diseases. Especially if you’ve worked in aquarium shops or hatcheries, the difference between wild and cultured fish is day and night.
In this section you will learn the differences between wild and cultured fish, with in-depth information on select captive bred species.
Keeping the Australian Flathead Perch
It is extremely simplistic to assume that larger fish inherently have more value. Sure, if you’re at the seafood market, that might make some sense. But when it comes to ornamental fish, size (and even coloration) get trumped by rarity. Rare fish come in all sizes. But less-encountered species understandably get the most attention, pull …
Keeping the Blue Stripe Anemonefish
Ahhh, clownfish… They’re not just another cool fish; they’re the very reason many of us became marine aquarists in the first place. Even before the release of that animated movie featuring a now-famous clownfish, pretty much everyone–even if they never set up a fish tank–already knew what a clownfish is. These animals’ distinctive appearance and …
Keeping the Golden Cuban Basslet
Most “holy grail” aquarium fish species earn their special designation on account of both good looks and rarity. The rarity part may come from either legal hurdles to collection, difficulty of collection (occurring in very deep waters, for example) and of course actual rarity of the animal in its natural habitat. In addition to being …
Keeping the Marine Betta
It’s easy to think of that broad group of marine fish known as “basslets” as little thugs–because that’s pretty much what most of them are. They are characteristically hardy, scrappy, thickheaded animals that are all-around tough-guys. A very notable exception to this generalization is the marine betta. Sometimes also called the comet, this species is …
Goldline Rabbitfish: Most Underrated Reef Fish Ever?
Oddly, rabbitfishes (Family Siganidae) have never really been hugely popular in the marine aquarium hobby–not with reef aquarists nor with fish enthusiasts. For sure, there has never really been a “holy grail” siganid. This could definitely strike some longtime fishkeepers as downright surprising, as rabbitfish are hardy, reasonably social, active and attractive. For sure, the …
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Keeping the Pinnatus Batfish
The pinnatus, or pinnate, batfish (Platax pinnatus) is instantly recognizable (at least as a juvenile), not just for its attractive appearance but also for its graceful form and movement. The species is coveted for its distinctive coloration as a juvenile; however, it is nevertheless widely avoided due to a couple of decidedly undesirable traits. These …
5 Tips for Increasing Aquarium Fish Compatibility
You purchased only the very best aquarium filtration equipment. You tested the water every other day. You feed top-shelf foods. You did everything right… only to experience livestock loss because your fishes have killed each other! Fish compatibility can be pretty frustrating, right? Just understand that this isn’t happening because your fish are “mean.” In …
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Quarantining Your Mandarin Fish
If you have even worked at the retail or wholesale end of the aquarium fish industry–even for just a week–you are probably keenly aware of the threats posed by viral, bacterial, and especially parasitic diseases. Between fish collectors, breeders, distributors, stores, etc., your new fish may have crossed paths with hundreds or even thousands of …
The Pavo Damsel: Perfect Nano Tank Fish?
When searching for fishes to stock a nano tank, especially for a beginning aquarist, it is quite reasonable to place an emphasis on two characteristics: A small adult size and a high degree of adaptability to captive conditions. A peaceful disposition is definitely a good trait, too–in any kind of tank, but especially in a …
Keeping the Purple Tang
Some fish require little introduction. Instantly recognized even by newbie fishkeepers and regarded as a high-value species by aquarists for decades, the purple tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) could easily be designated as an all-time hobby fave. This popularity is largely, though not entirely, due to the rich purple body coloration for which it is so aptly …
An Overview of the Filefishes
In the Age of the Reef Tank, many cool (but not reef-safe) saltwater fish families that were once extremely population are now relative rarities. One such group, for sure, is the filefishes. This is too bad, as filefish are intelligent and possess abundant character. They are also quite “marine” in appearance and behavior; even the …
Keeping a Coldwater Marine Aquarium
Marine aquarists have always had access to temperate species. In fact, in the days before improved packaging/shipping procedures allowed for the massive import of tropical species that we enjoy today, most saltwater aquarium livestock originated from temperate waters. Catalina gobies, waratah anemones, garibaldi damsels… At least half of the seahorses… The coolest boxfishes… Anyone who …
4 Tangs For Beginners
Tangs are very common in larger aquariums because of their constant movement along with their stunning color. That being said, no tang is considered easy to keep. All tangs require a different diet than most fish (mainly herbivorous) and can be quite shy and timid when first added to the aquarium. Also, they require lots …
3 Symbiotic Relationships in the Marine Aquarium
Symbiotic relationships are perhaps the most amazing thing that occurs in marine environments. While there are some that you can deliberately recreate in aquaria, there are also many others taking place all on their own. In this article, I’m going to be discussing a few of the symbiotic relationships you can build in your aquarium. …
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Keeping the Seale’s Cardinalfish
We reef aquarists are a bit spoiled when it comes to jaw-dropping livestock. Weird stuff, colorful stuff… and just the shear diversity of it all. But we don’t have it all, of course. For example, think of all the many cute little “dither fish” freshwater aquarists have to choose from. Just looking at the tetras …
Link’s Gobies in the Refugium
With perhaps 20,000 fish species inhabiting our planet, it’s hard to imagine that we’ve already fully explored the potential for each of them as aquarium subjects. Truth be told, there are probably thousands of species that have yet to be discovered in the wild. For sure, a good place to start looking for cool “new” …
Get Your Gobies: The Perfect Marine Nano Tank Fish
There are all sorts of things that make some aquarium fish more desirable than others, for beginners in particular. Yes, yes, color is important. We all love bright colors. But some other things are quite important–especially when they’re actually in our tanks, and not just in some pretty photo. These are qualities like: How “reef-safe” …
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4 Gobies For Beginners
There are hundreds of different goby species, and they all require all kinds of diets and housing. This list names the top four gobies for beginners that I usually recommend for people just starting out in the hobby. When adding any goby to your aquarium, it is important to make sure that you can cater …
3 Most Expensive Saltwater Fish
Certain fish species are considered to be “Holy Grails” in the marine aquarium hobby. These are hardly ever seen in tanks around the world and perhaps unsurprisingly come with quite a big price tag. Having one of these fish serves as a symbol of status–as well as a huge responsibility to ensure its best health, …