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.
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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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 …
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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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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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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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 …
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” …
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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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 …
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, …
When looking at fish for beginners, you are usually going to see the same fish recommended repeatedly. This list is for the people who want to see the “non-traditional” options of beginner fish. All of these fish are very hardy and easy to feed and work great in beginner saltwater aquariums. Always complete thorough research …
There are many different species of clownfish to choose from! Some look very different from others. Some are hardier than others. And, some are more docile than others. I am going to be discussing the top four species in this hobby and which one might be best for your aquarium. Ocellaris clownfish The most popular …
When it comes to your clean-up crew in your saltwater aquarium, you usually will think of snails, crabs and starfish. However, there are some other cool inverts and fish you can add that can help tremendously with your aquarium algae clean-up. There are so many saltwater fish that eat algae and this is just my …
The BIOTA mandarin goby (or mandarin dragonet) is one of the most vibrant and sought after fish in this hobby. There are actually two different species referred to as mandarins, each exhibiting its own beautiful color variations. There is the psychedelic mandarin (Synchiropus splendidus) which offers a tie dye appearance featuring blue, green, red, yellow …
When you first set up your aquarium the first thing that comes to your mind is “What are good beginner fish?” Before jumping to that, always ensure that your tank has been properly cycled and ready for livestock. It’s easy to rush into things due to our excitement but it is very important to consider …
