Undoubtedly, reef aquaria wouldn’t be much without corals. But sometimes it’s those odd noncoral invertebrates that really grab attention and make a display unique. This is certainly so in the case of marine tube worms. To be clear, we’re not talking about the squirmy little wormlike critters here (nematodes, planarians, etc.). We mean the true …
Difficult Livestock
There are so many gorgeous and readily available marine ornamental fish species: Royal grammas, coral beauty angels, blue tangs, and so many more… Same with corals and other invertebrates. All of the best qualities in an aquarium animal, right? Sometimes not! Especially after successfully keeping aquaria for years, some hobbyists find themselves falling for the beguiling flirtation of difficult livestock. Yes, difficult, as in hard to keep. Even when they have to go great lengths to acquire the specimen (rarity appeals), or even when the species isn’t exactly colorful or showy by conventional standards. Before you judge such an aquarist as a show-off, or just plain nuts, consider this: They might simply be engaged in that which is arguably the most noble aim among us, the pursuit of ultimate challenge. Oh, so sounds a little more… evocative now? Even exhilarating, maybe? Then perhaps you too are ready for your first big trial as an advanced hobbyist. No need to go about looking for that one special species; it will find you, perchance when and where you least expect it. But when it happens, you will know. What does this manner of obsession look like in practice? Lots of research. More research. Very likely building a species tank. Maybe a little more research. At least some trouble actually locating a source for the animal. Then… that special moment when you finally take it to your home aquarium. The unboxing. Hereafter it is revealed whether you or not you have the requisite skills. If you’ve opted to chase a high-maintenance species, you might truly be put to the test. When you get lucky, you likely will be patting yourself on the back; when things don’t work out, you might shrug the whole experience off as “not meant to be.” Either way, as a lover of difficult livestock, you’ll be back on the hunt in short time. In this section, you will learn how to keep all varieties of difficult livestock, whether highly sensitive to water quality, finicky/specialized eaters or requiring special living conditions.
3 Tips for Keeping Maxima Clams
For a couple of decades now, tridacnid or “giant” clams (genera Tridacna and Hippopus) have been regarded as the cherries on top of any well-constructed and well-maintained reef aquarium. Though there have been a couple of newcomers along the way, most members of the relatively small family Tridacnidae have been available in the trade all …
Do You Really Want Seahorses?
No doubt about it, sea horses are really weird and cool. For sure, they make great aquarium subjects. Seahorses are fairly simple to keep if they are housed in the proper type of aquarium system, kept with mellow, peaceful tankmates and offered the right sort of foods. But are they worth it? That depends upon …
A Look at the Harlequin Shrimp
It is probably safe to say that the majority of aquarists (especially marine aquarists) are initially awestruck by the visual impact that a well-maintained aquarium can create. While they are certainly attracted to the bright colors that so many reef animals bear, they may also find themselves fascinated by the unusual behaviors that these creatures …