The term invertebrate is very much a blanket term used to consolidate all animal groups that simply are (you guessed it) not vertebrates. While it is not used much by zoologists, it has for long been in regular use by aquarists. For the latter folks, this might actually be a little bit appropriate because fish are so different and typically require distinctly different care from other aquarium fauna. The invertebrate animals can be divided into two more groups: Mobile or sessile. This distinction, too, might be a little trivial for the zoologist but meaningful (at least in a practical sense) for the aquarist. Mobile animals can freely and relatively quickly move about. This means that they can chase their prey or flee from their predators. It also means that they can easily relocate if they do not “like” conditions that prevail in their current, specific location. Sessile animals, on the other hand, remain firmly attached to or burrowed into some substrate. This means that they must filter or grab their food as it passes by in the currents. To escape predation or deal with adverse conditions, they must withdraw into the substrate or into some sort of protective covering (e.g. shell). Compared to the fishes, the invertebrates are much more diverse not only in terms of genetic relatedness but also of aquarium husbandry. By and large, they are more delicate and caring for them is a bit more complicated. It is for this reason that so many aquarium hobbyists start out with fish-only systems and then gradually advance towards invertebrates. “Inverts” are generally more challenging to keep in captivity. Because of their slightly higher sensitivities to factors such as light intensity, water flow, and so on (depending upon the species), captive bred invertebrates are much more preferable to wild stock for newbie and expert alike. Aside from being the environmentally responsible choice, aquacultured invertebrates are safer in that they are far less likely to introduce diseases or pests into your tank. In this section you will learn why captive bred invertebrates are superior as “pets” to their wild counterparts with detailed descriptions of commonly aquacultured invert species.
For many aquarium hobbyists, acquiring and displaying a beautiful tridacnid clam is one of the most definitive milestones in their mastery of the art. While these strange and beautiful bivalve mollusks are a real pleasure to have, they are perhaps even more challenging to keep than most coral species. Specifically, they demand (yes, absolutely require) …
Squamosa Clams for the Intermediate Level Aquarist Read More »
The zoanthid is one of the most stunning yet simplistic coral-like animals in this hobby. It can come in any color combination that you can imagine–along with any price point. This is why this particular anthozoan deserves an article of its own. There are over 100 species of zoanthids alone and the identification process can …
Particularly since the advent of clam farming, tridacnid clams (Family Tridacninae) have been steadily gaining both in popularity and presence within the aquarium hobby. They were once only available as wild-caught, were exceptionally delicate and were thus appropriate only for the most experienced of aquarists; nowadays, farm-raised specimens are in regular production, have proven markedly …
My first sight of a real, live sea urchin was in an aquarium (a friend’s) rather than in the sea. This was in my youth (i.e. quite a long time ago) in the upper Midwest–a time and place when/where marine aquarium livestock was quite difficult to get your hands on. Back then, and especially there, …
Utilizing saltwater creatures is one of the best ways to keep aquariums cleaner. Not only are you adding more interesting organisms, but you are also increasing biodiversity. This allows for an overall more stable reef. There are quite a few of these saltwater tank cleaners that will prove to be a great helping hand to …
They are found in freshwater, saltwater, and on land; they are called snails! Hobbyists have found saltwater snails to be one of the best critters for reef aquarium algae control. There is a saltwater snail for almost every kind of algae. For this reason, It is not surprising that they are one of the most …
Once upon a time, all of our saltwater fish, invertebrates, and corals were wild caught, there was no captive bred livestock anywhere. Hobbyists were still using compact fluorescent bulbs and tap water in their reef tanks, under gravel filters were still cutting edge technology, and most people had their fish for six to twenty four …
Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata boggessi) The Aiptasia Destroyers This time was going to be different, you said. You had just set up a new aquarium system and were going to take full advantage of every opportunity to do everything just right. Not only were you determined to include everything in the system that should be there, …
No matter who you are, how skilled you are as an aquarist, how diligent you are at cleaning your tank, how little you feed or how advanced your filter system is, one thing is all but certain: unwanted forms of algae will appear in your reef tank from time to time. Nuisance algae can be …
Pincushion Urchins (Lytechinus variegatus): The Algae Destroyers Read More »
Is There Really a Difference Between Wild-Caught and Aquacultured Marine Aquarium Livestock? These days, when it comes to aquarium livestock (aquaculture or wild captured), marine aquarists are inundated with choice. Of course, a good deal of thought typically goes into the kinds of animals we will keep. Choice of animal species is certainly important; this …
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 …
Algae, of course, is not an inherently bad thing; without it, the natural world could not exist as we know it. However, there are many types of algae that readily grow in plague proportions under certain environmental conditions. Imbalances of nutrient levels (whether in nature or in the home aquarium) can quickly result in blooms …
It is a bit of a fortune to jellyfish enthusiasts that one of the most attractive aquarium species, the Atlantic sea nettle, is also among the easiest to take care of. The availability of captive bred specimens, as well as high-quality live and prepared jellyfish foods, will almost surely lead to an increased presence of …
An Overview of the Atlantic Sea Nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha) Read More »
It was not so long ago that one could see jellyfish only at the public aquarium or in the ocean. There were few or no sources of healthy animals for those aquarium hobbyists that were interested in keeping them. Even more difficult to obtain were the specialized “kreisel” aquarium systems needed to successfully house most …
An aquarium substrate surface can be a dirty place. Detritus, feces, uneaten fish food, film algae and other unwanted materials might pile up there. Fortunately, there are many “clean-up crew” creatures that can be used to remove various types of nuisance algae and/or settled organic wastes. There are only a few cleaners, however, that will …
Aquarium Cleaning Machines: Cerith Snails in the Reef Tank Read More »
Just as the floor is usually the dirtiest spot in the house, so is the substrate in most marine aquaria. As many aquarists who have dug their hand into a deep, mature sand bed can attest, an aquarium substrate can trap and store an enormous amount of particulate organic matter (POM). Not only is this …
We all want our reef aquaria to have a clean appearance; after all, not only does good aquarium hygiene make for a more attractive display, but the coral reef environments that we are attempting to recreate are similarly nutrient and detritus-free. This is not always an easy task for the home aquarist to accomplish, however, …
An Overview of the Sand-Sifting Nassarius Snails Read More »
