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Invertebrates

Invertebrates are animals that lack (as you might guess) vertebrae--backbones. This is not a very meaningful distinction from a zoologist’s perspective, as it pretty much includes all animals except for one phyllum, Chordata, if not a single subphyllum, Vertebrata. Still, it is a somewhat useful distinction for aquarists, who tend to best understand the needs of fish (i.e. fellow vertebrates). Fish are very widely available and generally are relatively easy to maintain in captivity. They are active and reasonably (sometimes surprisingly) intelligent. We can even (at least to some extent) train them. Invertebrates, on the other hand, might seem a comparatively alien. Often, they don’t eat in the same manner that we do. They may require very special foods or lighting. They might be extremely fussy about certain water parameters (iodine, calcium, etc.). For sure, they might be a little intimidating for beginner aquarists. Worst of all, because they are such a diverse group (everything from sponges to octopuses to mantis shrimp!), they oftentimes require a lot of research and planning to keep successfully in captivity. All that being said, it is the sheer variety of marine inverts as a group that makes them so fun and rewarding to keep in aquaria. For sure, nothing can be more amusing for an aquarist to show their well-stocked reef tank to a non-aquarist friend/family member and get questions like, “Is that real?” or, ”Is that alive?” In this section, you will learn about the natural history of diverse invertebrate marine life and how to successfully keep each type in captivity.

59 Posts

Beautiful Starfish species are a benefit to any reef Aquarium!

Starfish in Saltwater Aquariums

When it comes to marine aquariums, and reef tank setups in particular, the number of fish you can realistically keep in the system is
Read More about Starfish in Saltwater Aquariums

An adult Peppermint Shrimp

Breeding Peppermint Shrimp

Peppermint shrimp, or Candy Cane shrimp, are one of the most popular ornamental shrimp within the aquarium trade. In fact, they are so
Read More about Breeding Peppermint Shrimp

Saltwater Nerite Snail Illustration

What snails do you really need?

Remember those early saltwater keeping days, when you didn’t know much about your clean up crew other than that they can help keep your
Read More about What snails do you really need?

Close up of a Derasa Clam Spout

Derasa Clam Care

The Derasa Clam (Tridacna derasa) is the second-largest clam of the Tridacna clams. It is also one of the easier clams to care for.
Read More about Derasa Clam Care

Various Tridacna Clams in the Wild

Keeping Clams in the Reef Tank

I remember getting about six months to a year into this hobby, thinking I knew everything about proper water parameters, lighting,
Read More about Keeping Clams in the Reef Tank

Tunicates in the Marine Aquarium

Aquarium hobbyists, and reef aquarists in particular, are anything but conformists. If truth be told, they love to stand out from the
Read More about Tunicates in the Marine Aquarium

A Marine Snail cleaning an Aquarium

All About Saltwater Snails

They are found in freshwater, saltwater, and on land; they are called snails! Hobbyists have found saltwater snails to be one of the
Read More about All About Saltwater Snails

A More In Depth Look At Captive Bred Livestock

Once upon a time, all of our saltwater fish, invertebrates, and corals were wild caught, there was no captive bred livestock anywhere.
Read More about A More In Depth Look At Captive Bred Livestock

A Beginners Guide to Mysis Shrimp

Just like any other pet or animal you care for, it is important to be sure that the inhabitants of your saltwater aquarium are getting
Read More about A Beginners Guide to Mysis Shrimp

A beautiful peppermint shrimp ready to eat some aiptasia

Peppermint Shrimp: The Aiptasia Destroyers

Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata boggessi) The Aiptasia Destroyers This time was going to be different, you said. You had just set up a new
Read More about Peppermint Shrimp: The Aiptasia Destroyers

The amazing invertebrate, the sea urchin

Pincushion Urchins (Lytechinus variegatus): The Algae Destroyers

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
Read More about Pincushion Urchins (Lytechinus variegatus): The Algae Destroyers

Aquacultured Fish

Is There Really a Difference Between Wild-Caught and Aquacultured Marine Aquarium Livestock?

Is There Really a Difference Between Wild-Caught and Aquacultured Marine Aquarium Livestock? These days, when it comes to aquarium
Read More about Is There Really a Difference Between Wild-Caught and Aquacultured Marine Aquarium Livestock?

Harlequin shrimp are incredible hunters!

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
Read More about A Look at the Harlequin Shrimp

The intricately patterned trochus snail

Utilizing the Trochus Snail (Trochus spp.)

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
Read More about Utilizing the Trochus Snail (Trochus spp.)

An Overview of the Atlantic Sea Nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha)

It is a bit of a fortune to jellyfish enthusiasts that one of the most attractive aquarium species, the Atlantic sea nettle (*Chrysaora
Read More about An Overview of the Atlantic Sea Nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha)

A Look at the Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita)

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
Read More about A Look at the Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita)

Aquarium Cleaning Machines: Cerith Snails in the Reef Tank

An aquarium substrate surface can be a dirty place. Detritus, feces, uneaten fish food, film algae and other unwanted materials might
Read More about Aquarium Cleaning Machines: Cerith Snails in the Reef Tank

An Overview of the Sand-Sifting Conchs

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
Read More about An Overview of the Sand-Sifting Conchs

An Overview of the Sand-Sifting Nassarius Snails

We all want our reef aquaria to have a clean appearance; after all, not only does good aquarium hygiene make for a more attractive
Read More about An Overview of the Sand-Sifting Nassarius Snails

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