Duration - 101 mins
Anemonefish derive their name from their association with sea anemones. They take shelter within the long tentacles and a special skin mucus protects these fish from the harmful poisonous tentacles. They are hardy and a perfect starter fish . Their comical swimming pattern has given them their name as ‘clownfishes’
Basslets are very colorful, hardy, and on the whole peaceful, although they might become territorial if there is more than one member of the species added to the aquarium. It is advisable to add these fish simultaneously, as severe conflicts may occur if added separately. Basslets like an aquarium furnished with plenty of hiding places.
Wrasse are a beautiful and active fish. They are beneficial to an aquarium because they clean fish by removing parasites. Also reversal of sex is common when in large ingle sexed groups.
Rabbitfishes original habitat is shallow lagoons amongst weeds. They have small mouths, large dark eyes and a calm temperament. They are very colorful, and have venomous dorsal and anal fin spines. Caution must be taken when handling these fish, as the spines will inflict a very painful sting.
Hawk Fishes name is derived from the way they wait for their prey like hawks. They are a hardy fish and do well in the aquarium, but bear in mind that they will eat smaller shrimp and fish. A well-sealed tank lid is important and lots of hiding places are needed to keep this fish at its best. They breed by egg depositing.
Eels can reach a size of 24 to 36 inches. They are hardy, mostly feed on fish and crustaceans and adjust well to life in a large aquarium. In their natural habitat they live in caves , coral and other such hiding places. A large aquarium with adequate hiding places and a well-sealed lid is essential for keeping Eels. They must be handled with extreme care, because they give a very painful bite.
The size of these fish varies, but most reach an average length of ten inches or so in captivity. They are a hardy fish that adapts well to life in captivity. Scorpion Fish are camouflaged with a variety of markings and stripes that disguise it when waiting on the substrate for prey. Their spines are highly venomous and should always be handled with great caution.
Most Batfish can reach a size of around 15 inches in captivity and adapt well to the average home aquarium. They can be recognized by their wing like fins. Batfish grow extremely fast and an adequately sized tank with plenty of swimming room must always be a consideration.
Cardinalfish are mainly nocturnal. The average size in captivity is two inches. They make a marvelous addition to a peaceful aquarium. It is always best to provide rockwork and coral to enable them to hide from other tankmates. Cardinals are easy to breed in captivity and make a perfect starter fish.
Butterflyfishes come in a variety of dazzling colors. Unfortunately it is the most colorful ones that have a tendency to be shy ,often retreating amongst the coral. They reach an adult size of six inches or so in captivity. Care of these fish varies a great deal due to the special feeding requirements (live coral polyp) of some of the species. It is advisable to have a large tank with plenty of hiding places .
Members of this family bear a sharp spine on the rear of the gill cover ,the presence of this spine distinguishes and separates them from their close relatives the Butterflyfish, which do not have this spine present. There is a big difference between a juvenile and adult ,reflected in their colors and patterns. Angelfish reproduce by egg scattering, are polyp feeders. They come in a whole array of fabulous colors and patterns and some of the dwarf variety make excellent starter fish.
Damselfishes share the same reef habitat as anemonefishes but unfortunately don’t share their immunity to the stinging tentacles of anemones. The majority of these fish are highly territorial, and may become aggressive toward other tankmates unless hiding places and space is provided. They do well in groups of the same species.
Chromis are related to clownfish and damselfish, but are characteristically less antagonistic. They are at their best when in a school of three or more, and make a fantastic display when in large numbers. Chromis are the perfect fish for the reef aquarium because they don’t trouble invertebrates and corals.
Their natural habitat is shallow coastal waters throughout the Indo-Pacific region.Seahorses in captivity don’t tend to exceed any more than 5 inches . They are hardy and adjust well to life in the aquarium provided there are low currents and plenty of algae and coral . Seahorses cannot compete for food with other fish in a tank so it is advisable to house only with other Seahorses and Pipefish.
Most Groupers grow up to 12 inches and can quickly outgrow the average aquarium. A large aquarium with suitable places to hide is necessary to keep Groupers in captivity. It is best to maintain only one species of Grouper per tank, because they have a tendency to become antagonistic towards other tankmates. Sexing can be difficult as they have the ability to be both male and female,but not at the same time.
Goatfish have a pair of long fleshy barbels by their mouth. The dorsal fins are widely separated and the caudal fin is forked. They are typically seen foraging in small schools among rubble or sandy or muddy areas adjacent to rocky and coral reefs.
The Mandarin fish is probably one of the most distinctive and beautiful fish in an aquarium. They do best in when housed with peaceful, non-aggressive fish . Mandarin fish are sensitive to water quality and tend to be rather finicky feeders. These fish lack scales and instead have a rather thick, slimymucus coating on their bodies. This coating tends to make them rather resistant to parasitic skin diseases.
Most species of sweetlips have small mouths with large fleshy lips. They usually undergo dramatic colour changes as they grow. Adults often bear little resemblance to their young,they are typically active at night. Juvenile sweetlips make an excellent choice for a large aquarium.
Blennies are common inhabitant of tidepools and reefs. They have elongate bodies with long dorsal and anal fins, blunt foreheads, and small paired pelvic fins. Blennies reach a size of three inches and are typically bottom dwellers. They are somewhat territorial in nature, and only one species per tank is recommended. Extensive rockwork and a good growth of microalgae are necessary to successfully maintain them in captivity.
Tangs are often called Doctorfish or Surgeonfish, they make a stunning addition to the reef or fish only aquarium. It is best to provide foods containing Spirulina algae or dried seaweed, along with hiding places and plenty of space to swim freely. If you are keeping more than one species of Tang, it is advisable to introduce different genera as well as different-sized specimens at the same time so as to minimize hostility. Use caution if introducing to a reef aquarium, Tangs are prone to marine ick.
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Tropical marine fish tank setup - Extensive guide providing detailed information about 101 tropical freshwater fish.  |