Heteractis crispa, commonly called the Sebae anemone or leather anemone, is a large, striking sea anemone native to the Indo-Pacific region. These anemones are known for their leathery tentacles, vibrant colors (ranging from white to brown, green, purple, or combinations), and their symbiotic relationship with certain clownfish species. They can grow up to 50 cm in diameter and are popular in aquariums.
Key Features of Heteractis crispa:
Appearance: Large, with a leathery, wavy body and long tentacles. The tentacles often have blue or purple tips.
Color: Varied, including shades of white, beige, brown, green, purple, or combinations.
Symbiosis: Forms symbiotic relationships with various anemonefish species, providing shelter and protection.
Habitat: Found in shallow, tropical waters, especially on coral reefs.
Diet: Predatory, feeding on small fish and invertebrates. They can also obtain food from algae that live within them.
Size: Can reach a diameter of 20-50 cm.
The Magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) is a large, Indo-Pacific anemone characterized by its long, non-tapering tentacles with swollen or bulb-like tips, which are dense with stinging cells called cnidocytes. The oral disc, containing the mouth, and the tentacles are usually similarly colored, appearing yellow, brown, or green, with the tentacles often being tan but sometimes displaying vibrant colors like red, pink, or orange. These anemones anchor to hard surfaces with a sticky pedal disc and are well-known for hosting various clownfish and shrimp species in a symbiotic relationship.
Appearance
Size:It is one of the largest sea anemones, growing up to 1 meter (3 feet) in diameter in the wild, though smaller in captivity.
Tentacles:Features long, non-tapering tentacles that can be retracted, with distinctly swollen or bulb-like tips.
Color:The oral disc is often yellow, brown, or green, with tentacles that are commonly tan but can also be green, orange, pink, or red.
Structure:It possesses an oral disc with a central mouth and a pedal disc for attachment to hard substrates.
Habitat and Behavior
Environment:Prefers well-lit, hard, and exposed substrates with strong currents.
Social Behavior:Found in colonies in deeper waters and solitarily closer to the surface.
Symbiosis:Famously hosts clownfish, offering protection in exchange for food and defense against predators.
Feeding:Primarily obtains nutrients through photosynthesis from symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) and also by using its tentacles to capture prey.
Habitat Range
Found widely across the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific region.
This includes the eastern coast of Africa, the Red Sea, Australia, and up to southern Japan and French Polynesia.
Pulsing Xenia (Heteroxenia fuscescens) is a soft coral known for its rhythmic, pulsing movement and feathery polyps. It has long, sturdy stalks adorned with feathery tentacles that pulse, opening and closing in a "pumping" fashion, adding movement to the reef tank. Pulsing Xenia is a fast grower and a popular choice for reef tanks, both for beginners and experienced hobbyists.
Here's a more detailed description:
Appearance:
Stalks:
Pulsing Xenia features long, sturdy stalks.
Polyps:
The stalks are topped with feathery polyps (tentacles) that pulse in a rhythmic, opening and closing motion.
Colors:
Pulsing Xenia can come in a variety of colors, including lavender, cream, pink, and purple.
Growth:
It's known for its rapid growth rate, which can quickly cover rock surfaces.
Movement:
Pulsing:
The most distinctive feature of Pulsing Xenia is its rhythmic pulsing movement of the polyps, which can reach up to 40 pulses per minute.
Water Movement:
The pulsing action helps to create water movement around the coral, aiding in nutrient exchange.
Other Notable Features:
Fast Growth:
Pulsing Xenia is a fast-growing coral, making it a good choice for beginners who are looking for a coral that will quickly fill up the tank.
Easy Care:
It's relatively easy to care for, thriving in a variety of reef tank conditions.
Photosynthesis:
Pulsing Xenia is a photosynthetic coral, meaning it can produce its own food through sunlight, but it also absorbs nutrients from the water.
Propogation:
It can be easily propagated in captivity
Homophyllia bowerbanki orange is a coral known for its encrusting growth form, often with a central, prominent corallite. Red Bowerbanki, a variety of Homophyllia bowerbanki, typically displays shades of pale gray, brown, or rust, often with a marbled or mottled appearance. It's not fleshy and has irregularly shaped, cerioid corallites. While typically smaller, they can grow to over 1.5 meters in diameter.
Homophyllia bowerbanki is a coral known for its encrusting growth form, often with a central, prominent corallite. Red Bowerbanki, a variety of Homophyllia bowerbanki, typically displays shades of pale gray, brown, or rust, often with a marbled or mottled appearance. It's not fleshy and has irregularly shaped, cerioid corallites. While typically smaller, they can grow to over 1.5 meters in diameter.
Hymenocera picta, commonly known as the harlequin shrimp, is a species of saltwater shrimp found at coral reefs in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is usually considered the only species in the genus Hymenocera, but some split it into two species: H. picta from the central and east Pacific, where the spots are deep pinkish-purple with a yellow edge, and H. elegans from the Indian Ocean and west Pacific, where the spots are more brownish and have a blue edge. They reach about 5 cm (2.0 in) in length, live in pairs, and feed exclusively on starfish, including crown-of-thorns starfish. They do seem to prefer smaller, more sedentary starfish, but as these generally are not sufficiently numerous for their needs, they commonly attack crown-of-thorns starfish, both reducing its consumption of coral while under attack, and killing it within a few days.
Description
The harlequin shrimp is usually cream colored or white with occasional spots. Around the Pacific Ocean, many of these shrimp have red spots, while the Indian Ocean shrimp typically have purple spots; the Hawaiian H. picta has purple and red spots on its body, the shrimp has two walking legs on each side and large claws, or chelipoda. The claws and eyes appear to look flattened and thin. On its head, the shrimp has "petal-like sensory antennules" to smell out prey. Its body usually reaches up to 5 cm (2 in), and the male is slightly smaller than the female.
Habitat
These shrimp are typically found in Hawaii through the Indo-Pacific below the intertidal zone on coral reefs. They prefer temperatures of 72–82°F, but are very rare because of the changing coral reefs.
Diet
Harlequin shrimp usually only feed on starfish. They are very skilled at flipping over a slow starfish on its back, and eating the tube feet and soft tissues until it reaches the central disk. They, usually one female and one male, use their claws to pierce the tough skin and feeding legs to help them maneuver the starfish. Sometimes, the starfish will shed the arm that the shrimp attacked and regrow it, but it is usually too wounded to regrow. They may also feed on sea urchins, because they have tube feet, as well, but that is rare and only if starfish are not available.
Behavior/reproduction
The harlequin shrimp moves at a very slow pace and in waves. It also may have toxins from its prey (the starfish), which could make it distasteful and potentially dangerous for predators. The shrimp also moves its claws almost constantly. Females are larger and have colored abdominal plates unlike the males. The female produces between 100 and 5,000 eggs per season depending on environmental factors. The male and female are often seen together in the wild, and work together to not only reproduce, but also to forage.
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World renowned Meanwell power supply
Specifications:
Dimensions - 9.6" x 9.6" x 1.49"
Light spread - 23" squared (narrow and wide lenses available)
Power Consumption - 120 @ max output
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1 x Illumagic X41 x Power cord1 x Meanwell power supply
Since 1964, Instant Ocean is the most carefully formulated and manufactured sea salt in the world. An extensive biological and scientific program, particularly with the scientific community and in our hatchery – where we have reproduced millions of tropical sea fish – has enabled us to elaborate and refine a formula that fulfils the needs of captive marine organisms.
Each ingredient used in the composition of Instant Ocean is carefully selected and tested. Each batch is analysed in order to guarantee that all important elements have been perfectly mixed. Each batch is also continuously monitored in laboratory aquatic systems containing delicate marine animals and plants, because live organisms are always the most sensitive indicators of quality.
Exceptional solubility
• Provides a clear solution in minutes.
• Allows for immediate use.
• Reaches and maintains proper pH quickly.
Complete formula
• Provides the ideal environment for the care of all marine organisms in the aquarium, including even the most sensitive species.
• Contains every necessary major, minor, and trace elements.
Uniform particle size
• Guarantees consistency throughout.
Mono-composant
• Makes it easy to use.
• Every batch is analysed to ensure the presence of important elements.
• Raw material from the mine of the prehistoric german sea in Lorraine (France).
• No pollution.
• Green friendly extraction method.
Since 1964, Instant Ocean is the most carefully formulated and manufactured sea salt in the world. An extensive biological and scientific program, particularly with the scientific community and in our hatchery – where we have reproduced millions of tropical sea fish – has enabled us to elaborate and refine a formula that fulfils the needs of captive marine organisms.
Each ingredient used in the composition of Instant Ocean is carefully selected and tested. Each batch is analysed in order to guarantee that all important elements have been perfectly mixed. Each batch is also continuously monitored in laboratory aquatic systems containing delicate marine animals and plants, because live organisms are always the most sensitive indicators of quality.
Exceptional solubility
• Provides a clear solution in minutes.
• Allows for immediate use.
• Reaches and maintains proper pH quickly.
Complete formula
• Provides the ideal environment for the care of all marine organisms in the aquarium, including even the most sensitive species.
• Contains every necessary major, minor, and trace elements.
Uniform particle size
• Guarantees consistency throughout.
Mono-composant
• Makes it easy to use.
• Every batch is analysed to ensure the presence of important elements.
• Raw material from the mine of the prehistoric german sea in Lorraine (France).
• No pollution.
• Green friendly extraction method.
Since 1964, Instant Ocean is the most carefully formulated and manufactured sea salt in the world. An extensive biological and scientific program, particularly with the scientific community and in our hatchery – where we have reproduced millions of tropical sea fish – has enabled us to elaborate and refine a formula that fulfils the needs of captive marine organisms.
Each ingredient used in the composition of Instant Ocean is carefully selected and tested. Each batch is analysed in order to guarantee that all important elements have been perfectly mixed. Each batch is also continuously monitored in laboratory aquatic systems containing delicate marine animals and plants, because live organisms are always the most sensitive indicators of quality.
Exceptional solubility
• Provides a clear solution in minutes.
• Allows for immediate use.
• Reaches and maintains proper pH quickly.
Complete formula
• Provides the ideal environment for the care of all marine organisms in the aquarium, including even the most sensitive species.
• Contains every necessary major, minor, and trace elements.
Uniform particle size
• Guarantees consistency throughout.
Mono-composant
• Makes it easy to use.
• Every batch is analysed to ensure the presence of important elements.
• Raw material from the mine of the prehistoric german sea in Lorraine (France).
• No pollution.
• Green friendly extraction method.
The bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) is one of several species of cleaner wrasses found on coral reefs from Eastern Africa and the Red Sea to French Polynesia. Like other cleaner wrasses, it eats parasites and dead tissue off larger fishes' skin in a mutualistic relationship that provides food and protection for the wrasse, and considerable health benefits for the other fishes. It is also notable for having potentially passed the mirror test, though this is not without controversy.
Taxonomy
A genetic analysis of L. dimidiatus revealed the population fell into two monophyletic clades, with Indian Ocean populations generally having different stripe widths to western Pacific fishes. The Japanese cleaner wrasses, though, fell within the same group as Indian Ocean fish, despite differing in appearance, and both clades overlap around Papua New Guinea.Two closely related cleaner wrasse species, Labroides pectoralis and Labroides bicolor, were grouped inside the L. dimidiatus clade, so the bluestreak cleaner wrasse may in fact be polyphyletic, incorporating several species.
Description
This is a small wrasse, averaging 10 cm (3.9 in) long, at most 14 cm (5.5 in). It can be recognized thanks to a wide longitudinal black stripe running along the side and eye; the back and the stomach are white (sometimes slightly yellowish). This white part changes to a bright blue on the front of the animal, while the black band widens at the tail. The young are black with an electric blue line.
Distribution
The bluestreak cleaner wrasse is found on coral reefs in the tropics from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean to the western Pacific (including Papua New Guinea, Japan, Fiji, and French Polynesia).[5] It was first recorded from the Kermadec Islands Marine Reserve north of New Zealand in 2015, after researchers examined hundreds of hours of unused documentary film footage.
Cleaning
Cleaner wrasses are usually found at cleaning stations. Cleaning stations are occupied by different units of cleaner wrasses, such as a group of youths, a pair of adults, or a group of females accompanied by a dominant male. When visitors come near the cleaning stations, the cleaner wrasses greet the visitors by performing a dance-like motion in which they move their rear up and down.The visitors are referred to as "clients". Bluestreak cleaner wrasses clean to consume ectoparasites on client fish for food. The bigger fish recognise them as cleaner fish because they have a lateral stripe along the length of their bodies, and by their movement patterns. Cleaner wrasses greet visitors in an effort to secure the food source and cleaning opportunity with the client. Upon recognising the cleaner and successfully soliciting its attention, the client fish adopts a species-specific pose to allow the cleaner access to its body surface, gills and sometimes mouth.[citation needed] Other fish that engage in such cleaning behavior include goby fish (Elacatinus spp.) The bluestreak cleaner wrasse is known to clean balaenopteridae, chondrichthyans, homaridae, octopodidae, and dermochelyidae
In different regions, the bluestreak cleaner wrasse displays various degrees of dependency on clients' ectoparasites as a primary food source. In tidal environments such as the Great Barrier Reef, the bluestreak cleaner wrasse is a facultative cleaner that feeds more on corals than on fish clientele.Juvenile bluestreak cleaners are seen to bite their clients more often than the adults within that region, thus changing the dynamic of the known mutualistic relationship.However, in regions where the bluestreak cleaners are solely dependent on clients' parasites, fish who have access to cleaning services have better body condition than those without cleaner access. In the Marsa Bareika of the Ras Mohamed Nature Reserve, Egypt, the bluestreak cleaner wrasse live in specific sectors of the shallow reefs and are shown to rely on ectoparasites from species such as the brown surgeonfish and white belly damselfish. In this region, fish that visit cleaner wrasses have lower antibody responses than those without cleaner access, suggesting that cleaner access may decrease the need for active immunity.
Reproduction
Cleaner wrasse males defend specific living territories from other males in which they are able to have control over the females in those territories. When the dominant male no longer exists in that territory, one of the larger females is able to change sexes to take control over that territory.
Leptastrea is a genus of stony corals, often described as "encrusting" or "plocoid," meaning they grow in a flat, dome-like shape by covering the substrate. They are relatively beginner-friendly corals, known for their diverse color variations and a tendency towards slower growth compared to some other encrusting corals. Leptastrea colonies typically have small, barrel-shaped corallites with distinct grooves and tubercles.
Key features of Leptastrea corals:
Growth Form: Encrusting or plocoid, forming flat or dome-shaped colonies.
Corallites: Small, barrel-shaped corallites with grooves and tubercles separating them.
Color: Available in a wide range of colors, including cream, green, yellow, and variations of these.
Growth Rate: Generally slow-growing, making them suitable for smaller tanks or aquascapes where rapid growth is undesirable.
Lighting: Can tolerate a range of lighting conditions, from lower to moderate.
Current: Often found in areas with moderate to high water movement.
Care: Considered beginner-friendly, but proper feeding (small food particles) and adequate water parameters are important.
Stinging: Leptastrea have a stinging power, so spacing them appropriately from other corals is recommended.
