Micromussa, formerly known as Acanthastrea, are large polyp stony (LPS) corals popular in reef aquariums. They are known for their vibrant colors and relatively easy care requirements. Two common species are Micromussa lordhowensis (formerly Acanthastrea lordhowensis) and Micromussa amakusensis, distinguished by polyp size, with lords having larger polyps.
General Characteristics:
Colonial:
Micromussa form colonies of individual polyps, often with a massive, cerioid (forming a tight, even surface) structure.
Corallites:
The individual polyp cups (corallites) vary in size, with lords having larger corallites than micros.
Septa:
The septa (radiating plates within the corallite) are prominent, sometimes with beaded edges or teeth.
Columella:
The central structure within the corallite (columella) can be well-developed or poorly developed.
Fleshy Tissue:
A thick, fleshy mantle often covers the skeleton, sometimes with papillae (small projections).
Color:
Micromussa display a wide range of colors, including red, orange, purple, blue, and green, often with contrasting colors in the corallite walls.
Specific Species:
Micromussa lordhowensis:
Known for its large corallites (up to 15mm) and varied color patterns, often with two contrasting shades.
Micromussa amakusensis:
Has smaller, angular corallites and is often found with a thick fleshy mantle covered in papillae.
Care Requirements:
Lighting:
Micromussa generally prefer low to moderate lighting conditions, with some species being susceptible to bleaching or color changes from intense light.
Water Flow:
Moderate flow is recommended to prevent detritus buildup while still allowing the coral to extend its tentacles for feeding.
Feeding:
Micromussa are opportunistic feeders and benefit from target feeding with meaty foods like mysis shrimp, krill, or small pellets.
Placement:
Due to their potential for aggression and long sweeper tentacles, Micromussa should be given ample space and kept away from other corals.
Acclimation:
Proper acclimation is crucial when introducing new Micromussa to an aquarium.
Aggression:
Micromussa can be aggressive towards other corals, so adequate spacing is important.
Price per 5 polyps
Micromussa are a type of large-polyp stony coral (LPS) known for their vibrant colors and relatively easy care in reef aquariums. While often referred to as Acanthastrea (or "Acans"), Micromussa were reclassified in 2016. They are popular choices for reef aquariums due to their low-light tolerance and willingness to take frozen and pellet foods.
Key features of Micromussa:
Polyp Size:
The two most common species, Micromussa lordhowensis (lords) and Micromussa amakusensis (micros), have different polyp sizes, with lords having larger polyps.
Colony Structure:
Micromussa colonies can be low-growing clumps or more extensive depending on the species.
Color:
Micromussa exhibit a variety of colors, including reds, yellows, greens, and blues, often with striking rings.
Care:
Micromussa thrive in low-to-moderate light conditions and prefer low to moderate water flow. They are known to extend their tentacles, indicating a desire to feed.
Distribution:
Micromussa are found in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands.
Micromussa, formerly known as Acanthastrea, is a popular large polyp stony (LPS) coral in the reef aquarium hobby, known for its vibrant colors and relative hardiness. Two commonly seen species are Micromussa lordhowensis and Micromussa amakusensis, distinguished by polyp size. They thrive in low to moderate light and moderate water flow, benefit from target feeding, and can be aggressive, so they need space from other corals.
Key characteristics of Micromussa corals:
Colony Formation:
Micromussa forms massive, cerioid (closely packed, adjoining corallites) colonies.
Corallites:
The individual corallites (the structures housing the polyps) are typically circular or angular, and vary in size depending on the species. For example, M. lordhowensis has larger corallites than M. amakusensis.
Septa:
The septa (walls within the corallites) are thick and beaded or toothed.
Columella:
The columella (a central structure within the corallite) is typically poorly developed.
Fleshy Tissue:
Micromussa colonies have a thick fleshy mantle, sometimes covered with fine papillae (small projections).
Color:
Micromussa corals exhibit a wide range of colors, including red, orange, purple, blue, and green, often with contrasting colors in the corallite walls and fleshy tissue.
Aggression:
Micromussa corals can be aggressive, extending sweeper tentacles to sting neighboring corals.
Care requirements:
Lighting:
Micromussa corals generally prefer low to moderate light, as intense lighting can cause color changes.
Water Flow:
Moderate water flow is recommended, enough to prevent detritus buildup but not so strong as to damage the coral or prevent polyp extension.
Feeding:
Micromussa corals readily accept meaty foods like mysis shrimp and brine shrimp, and can also be target-fed with small pellets.
Space:
Due to their aggressive nature, Micromussa corals need to be provided with adequate space away from other corals.
In summary, Micromussa corals are attractive, relatively hardy additions to reef aquariums, requiring specific lighting, flow, and feeding, as well as careful consideration of their aggressive tendencies.
Mitra papalis, commonly known as the Papal Mitre or Pontifical Mitre, is a species of sea snail in the Mitridae family. These snails are characterized by their large, white shells with vibrant red-orange or purplish blotches, and their overall form resembling a Papal mitre. They can reach lengths of up to 166 millimeters (6.5 inches).
Here's a more detailed description:
Shape:
The shells are elongate to ovate, fusiform, and smooth, lacking axial streaks.
Color:
The shell surface is typically white with small, white nodules under the sutures.
Blotches:
They have several rows of irregular, bright red-orange or purplish blotches.
Aperture:
The aperture is moderately wide and smooth on the inside.
Sutures:
Sutural coronations are present, and the sutures are more adpressed compared to similar species like Mitra stictica.
Similarities to Mitra stictica:
Mitra papalis is similar to Mitra stictica, but it has a longer body form, more adpressed sutures, and wider nodules.
Frozen mysis is a high-protein, flash-frozen fish food that serves as a nutritious staple for both marine and freshwater carnivorous fish, including seahorses and corals. It is rich in protein, vitamins, and essential fatty acids, and is often enriched to enhance the vitality, coloration, and immune system of fish. Because it is flash-frozen shortly after harvest, it retains its natural look and nutritional value without artificial preservatives.
Key features
Nutritional profile: High in protein, with a good balance of fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is a source of omega-3 and other unsaturated fatty acids.
Palatability: Highly palatable, and can entice picky eaters. It is especially popular with seahorses.
Ease of digestion: Easy for fish to digest, which helps with water quality.
Flash-frozen: Preserves nutritional quality and natural appearance.
Processing: Often gamma-irradiated to ensure it is pathogen-free.
Suitability: Suitable for both marine and freshwater species, including fish, corals, and invertebrates.
Feeding instructions
Feed only as much as your fish can consume within a 2-5 minute period.
It is best to feed small amounts multiple times a day to mimic natural grazing behavior.
Avoid thawing the cubes before feeding; the food will defrost in the water.
Remove any uneaten food promptly to help maintain water quality
Nardoa galatheae, commonly known as the brown mesh sea star or green sea star, is a species of sea star belonging to the Ophidiasteridae family. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region, typically inhabiting coral reefs and rocky substrates at depths less than 30 meters. These sea stars are omnivores, feeding on detritus, small invertebrates, and algae.
Key Features of Nardoa galatheae:
Appearance: They have a characteristic five-armed formation with a mottled, greenish-brown color.
Habitat: N. galatheae prefers shallow rocky reefs, sandy substrates, and areas with live rock containing algae.
Diet: They feed on detritus, small microbes, algae, and may also consume small invertebrates.
Aquarium Care: These sea stars are not tolerant of sudden changes in water chemistry and should be drip-acclimated. They also cannot tolerate copper-based medications.
Size: They typically grow to an average of 25 cm in diameter.
Distribution: They are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Nardoa novaecaledoniae, also known as the Goldtip Starfish, Yellow Mesh Sea Star, or Peach Tip Mesh Sea Star, is a species of sea star in the family Ophidiasteridae. These starfish are found in the Indo-Pacific region, including areas like Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Key features of Nardoa novaecaledoniae:
Appearance: They are characterized by their vibrant coloration, often with a tan to brown body and golden or peach-colored tips on their arms. The arms can also have white spots on the central disc that get smaller as they move towards the arm tips.
Size: Nardoa novaecaledoniae can grow up to 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter.
Habitat: They typically inhabit shallow, rocky reefs.
Diet: They are omnivores, feeding on algae, small fish, and mussel flesh.
Care: They are not commonly seen in the home aquarium trade and can be sensitive to sudden changes in salinity.
Range: They are found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Nassarius snails are small, carnivorous marine snails with a distinctive, oval-shaped, spiral shell. They are known for their efficient scavenging of detritus, uneaten food, and other organic waste, and are helpful in cleaning up and aerating aquarium substrates.
Key features of Nassarius snails:
Appearance:
They have a small, oval shell, often tan or brownish in color. They also possess a long, tube-like siphon that protrudes from the sand when feeding.
Behavior:
Nassarius snails are burrowers, spending most of their time under the sand and emerging when food is detected. Their burrowing helps to aerate the sand bed, which is beneficial for maintaining a healthy aquarium.
Diet:
They are scavengers that feed on detritus, decaying organic matter, uneaten food, and fish waste. They do not consume algae.
Benefits:
Nassarius snails are valuable additions to a clean-up crew in aquariums. They help to remove waste, aerate the substrate, and maintain a healthy environment.
Care:
They are relatively easy to care for and thrive in well-established reef tanks with a deep sand bed. They require a stable environment and a varied diet, including sinking pellets and occasional meaty foods.
Naso brevirostris, also known as the short-nosed unicornfish, spotted unicornfish, brown unicornfish, lined unicornfish, longnose surgeonfish, palefin unicornfish, paletail unicornfish, shorthorned unicornfish or shortsnouted unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. It occurs in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
Taxonomy
Naso brevirostris was first formally described as Naseus brevirostris in 1829 by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with its type locality not given but considered to be Indonesia.[3] It is classified within the nominate subgenus of the genus Naso.[4] The genus Naso is the only genus in the subfamily Nasinae in the family Acanthuridae.
Etymology
Naso brevirostris has a specific name which means "short nose".
Description
Naso brevirostris has 6 spines and between 27 and 29 soft rays supporting the dorsal fin while the anal fin is supported by 2 spines and 27 to 29 soft rays. The depth of the body fits into its standard length between roughly 2 and 2.7 times. The snout is very short in length and is very steep, almost vertical. Subadults and adults have long, tapering bony protuberances in front of their eyes which may extend past one's mouth by as much as the length of the head, first appearing as a bump in individuals of around 10 cm (3.9 in) total length. A pair of bony plates with a poorly developed keels are on each side of the caudal peduncle and the caudal fin varies from truncate to slightly rounded.
The overall colour is light blueish-grey to olive-brown, although there is a colour phase where the front quarter of the body is pale with a clear demarcation from the remainder of the body. The middle of the flanks are marked with thin, vertical dark grey lines that break up into small spots on the lower body. The head is marked with small dark spots or by a lattice of lines. The protuberance is marked with diagonal black lines, the membrane of the operculum is white, the lips have pale blue edges and the caudal fin is largely whitish.This species has a maximum published total length of 60 cm (24 in).
Distribution and habitat
Naso brevirostris is widespread throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Red Sea south along the eastern coast of Africa as far as Durban in South Africa and eastward across the Indian Ocean into the Western Pacific Ocean, extending east to the Pitcairn Islands and the Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan and south to Australia.[1] In Australia the distribution goes from Ningaloo Reef around the northern tropical coasts to the northern Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea as far south as Moreton Bay in Queensland, as well as in the region of Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.In the eastern Pacific it is found around the Galápagos Islands.These fish live in lagoon and seaward reefs down to depths of 46 m (151 ft)
Naso brevirostris forms spawning aggregations, pairing to spawn and the males have larger keels on the caudal peduncle than the females. The eggs hatch into pelagic larvae which may remain in the water column for up to 90 days and the adults attain sexual maturity at around 25 cm (9.8 in).Adults feed mainly on gelatinous zooplankton, while juveniles mainly feed on benthic algae. The switch from grazing to preying on gelatinous zooplankton coincides with the development of the bony protuberance.
Naso elegans, the elegant unicornfish, the blonde naso tang, Indian orange-spine unicorn, lipstick surgeonfish, lipstick tang, orangespine unicornfish or smoothheaded unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
Taxonomy
Naso elegans was first formally described as Aspisurus elegans in 1829 by the German zoologist and explorer Eduard Rüppell with its type locality given as the northern Red Sea. This species is classified within the nominate subgenus of the genus Naso.[The genus Naso is the only genus in the subfamily Nasinae in the family Acanthuridae. For a long time this species was regarded as an Indian Ocean colour morph of the orangespine unicornfish (Naso lituratus) until it was shown that there were consistent meristic differences.
Etymology
The specific epithet elegans is Latin for "choice", "fine" or "select", a reference to the beautiful colours of this fish.
Distribution and habitat
Naso elegans is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It occurs in the Red Sea south along the east African coast to Durban in South Africa and eastward across the Indian Ocean into the Pacific where it reaches as far east as Bali in Indonesia. It is absent from the waters off the mainland Indian subcontinent.[1] In Australian waters it has been recorded from Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The elegant unicornfish occurs in reef flats in coastal and inshore waters in small schools while in more oceanic waters it forms larger schools,
Description
Naso elegans has 6 spines and between 26 and 30 soft rays, typically 28, supporting the dorsal fin while the anal fin is supported by 2 spines and between 27 and 30 soft rays, typically 29. The pectoral fin contains 16, or more usually, 17 fin rays. There are between 30 and 35 teeth in each jaw and, in adults, these are similar to incisors and have rounded edges. The body has a depth which is equivalent to roughly a quarter of the standard length and it grows more elongate as the fish grows.The keels on the caudal peduncle are larger in males than in females and the males also have longer filaments growing from the caudal fin. The overall colour is grey, with a dark snout separated from the grey head by a yellow bar at the eyes. The dorsal fin is yellow with a thin blue edge and a black band inside that. The anal and pelvic fins are dark brown.The plates on the caudal peduncle are vivid orange separated by a patch of white.The caudal fin is yellowish with a black submarginal band and black lower and upper edges. The elegant unicornfish has a maximum total length of 45 cm (18 in), although 35 cm (14 in) is more typical.
Biology
Naso elegans is a herbivore, feeding on benthic algae,[8] particularly brown algae in the genera Sargassum and Dictyota.
The elegant unicornfish, Naso elegans, is a marine fish known for its distinctive coloration and markings. It has a dark snout, a yellow bar above the eyes, and a yellow dorsal fin with a narrow blue margin and a black submarginal band. The anal and pelvic fins are dark brown, while the caudal fin is yellowish with black upper and lower margins and a black submarginal band. It is also known by other names, including the Blonde Naso Tang and the Lipstick Surgeonfish.
Here's a more detailed description:
Body Shape:
It has an oval-shaped, laterally flattened body.
Coloration:
The overall color is greyish, with a dark snout separated from the grey head by a yellow bar at the eyes.
Fins:
The dorsal fin is yellow with a narrow blue edge and a black submarginal band. The anal and pelvic fins are dark brown. The caudal fin is yellowish with black upper and lower margins and a black submarginal band, and can have long trailing filaments in males.
Caudal Peduncle:
The caudal peduncle (the area connecting the body to the tail) has large keels, especially in males, and the males also have longer filaments growing from the caudal fin.
Size:
It can reach a maximum total length of 45 cm, but more typically around 35 cm.
Other features:
It lacks the prominent horn or protuberance on the forehead that is characteristic of some other Naso species.
Naso lituratus, the clown unicornfish, orangespined unicornfish, black-finned unicornfish, Pacific orangespined unicornfish, blackfinned unicornfish or stripefaced unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
Unique to members of Acanthuridae, including Naso lituratus, are the Epulopiscium bacteria. These bacteria influence the digestion of Naso lituratus, helping them process the algae in their diet.[3][4][5]
Naso lituratus can be found in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. This species can be easily recognised by two bright orange forward-hooked spines on the caudal peduncle (the tail base), its orange lips and black face mask. The body is brownish grey with yellow nape and there is a broad black band on the dorsal fin. It reaches about 45 cm (18 in) in length.
It can be found on coral reefs, often in pairs.
Taxonomy
Naso lituratus was first formally described in 1801 as Acanthurus lituratus by the German naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster without stating a type locality, although this is considered to be Tahiti in the Society Islands of French Polynesia.[7] This species is classified within the nominate subgenus of the genus Naso.[8] The genus Naso is the only genus in the subfamily Nasinae in the family Acanthuridae.
Description and biology
The features of Naso lituratus include orange lips, a caudal peduncle with a brash-hooked spine, and a black face mask. The descriptions of these features include one dorsal fin on top of head and is encircled by a broad black band around 45 centimeters long. They barely grow in size. Long anal fin with II spines and 28–30 soft rays, and a continuous, unnotched dorsal fin with VI spines and 27–30 soft rays. Contains 8 to 9 gill rakers on the lower leg whereas the upper limb has 4. There are 6 spines in total, each with 26–29 soft rays. Adipose fins do not exist. There is one anal fin, two spines overall, and between 27 and 30 soft rays on it. The pectoral and pelvic fins are two of its paired fins. The pectoral fin contains 17–18 soft rays and 0 spines. The pelvic fin has a single spine and three soft rays. In adult males, the lobe's apex produces a lengthy filament. Caudal fin is lunate or crescent-shaped. Two sharp blades that point forward are on the caudal peduncle. In Juveniles, their blades are not fully grown, as they have a stifling gray-brown tint with black, yellow, and white patterns. No forehead "horns" or front protuberance that can be seen in certain other Acanthuridae species.
Distribution and habitat
Naso lituratus live in the East Indian and Pacific Ocean, with their habitat is living in the coral reefs that lay around in those specified oceans. The reproduction of this species are that the sexes are separate among the Acanthuridae and have distinct differences in size. Spawning occurs year round in Guam. They need high oxygen levels, strong water currents, same companions and need to feed on wild algae. Their self defense tactic is that they will extend their strong tail spines to strike any approaching predators.
Naso lituratus has various human use including as a food source and as a commodity in the pet and aquarium trade.
