The royal gramma (Gramma loreto), also known as the fairy basslet, is a species of fish in the family Grammatidae native to reef environments of the tropical western Atlantic Ocean. They are commonly kept in aquariums.
Appearance
The fish can be a light purple to a deep violet starting at the head which fades mid-body to a golden yellow at the tail. The royal gramma will also have a small black spot on the front of the dorsal fin and a black line that streaks through the eye. It resembles the false gramma (Pictichromis paccagnellae), with the two main differences between the two being the false gramma has clear fins and does not fade, but rather has a distinct change in color. The royal gramma is relatively small, averaging slightly over 8 cm (3.1 in) and has been tank bred. The largest scientifically-measured royal gramma was 8 cm (3.1 in) long.
Diet
The royal gramma is a planktivore, eating mostly zooplankton and crustaceans. The royal gramma is also a cleaner fish. It removes the ectoparasites (a parasite that lives on the skin of a fish) from other fish and learns to eat dead food, such as crustaceans and fish flesh. They prefer to pick their food from the middle of the water coTheir natural range covers the Bahamas, Venezuela, Antilles, Bermuda, and through the waters surrounding Central America and the northern part of South America. The Royal Gramma tends to swim more towards the bottom with the depth range between 1 and 20 m (3 and 60 ft).
In the aquarium
Due to their relatively peaceful nature, diet, and small size, the royal gramma is considered an ideal inhabitant for most reef aquaria containing coral and other invertebrates. Notwithstanding this general statement, they can become aggressive towards tank-mates when kept in smaller nano reef tanks. They stake out territories throughout rocks and crevices and choose favorite hiding places. They are generally peaceful fish, but are very protective of their territories and are known for chasing out other small fish. They tend to stay in one area of the tank and, when startled, will dart back into their holes. They will vigorously guard their hiding places and, when threatened, will open their mouths wide in a threatening gesture to ward off the intruders. The royal gramma tends to orient itself to be parallel with the surface to which it is closest, resulting in the fish swimming straight up and down or sometimes upside down beneath ledges. This behavior is not to be mistaken for illness.
The minimum suggested tank size is 30 gallons and the tank should not receive sharp lighting. The ideal water temperature should range between 72 and 78 °F and the water pH should be between 8.1 and 8.4, with specific gravity of 1.020–1.025. They are often kept in reef aquaria and are generally kept singly or in pairs. However, small groups can be kept as long as the tank is large enough and has enough cracks and crevices for each fish to have its own territory. The royal gramma should not be kept with its own kind unless in a formed male-female pair. It should also not be kept with larger, aggressive fish that will eat them. They are, however, resistant to most diseases and make very good beginner fish. It will also accept frozen and meaty foods, such as brine shrimp and mysis shrimp in the wild. The royal gramma is very easy to feed, but rotating their foods is said to keep them from becoming picky. Captive royal gramma will also eat flake and pellet foods.
Breeding
Although pairs are difficult to find because the difference between male and female is not visible, they are very easy to breed. With males usually being larger than females, the male will build the nest among rocks using pieces of algae.The male will then lead the female to the nest, where she will deposit 20–100 eggs in the nest. The male exhibits the following nest care practices: protecting the nest and eggs, ongoing maintenance, frequent debris removal, and constant barging into the nest.During the breeding period, this behavior is repeated almost every day for a month or longer. The eggs are about 1 mm (0.04 in) and are equipped with small protuberances over the surface with tiny threads extending from them. These threads hold onto the algae of the nest and keep the eggs in place. The eggs will hatch in five to seven days, normally in the evening, and can feed on rotifers until they are large enough to consume newly hatched brine shrimp
The flame angelfish (Centropyge loricula) is a marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae found in tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean.[3] Other common names include flame angel, flaming angelfish and Japanese pygmy angelfish.
Description
The flame angelfish's coloration is bright orange-red with a vertical elongated black spot and four or five bars on the sides, the posterior part of the dorsal, and anal fins, with alternating short purple-blue and black bands. Specimens from the Marquesas lack the vertical black bars.Males are generally larger and slightly more colored than females.
The life span of the flame angelfish is 5–7 years or more.
Range
It if found in various reefs of Oceania, most common in Marshall, Line and Cook Islands. The fish is also, although less commonly, found in the Hawaiian Islands. Particularly, the flame angelfish can be found on the foreslope of coral reefs and clear lagoons.
Diet
In the wild, the flame angelfish has a varied diet consisting of algae and crustaceans. There are occasional specimens that live very long lives in reef aquaria, but the majority of these fish will often die for no apparent reason when they are older. This may be easily explained as many of the Centropyge family are predominantly plankton eaters as juveniles and will switch to consuming its natural adult diet once fully grown. Sometimes, all it takes is for an underfed individual to "test" a food source. This being the case, angelfish are usually added to a well established tank and fed frozen mysis shrimp or meaty crustaceans such as shrimp and clam.
In aquarium
In captivity, this species feeds on a variety of food including brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and other meat as well as spirulina, seaweed sheets, and pellets, also from personal experience[opinion] they favor tuna and table shrimp.
The flame angelfish is known to be shy upon introduction to an established aquarium, especially smaller specimens; but, within a week, it will gain confidence and is then constantly seen grazing around live rock during the day.
The flame angelfish is often considered reef safe. They will adapt to a captive diet quickly which will usually prevent them from consuming soft or stony corals. Individual specimens that do pick at coral or clam mantles are more often than not under fed or under nourished.
Breeding
The flame angelfish has been known to spawn in captivity, with successfully captive bred specimens offered by Atoll Farm Aquaculture in Thailand. The flame angelfish is haremic in the wild and can be kept in pairs or trios in an extra-large aquarium. The aquarium should contain only one male—the males have more blue on the outer edge of the dorsal and anal fins, and tend to be larger. The fish will spawn toward the end of the day and release pelagic gametes into the water column. Collecting the eggs and raising the larvae is the biggest challenge. The flame angelfish are broadcast spawners, releasing eggs and sperm simultaneously at dusk. They rise into the water column and release their eggs and sperm at the top.
The copperband butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus), also known as the beaked coral fish, is found in reefs in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This butterflyfish is one of the three species that make up the genus Chelmon and all have long beaks.
Description
These fish are easily identified by the yellow banding and long snout. The young fish are similar in appearance to adult fish. Butterflyfish grow up to 20 cm in length.The fish appears taller than its length because of its compressed, deep-bodied form with a long dorsal and posterior fins as well as its vertical yellow stripes on a white background. The snout is long and slender, and the dark eye of the fish is less conspicuous than the dark eye-spot on the dorsal fin. The base of the tail features a dark band that runs perpendicular to the tail. Butterflyfish may be distinguished from the similar C. marginalis by their color pattern and number of dorsal fin rays.
Habitat
Copperband butterflyfish are found at depths of 1−25 metres either alone or in pairs. These fish form monogamous pairs during breeding. They are usually found on coral reefs or rocky shorelines, and also in estuaries and silty inner reefs. This species is territorial and oviparous.
In the aquarium
Copperband butterflyfish can grow to 8 inches (20 cm) but in a home aquarium are usually half that size.[citation needed] They do well at a normal reef temperature range of 75 to 84 °F (24 to 29 °C), with a tank size of at least 75 gallons and plenty of live rock to graze on. This species can be considered reef safe. It will eat many invertebrates, including parasitic forms such as tubeworms, Calliactis parasitica and common glass anemone (Aiptasia, parasitic anemone). Many aquarists introduce the Copperband Butterfly just to get rid of these pests without giving consideration to their long term needs for survival. Given a choice, Aiptasia is the least favored food. The butterflyfish preys on all tube and substrate worms, clams, and mollusks. This is not a recommended fish for inexperienced aquarists, as it requires excellent tank conditions to thrive or even survive.
Naso vlamingii, the bignose unicornfish, scibbled unicornfish, Vlaming's unicornfish, and zebra 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 Indo-Pacific.
Taxonomy
Naso vlamingii was first formally described as Naseus vlamingii in 1835 by the French zoologist Achille Valenciennes with its type locality given as Molucca Island in Indonesia.[3] This species 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 vlamingii has the specific name which honours the Dutch explorer Admiral Cornelis de Vlamingh who collected specimens and drew illustrations of fishes for the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle and Valenciennes based his description on one of Vlamingh's illustrations.[4]
Description
Naso vlamingii has 6 spines and 26 or 27 soft rays all of similar height supporting the tall dorsal fin and 2 spines and between 27 and 29 soft rays supporting the anal fin. It has a relatively deep body with standard lengths ranging from 2.2, in subadults, to 2.6, in adults, times the body's depth. There is an obvious bulbous protuberance growing from the head above the snout. There are two bony plates on each side of the caudal peduncle and these have keels with anterior pointing spines. The adults develop long filaments from the tips of the caudal fin lobes. The overall colour of the adults is greyish-brown or reddish brown, and they have the ability to change colour quickly, with small dark blue spots on the head and upper flanks. These spots join up to form stripes on the lower flanks. There is a wide blue band running from the eye to the front of the bulbous protuberance. The lips are blue and there is an irregular blue blotch to the rear of the base of the pectoral fin. The caudal fin is blue at its base, grey in the middle with an ill-defined yellow marginand blue outer edges of the lobes and this extends onto the filaments. The intensity of the colour of the blue markings can be increased to a brilliant blue when the fish is displaying in courtship or to communicate with cleaner fish at cleaning stations.This species has a maximum published length of 60 cm (24 in).
Distribution and habitat
Naso vlamingii has a wide Indo-Pacific range which extends from the eastern coast of Africa between Kenya and South Africa, through the Indian Ocean islands, but it is absent the continental southern Asian waters, through the Andaman Sea, Indonesia and into the Pacific. In the Pacific it extends north to southern Japan, east to the Galápagos Islands and south to New Caledonia and Australia.[1] In Australia the species is found at a number of offshore islands and reefs, as well as from the northern Great Barrier Reef south to waters off Sydney in New South Wales and in the waters around Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. The bignose unicornfish is found in deep lagoons and seaward reefs, frequently aggregating in schools that feed on zooplankton around the higher areas of deep slopes and drop-offs.
Biology
Naso vlamingii can live up to 40 years in captivity.[8] Their eggs are fertilized externally after being released in batches by the female. Spawning typically occurs in aggregations, where many individuals come together to release their eggs and sperm simultaneously. They change their feeding pattern throughout their lives. Juveniles are herbivores; feeding mainly with algae, semi-adults are omnivores and adults are primarily carnivores; hunting for zooplankton.
The yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), also known as the lemon sailfin, yellow sailfin tang or somber surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. Bright yellow in color, it is one of the most popular marine aquarium fish, though in its natural state, it lives in reefs. The yellow tang spawns around a full moon, eats algae, and has a white barb, located just before the tail fin, to protect itself.
Taxonomy and etymology
The yellow tang was first formally described by English naturalist Edward Turner Bennett as Acanthurus flavescens in 1828 from a collection in the Hawaiian Islands. Zebrasoma refers to the body and the zebra-like stripes or bars on the body of the type species the genus, the sailfin tang (Z. velifer). Its species name is the Latin adjective flavescens, which refers to the tang's yellow color.
Within the genus Zebrasoma the yellow tang forms a species pair with the scopas tang (Z. scopas).[5] The genera Zebrasoma is one of two genera that make up the tribe Zebrasomini within the subfamily Acanthurinae of the family Acanthuridae.
Evolution and genetics
Based on the gene Cytochrome C-oxidase 1 (CO1), a group of researchers was able to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree of the genus Zebrasoma with mitochondrial barcoding sequences.
Description and biology
Adult fish can grow to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length, and 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) in thickness. Adult males tend to be larger than females. Yellow tangs are bright yellow in color. At night, the yellow coloring fades slightly, and a prominent brownish patch develops in the middle with a horizontal white band. They rapidly regain their bright yellow color during daylight. They can be aggressive, are prone to marine ich, and may damage coral within a reef tank. Male and female yellow tang look very similar. When mating, however, males change color and have a "shimmering" behavior which makes them identifiable.The yellow tang has 5 dorsal spines along with 23–26 dorsal soft rays. The yellow tang also has 3 anal spines as well as 19–22 anal soft rays. There is a white spine on its caudal peduncle that it can use for defense. Its snout is moderately protruding. Its mouth is small with spatulate teeth that are place classed relatively close together inside of the yellow tang's mouth. In juveniles, there are 12 upper and 14 lower teeth. In adults, there are 18 upper and 22 lower teeth.
The yellow tang is a marine fish that lives in reefs and is typically found by itself or in small groups/schools. It is mainly herbivorous and eats filamentous algae.
Reproduction
Spawning happens throughout the year, and it peaks once, normally occurring around the time the moon is full, so this suggests there is some sort of lunar periodicity to the spawning behavior. Spawning happens in pairs or groups, and fertilization is external. Eggs are left in open water and yellow tang are substratum egg scatterers. Yellow tang do not guard their eggs, and once the eggs hatch, the juveniles receive no parental care.
Food
In the wild, yellow tangs feed on benthic turf algae and other marine plant material. In captivity, they are commonly fed meat/fish-based aquarium food, but the long-term health effects of this diet are questionable. However, most experts in the marine aquarium industry express little scepticism that such a well rounded and balanced diet including plant and animal material would be in any way detrimental to mostly herbivorous fishes like tangs since they still need on occasion, complex amino acids and nutrients that only ocean animals can provide. In the wild, yellow tangs provide cleaner services to marine turtles, by removing algal growth from their shells.
Distribution and habitat
It is commonly found in shallow reefs, from 2–46 metres (6.6–150.9 ft) deep, in the Pacific Ocean (Ryukyu, Mariana, Marshall, Marcus, Wake, and Hawaiian islands),[3] west of Hawaii and east of Japan. There have also been reports that they have been found off the coast of Florida in the Western Central Atlantic.[9] A single specimen was filmed in the Mediterranean Sea in spanish waters in 2008, a likely aquarium release.[10] As of July of 2024, yellow tangs have been spotted several times on the shallow reefs of Mexico’s Riviera Maya.
Their habitat is tropical with a temperature range of 24–28 °C (75–82 °F). Hawaii was the most common place for aquarium harvesting, prior to the export ban, where up to 70% of the yellow tangs for the aquarium industry were sourced from. Over 70% of the yellow tang's natural range is protected from collection and fishing. The yellow tang is listed as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Predators and other threats
The yellow tang has many natural predators, including larger fish, sharks, crabs, and octopuses. Another threat is habitat destruction that is caused by humans. Examples of habitat destruction caused by humans are pollution that started on land and flows into the water, physical damage and destruction from harmful fishing practices, as well as overfishing, coral harvesting, and snorkeling, which can potentially cause reef damage.
Conservation status
Conservation status is labelled as least concern, but there are many ways yellow tang are being protected. The most prominent is that yellow tangs are being bred in captivity for aquarium use now more than they were, so collecting yellow tang from the ocean has decreased sharply. This allows wild yellow tang to be able to thrive without too many being taken, so the species is more likely to survive.
In 2010, one study found that fish larvae can drift on ocean currents and reseed fish stocks at a distant location. This finding demonstrated that fish populations can be connected to distant locations through the process of larval drift. They investigated the yellow tang, because larva of this species stay in the general area of the reef in which they first settle. The tropical yellow tang is heavily fished by the aquarium trade. By the late 1990s, their stocks were collapsing. Nine MPAs were established off the coast of Hawaii to protect them. Larval drift has helped them establish themselves in different locations, and the fishery is recovering. "We've clearly shown that fish larvae that were spawned inside marine reserves can drift with currents and replenish fished areas long distances away," said coauthor Mark Hixon.
In the aquarium
The yellow tang is very commonly kept as a saltwater aquarium fish. In 2015, researchers successfully bred them in captivity. Captive-bred yellow tangs are now routinely available for purchase at fish stores and online vendors. They can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) in the wild, but are introduced to aquariums in the 2-to-4-inch (5.1 to 10.2 cm) range. Some specimens as large as 6 inches (15 cm) are occasionally available. Life expectancy in the wild can exceed 30 years.
Most commonly found is pure blue, dark blue, or light blue, although observers find the aqua, purple, or orange variation throughout the ocean. These sea stars may grow up to 30 cm (11.8 in) in diameter, with rounded tips at each of the arms; some individuals may bear lighter or darker spots along each of their arms. Individual specimens are typically firm in texture, possessing the slightly tubular, elongated arms common to most of other members of the family Ophidiasteridae, and usually possessing short, yellowish tube feet. An inhabitant of coral reefs and sea grass beds, this species is relatively common and is typically found in sparse density throughout its range. Blue stars live subtidally, or sometimes intertidally, on fine (sand) or hard substrata and move relatively slowly (mean locomotion rate of 8.1 cm/min).
The genus Linckia, as is true of other species of starfish, is recognized by scientists as being possessed of remarkable regenerative capabilities, and endowed with powers of defensive autotomy against predators.Although not yet documented, L. laevigata may be able to reproduce asexually. L. laevigata is apparently not an exception to this behavior, as many individuals observed in nature are missing arms or, on occasion, in the comet form.
This sea star is fairly popular with marine aquarium hobbyists, where it requires a proper, slow acclimatization before entering the tank system, and an adequate food source similar to that found in its natural habitat. Generally thought of as a detritivore, many sources maintain that this species will indefinitely graze throughout the aquarium for organic films or sedentary, low-growing organisms such as sponges and algae. In the marine aquarium hobby, they have been seen to consume Asterina Starfish, which are commonly introduced into such aquaria on the ubiquitous "live rock" used in such settings.
Centropyge bispinosa, commonly known as the Coral Beauty Angelfish or Dusky Angelfish, is a small, colorful angelfish with a distinctive appearance. They have a bright orange body with vertical blue or purple "tiger" stripes, and a blue-purple head, dorsal, caudal, and anal fins. Their pectoral and pelvic fins are typically yellow or orange.
Key Characteristics:
Color: Orange body with blue/purple stripes, blue/purple head and fins.
Size: Reaches up to 4-5 inches (10-12 cm) in length.
Behavior: Peaceful, but can be territorial with their own kind and other dwarf angelfishes.
Habitat: Found on outer reef slopes and in rocky areas with hiding spots.
Diet: Primarily eats algae and detritus.
Reproduction: Protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they can change sex.
Reef Compatibility: Considered reef-safe, but individuals may nip at certain corals, especially soft corals.
Distribution:
Found in the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and other tropical waters
