Animal Stories - People Talking About Marine - Saltwater Fish



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Marine - Saltwater Fish Articles

Latest Animal Stories on Marine - Saltwater Fish (1193)

Abby L. Schwarz, Ph.D. - 2004-11-24
I am a marine biologist specializing in animal behaviour and ecology, and have worked with fishes over the last twenty years. I do not believe that fishes like cleaner wrasses should be offered for sale. They belong in the ocean where they perform an unusual service for other fishes (removal of ectoparasites). Most people do not have the facilities to maintain these animals. If the aquarium surroundings cannot match its surroundings in the wild to a satisfactory degree (for the fish), choose another species whose requirements are simpler to meet.

Thank you.

Abby L. Schwarz, Ph.D.

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Joe Bryan - 2012-06-09
For every comment I hear and see about these fish, be it from a “PHD” or layman, the answer does lie in the education of the consumer, but please don’t rag on the “newbie’s” or the consumer that purchases a cleaner wrasse, rag on the industry selling these beautiful fish. Yeah I have one too and if I had done my homework I would have elected not to purchase, but as stated by many on this form he/she is doing just fine and has outlive the PHD’s stated life expectancy by far. Funny thing is, months after I had bought it I asked the owner of the LFS (he didn’t sell it to me, his help did) about the survivability of these beautiful fish and he even said it wouldn’t survive, what the heck, so why are you selling em? So the point, get the trade to stop selling these fish for “profit”…

Wendy - 2012-02-18
I have two of these fish. One is a bit bigger than the other. The big one is very aggressive. If I could catch it I would probably get rid of it. I can not put any new fish in the tank without it chasing them and making them hide all the time. My clown fish seems to hold its own against the bully fish. My dragon-net guy that hangs out on the bottom doesn't seem to get picked on either.

roxy - 2012-05-10
yea we need help what kind of food do these fish eat were in 8th grade doing a project lol!!!!

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Jeremy Roche - 2012-05-10
In the tank setting these fish will eat flake but will take a variety of things. If you click on the fish and go under feeding, it is all there.

Robert Ruiter - 2011-03-27
Just got a Naso Tang for our 220 gallon tank and he looked pretty stressed on the way home, he is now hiding in our rock almost on his side. Any ideas on how to get him out and about?

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Clarice Brough - 2011-03-29
Yeah he's sounding stressed. As long as no one is bothering him, you would probably be best to give him a day or so to come out on his own. Trying to force him out will only stress him more.
mm - 2012-05-27
Had a question on the Naso we got one yesterday and got up this morning and he swam for a little but then as the day went on he just seemed to lay in the cave behind the rock then after a little he would move around and lay there again. We left and came back home and now we can't find him in the tank..

Donovan H - 2012-05-17
Will they get along with watchmen gobys or firefish gobys?

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Jeremy Roche - 2012-05-18
Should be fine. Every fish has it's own tempermate though.

Alexandria - 2010-03-20
I have had both, and the picture shows a bluehead, not a lunar wrasse

Steve\'o - 2010-12-06
Have read your article on blue head wrasse, I have a question the past
week I have noticed my wrasses head area has faded from blue to very pale
with slight markings on head could you tell me is this some bacterial infection
or is this some other disease? There are no other markings on body fins all
look good fish still active and eating. Could this also be a form of lateral head disease? If so what is best treatment? Thanks for any help.

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Clarice Brough - 2012-05-08
Wrasses can be quite variable in color. Males can be so deeply blue on the head that they almost look black, all the way to a pale gray. These wrasses will actually change color if there is more than one in the tank... with the less dominant fish turning female, and female coloration. But of course, do keep an eye on it and make sure your fish is eating and acting normally, and doesn't show any other sign of illness. As long as color is the only change you see, it is probably fine.

Jason Hacker - 2009-05-21
I love this fish. Does very well in a established reef aquarium. Would recommend this fish to an advanced hobbyist.

WaltC. - 2012-01-18
I have a large sailfin tang in my tank with 7 Blue-Green Chromis, a Niger Trigger (added last), Ocellaris Clownfish, Blue Spotted Sandsifting Goby, Black Top Butterfly,and an Anemone in a 75 gal. with a couple of Soft Soral. I plan on getting a Lemon Peel Angelfish and a Kole Tang, will this combination work?

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Editor's Note - 2012-01-19
Sounds like a fun group! To answer your question, I would say no. This is why.... a Lemon Peel angelfish needs all the algae it can get that is naturally growing on your live rock. They also need some mysis and other meaty foods, but 70% to 80% of it's intake is the algae growing on live rock. Your Sailfin Tang, I am sure keeps your algae under control, and would irritate the Lemon Peel Angelfish to the point of aggression or starvation of the Lemon Peel. The Lemon Peel may also make short work of some of your corals.

Kole Tangs, IMO are a better choice since they will eat the detritus and some algae as well. A Kole Tang may be a victim of harassment in a 75 with a Sailfin Tang and a Lemon Peel in the same tank. Again,as for the Lemon Peel Angelfish, it is a gamble with your corals, but it may be okay, just that Centropyge really need the natural algae.

Hope that helps and maybe you can illuminate to us the reason for your interest in these two fish.

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Editor's Note - 2012-01-19
Sounds like a fun group! To answer your question, I would say no. This is why.... a Lemon Peel angelfish needs all the algae it can get that is naturally growing on your live rock. They also need some mysis and other meaty foods, but 70% to 80% of it's intake is the algae growing on live rock. Your Sailfin Tang, I am sure keeps your algae under control, and would irritate the Lemon Peel Angelfish to the point of aggression or starvation of the Lemon Peel. The Lemon Peel may also make short work of some of your corals.

Kole Tangs, IMO are a better choice since they will eat the detritus and some algae as well. A Kole Tang may be a victim of harassment in a 75 with a Sailfin Tang and a Lemon Peel in the same tank. Again,as for the Lemon Peel Angelfish, it is a gamble with your corals, but it may be okay, just that Centropyge really need the natural algae.

Hope that helps and maybe you can illuminate to us the reason for your interest in these two fish.

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