Animal Stories - People Talking About Marine - Saltwater Fish



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Latest Animal Stories on Marine - Saltwater Fish (1193)

Bastiaan - 2010-02-12
To Brent,

Yes commercial trawling is a major problem but fishing for the aquarium trade is as well. The species that are being caught for the aquarium trade are for the most part not the same species that are being caught by trawlers (I went along with a trawler and did notice that some moray eels and a large puffer fish were caught) because they live around coral reefs where trawlers don't come. Instead diving fishermen come to coral reefs and catch the fish as was mentioned by poison or dynamite but when these methods are outlawed by breaking the corals and poking in holes leaving the reefs demolished as well. I am currently doing my thesis in Vietnam and inside the (extremely poorly enforced marine park) all the species that are interesting for the aquarium trade are either at extremely low levels or locally extinct. Fish such as angel fish. So don't act like its someone else's fault but realise it's everyone's fault. The aquarium trade is absolutely unsustainable with its current practices so if you want to have an aquarium (which I completely understand) at least try to buy fish that are not endangered and unlikely to become endangered. Also maybe consider contributing to some organizations that try to protect the coral reefs.

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whidbey0001 - 2010-05-07
Aquarium Trade Unsustainable? I think there are a some species that cannot be sustained at current rates, as you say some rare fish and corals. Most of these creatures we really have no idea of how many of them there really are, so therefore how can anyone judge what is sustainable. I agree completely there are plenty of awful things in the aquarium trade, but same with the art trade and any other thing that can make someone money. However I'm sure that the aquarium trade is a small nothing compared to the crazy commercial fishing that is going on now days, And even tho some species are targeted by aquarium trade that aren't "Targeted" by commercial fishing, commercial fishing gets a heck of a lot of by-catch that they don't target, which includes a lot of corals, because the fish live around the coral reefs of course. I'm sure most fish species will outlive humans.

Moni - 2011-07-30
I have had my stingray for about a week and he has started doing backflips all the time almost constantly unless it's feeding time or someone walks up to the tank. I've never seen him do that even when he was at the store for 3 weeks while I got my tank set up... Just wondering if anyone knows if it's a bad thing or not!

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Charlie Roche - 2011-07-30
There are back flips and back flips. U-Tube there is a video of california stingray just haning out and he does go up side down and then around. I don't know if this is what you mean by a back flip. Here's the link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1PtZRGBDG8

Big Dave - 2005-01-17
My chainlink hides most of the time until food hits the water. He eats like he is going to the electric chair in the morning. He never bothers other fish unless he is trying to eat and someone polks there snout in his business. My guy loves shrimp and silver sides. The stinkier the treat the more he will love it..very active at night

tiff - 2011-06-02
I just had my dogface puffer for about a month, and she turns a darker color sometimes, and shes always resting on a rock or the gravel at the bottom of the tank. Is this normal? Can someone tell me what to they feed their dogface.............

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Charlie Roche - 2011-06-02
Yes, the dog face puffer will change colors. They don't usually do this in an aquarium enviornment but they can. They do it very naturally in their own natural habitat. So don't worry about that one. OK feeding........

Puffers are primarily predatory fish though they do graze on algae as well. Acceptable foods include shellfish, crustaceans and hard shelled foods such as snails. A large variety of all kinds of live and frozen meaty foods are best. It is best to feed small amounts several times a day. Some of the suggested frozen foods include prawn, crabs/crabs legs, bloodworms (live or frozen), blackworms (live or frozen), silversides, and mussels. Be sure to wash these foods thoroughly before feeding. Live foods can include snails, crabs, crayfish, shrimp (these are good for keeping their teeth trimmed), and earthworms. Live fish will also be eaten but it is thought it may cause problems such as 'fatty" liver and so should be fed sparingly or not at all.. Puffers are not picky eaters and will quickly become adapted to a variety of prepared aquarium foods and an occasional algae wafer. Flake food is not recommended. Even though they may eat it, puffers will not thrive on it.

Greg Earle - 2008-08-04
I have a Ribbon Eel which I believe is the longest-lived Ribbon Eel in captivity. I have had it continuously since around 1985 or 1986, I believe. It has been through at least 3 house moves which were undoubtedly traumatic to it (drain tank, put eel in bucket, etc.).

I feed it 2 dozen feeder guppies a week, once a week, and I keep nothing else in the tank (a 60 gallon) to make sure it is not stressed at all. It is like the Energizer Bunny! I am absolutely amazed at my success in keeping this beautiful creature alive for so long. I wish someone at the Monterey Aquarium or some institution would come study it before it goes!

Dhritiman Datta - 2007-12-06
I have one of these in my 200 litre Fish Only tank. He is very aggressive towards my Pakistani Butterfly and Sebae Clown and other fish of its same size! But they are a really hardy species, very rarely attacked by diseases. Just make sure to provide a good amount of green.

Don - 2010-03-19
I've an Achilles Tang I've had for about a month -- was doing fine but starting getting white spots about two weeks ago (thought it was itch), cleaner shrimp and cleaner wrasse seems to have cleared that up. However colouration seems to be lost on front half of fish and hasn't returned. Any ideas on what this could be -- not gasping for air, eating well and still moving well about the tank. Unfortunately didn't quarantine first (dumb I know) -- looking to take out of display tank to treat -- only have a goby and 5 year old Yellow Tang in the tank with him and they don't appear to be showing any signs (Yet). I have pictures if anyone want to see them if that might help.

AR - 2009-03-13
I have an Undulate Trigger living with a Yellow Tang... they have been together since they were babies and believe it or not they are best buds... every now and then the tang will cross the line and the Undulate gets a little nasty but the next day all is well. What I find most odd is the Undulates behavior of building... this guy will literally move all of the sand, gravel, rocks and coral in the tank to one side... he builds these huge mountains on one side of the tank and leaves only the glass on the other side... each time I go in to clean the tank I level off the sand and gravel and move the rocks back, he goes crazy and starts attacking me... than within a few days the mountain is rebuilt... I have had saltwater aquariums for years and have never encountered this behavior.. it's amazing to watch him work tirelessly and I am actually starting to feel bad about re-arranging his home...:-)

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Anonymous - 2011-05-17
He is building a place to sleep. You need to provide a cave for him.

nick - 2011-12-14
I have a wrasse that I have been trying to figure out what species he is. He is most similar looking to the moon wrasse described here except his redish green coloration extends all the way down his rounded tail. He is also about 4-5 inches long. Either way he has been extremely peacefull, hardy and I've had him for quite some time. My only gripe about him is when I feed my corals he is very smart and likes to eat the food out of them. He will eat so much that his belly will get big and round lol. I keep him with a leapard wrasse, percula, bangai cardinal, longspine urchin, regal tang, yellow tang, bicolor blenny, fire shrimp hermit crabs and various snails. I've never seen him pester any of the other fish and my tank doesn't have anyone that does really.

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nick - 2011-12-21
So I figured out he is most likely an ornate wrasse. I found a book with a picture just like him and that's what they called it!!
David Brough - 2011-12-21
Hey Nick, I'm curious about your ornate wrasse, is it the same thing as the Ornate Leopard Wrasse?

jami - 2011-01-31
I just purchased a set of clown fish. I have a 110 gallon tank and wondered if anyone could tell me why they seem to always stay at the top of the tank?

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Chris - 2011-02-17
Hi Jami

I recently purchased 2 False Percula's which tend to stay around bottom 2/3rd of the tank which is normal for False variety, from what I have read in forums it seems quite normal as True Percs tend to prefer the top 2/3rd of the tank.

I may be wrong but I have come across similar threads while researching.
Wish you all the look with your new friends, if your like me I can't stop watching them, everyone thinks I'm a saddo.
David Jonathan Brodow - 2011-05-27
The fish are probably just fearful and don't have a territory of their own. Set up a 65 gal tank 2 months ago. Lost some fish to ich until I set up a UV sterilizer. Now I have a fire clownfish who is doing great. I added another clownfish who took some shots from the fire clown but survived. The newer clown stayed on the top for one week then found an anemone to call home.
Kelly - 2012-03-02
I have a female Percula Clown who sleeps at the top of my 55 gal. She hides in a fake log I put in my tank all day and at night, floats at the top. I'm told that clowns often do that. Also, the top of the tank is warmer than the bottom, maybe they just like it where it's warmer?

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