Super-Fish Member Gallery – Derek E.
Posted by gerard on May 20, 2010 under Saltwater Fish | 
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Thanks to Super-Fish member Derek E. for sending in some shots of his 120 gallon reef tank.
Top 5 Best Saltwater Fish for Beginners
Posted by gerard on March 10, 2010 under Aquarium Info, Saltwater Fish | Be the First to Comment
I have been working on saltwater fish tanks for about 20 years now as a hobby. Through this time I have tried many different approaches to fish and reef keeping. When you first start a saltwater tank, during the initial setup most people will tell you to buy some cheap damsels as a sacrifice to get your cycle going. If the damsels do actually make it then your ready for some real fish.
I don’t like to go that route. I usually make sure that the nitrogen cycle is complete and then start off with some hardy fish. Once your tank has 0 ammonia and nitrites you are on your way. The only battle left to face is nitrates. I have been fighting them for years but that’s another post.
Now, onto the fish. One of the reasons you chose saltwater over freshwater is that the fish are way cooler. The colors are more vibrant and the overall look is beautiful. I have found the following 5 fish are perfect for beginners. They are all very hardy, will eat most everything from pellets and flakes to frozen food. Last but not least they are all reef safe.
I really think you should check out these fish as starters. If you are just getting into the hobby you don’t want to start out with a flame angel or a triggerfish. You need to take it slow and work your way up to those fish. Get your feet wet with a few of these hardy fish. They wont disappoint.
Top 5 saltwater fish for beginners:
- False Percula Clownfish
- Bicolor Blenny
- Purple Pseudochromis
- Firefish
- Orange Diamond Sleeper Goby
Fish o’ the day | Saddleback Clownfish
Posted by gerard on February 25, 2009 under Saltwater Fish | Be the First to Comment
The saddleback clownfish can be found in the eastern parts of the Indian and the Western parts of the Pacific oceans. Like most clownfish, they are most often observed living in a symbiotic relationship with a host anemone for protection and in the wild are most often seen in association with Stichodactyla haddoni (Saddle carpet anemone) or Heteractis crispa (Sebae anemone).
Appearance
Color ranges from dark brown to yellow orange with a thick white bar located just behind the eyes. A large white abbreviated saddle shape or slanted white bar across the middle of the fish’s body makes it quite obvious to see how it got the name Saddleback [1]. In some varieties, typically those specimens initially associated with H. crispa anemone[1], the saddle shape may extend up onto the fish’s Dorsal fin with a third white bar or margin located across the caudal peduncle (pictured in taxobox).
Melanistic variation has also been partially correlated with the fish’s host anemone. Specimens associated with H. crispa tend to be darker than those associated with S. haddoni. Aquarium specimens have been observed becoming lighter or darker after accepting a new host anemone species, sometimes within a few hours. read more....
Fish o’ the day | Tomato Clownfish
Posted by gerard on November 4, 2008 under Saltwater Fish | Be the First to Comment
The tomato clownfish, Amphiprion frenatus, is a clownfish that is found in the waters of the Western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, to Malaysia and Indonesia. It is also known as the bridled clownfish, red clownfish, or tomato anemonefish.
The adult fish is bright orange-red, with one white vertical stripe just behind the eyes, joined over the head. Some varieties have darker coloration or dark spots on their flanks. Juveniles are a darker red, with three vertical white bands and black pectoral fins.
They can grow to 14 cm (5.5 in) in length, however the female is usually larger than the male. The eggs are deposited on a flat surface and tended by the pair until they hatch (6 to 11 days). They prefer to nestle in purple anemones such as the bubble-tip anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor, or the Sebae anemone, Heteractis crispa.
In the aquarium
As a pet, an aquarium of at least 25 gallons is necessary, while even bigger is recommended so that the fish can have enough space. A quarantine tank is suggested because this helps rid the fish of saltwater diseases before introduction to the main tank. It thrives even without a host anemone, and will eat most meat or vegetable food preparations. It is reported to be aggressive and territorial when mature and specimens have been known to be extremely aggressive to clownfish of other species if not introduced at the same time. For this reason, it is best kept singly or in mated pairs; but some claim that it will cohabit with other clownfish varieties if they are introduced at the same time. It is easy to breed; the fry can be fed on baby brine shrimp and rotifers.
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Fish o’ the day | Maroon Clownfish
Posted by gerard on October 27, 2008 under Saltwater Fish | Be the First to Comment
The maroon clownfish, Premnas biaculeatus, is a species of clownfish that is found in the Indo-Pacific from western Indonesia to Taiwan and the Great Barrier Reef. They can grow up to be about 17 cm (6. 7 in), and as they grow, they become more aggressive towards other clownfish. It is also known as the spine-cheeked clownfish, or the maroon anemonefish. It is the only member of the genus Premnas, although it has been suggested that the taxon epigrammata from Sumatra should be recognized as a distinct species, Premnas epigrammata (Fowler, 1904).
The stripes across the body are normally white, but they are yellow in the taxon epigrammata. The female is usually larger than the male and dark red or maroon, and the male smaller and a bright red.
In the aquarium
A 30-gallon tank is suggested for one fish or 60 gallons for a pair. In the wild, it is strictly associated with the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor, and preferably this should also be provided in the aquarium (but is not a requirement). The maroon clownfish likes frozen shrimp and herbivore preparations.
Because of its spines, this clownfish should not be caught using a net. The spines can get entangled in the net, which can injure the fish. Instead, catching with a cup is recommended. The maroon clownfish is one of the larger, more aggressive members of the clown family. It is best to house them singly, the only exception being a mated pair. Do not mix maroon clownfish with any other type of clownfish or bullying will occur. A good way to curb their aggression is to rearrange the rock work periodically. Also if it is planned to keep one or a pair it is best to add them last. If the right parameters are met the maroon clown will be a hardy and amusing member of the aquarium community. They are human responsive to the point of trying to “intimidate” people they are not familiar with.
Buy at saltwaterfish.com.
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Text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Photo by saltwaterfish.com member, happyhourh: Zach Brown.
