PETS

For the best results, seahorses should be kept in a separate, species-only tank that is 30 gallons or larger with multiple branching decorations which they can grab with their prehensile tails. The reason for this is that seahorses are very slow methodical eaters and when maintained with other fish, they will never receive the proper amount of food to thrive in the aquarium. Seahorses tend to get along with pipefish, but they are a slightly faster feeder than the seahorse so it is imperative that the aquarist offers the proper amount of food for the seahorse. In order to maintain the coloration of these wonderful animals it is ideal to keep décor of a similar coloration in the aquarium.

These Tank Bred seahorses are very hardy, and make a smart alternative to wild caught species. It is recommended not to combine Tank Bred seahorses with those that have been harvested from the wild, due to the possibility of spreading disease.

Approximate purchase size: Small: 2" to 2-1/2", Medium: 2-1/2 to 3", Large: 3" to 4"

The Banded Pipefish has a long, slender body with a tiny, tubular mouth and an oval, flag-like tail. The body is creamy white with dark red to black vertical rings from the snout to the tail. The tail is bright red with a white margin and dot in the center.

The Banded Pipefish is difficult to keep due to its unusual feeding requirements. It normally prefers to eat only live copepods in a mature reef aquarium with plenty of live rock or macroalgae. An ideal diet to start this fish on isNutramar Tigrio Bottled Live Copepods, and vitamin-enriched live baby brine shrimp. However, live baby brine should not make up the majority of its diet. Over time, the Banded Pipefish may become accustomed to eating frozen CYCLOP-EEZE®, small Mysis, and Nutramar Ova.

Looking for the best food to feed your Pipefish? We recommend AlgaGen Tisbe biminiensis.

After an elaborate courtship dance, the female will attach her adhesive eggs to the flat area on the underside of the male's trunk. A pair will regularly mate in an aquarium if well-fed. It is not easy to determine gender, but mature males typically have a flattened appearance due to the brood patch, while females are more round.

This social species is best kept in mated pairs or groups of its own kind in an aquarium that is 50 gallons or larger. It may be kept with small, shy fish such as small gobies, seahorses, dragonets, and firefish. Aggressive, territorial, or fast-moving fish do not make good companions. Pipefish will be harmed by anemones and corals with stinging tentacles or corals that are large enough to consume them, such as brain corals. Pipefish can also be harmed by invertebrates such as crabs and large shrimp.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small 3" - 4 1/2" Medium 4 1/2" to 6"

Also known as the Red Reef or Red Legged Hermit Crab, the Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab is named for its bright red legs, which are contrasted by their yellow face. Native to the reef faces and coral rubble of the Caribbean and Western Atlantic, these active scavengers can consume large amounts of animal matter and algae. Despite their large appetites and constant feeding habits, the Scarlet Reef only grows to an adult size of 1-1/2" in length.

In the home aquarium, Paguristes cadenati is best kept in an established reef system with ample algae supplies. However, they will eat almost anything, including fish food and invertebrate diets. If algae levels are insufficient, supplement their diet with dried seaweed and other marine foods.

Like other hermit crabs, an ample supply of empty shells should be available for the Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab to move into as they molt and grow. As with all invertebrates, they do not tolerate copper-based medications and extreme fluctuations in water parameters. Also, take special care to ensure an invertebrate-friendly environment free of predators.

Approximate Purchase Size: 1/2" to 1"

The Tank-Bred Ocellaris Clownfish has other unique advantages over wild-caught species. For one, the Tank-Bred Ocellaris Clownfish is very hardy and more accustomed to conditions found in home aquariums. Therefore, it makes a great choice for novices and seasoned aquarists alike. The Tank-Bred Ocellaris Clownfish can also be kept with a variety of other tank-bred clownfish, if introduced into the aquarium at the same time.

The Tank-Bred Ocellaris Clownfish is also easy to breed in the home aquarium. The females will be the largest of the pair and the two fish will usually stay close to each other in the aquarium. The Tank-Bred Ocellaris Clownfish is an egg layer and will deposit the eggs on a flat surface and defend the eggs from other tankmates. The eggs will normally hatch in 6-11 days depending on the water temperature. The fry must be reared in a separate aquarium on a diet of rotifers followed by baby brine shrimp.

The Tank-Bred Ocellaris Clownfish is also known as the False Percula Clownfish, False Clown Anemonefish, and Anemone Demoiselle. This fish is sometimes sold as the Percula Clown, even though it is not. The color pattern is very similar, but it is not as bright orange. The Tank-Bred Ocellaris is usually significantly lighter in coloration and is often missing one or more stripes. It may also have non-symmetrical stripes on the sides of its body, making the Tank-Bred Ocellaris Clownfish unusual and appealing to most hobbyists. The coloration of these fish will darken to a nice solid orange with age.

This Clownfish is an aggressive eater. It will accept most meaty foods and frozen herbivore preparations.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 3/4" to 1-1/4" Medium: 1-1/4" to 1-3/4"

Though most common to the reefs of Hawaii, the Yellow Hawaiian Tang's natural habitat is actually widespread throughout Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef. The Yellow Hawaiian Tang is also known as the Yellow Sailfin Tang or Yellow Surgeonfish. For best care, it should be housed in an aquarium of at least 100 gallons with ample room to swim. Like other Tangs, this member of the Acanthuridae family demonstrates territorial aggression towards its own species, or Tangs in general. Therefore, it is best to keep just one Yellow Hawaiian Tang per aquarium, unless multiple Yellow Hawaiian Tangs are introduced into the system simultaneously.

Although the Yellow Hawaiian Tang will eat meaty foods along with the other fish in the aquarium, it is important the Yellow Hawaiian Tang is offered plenty of marine based seaweed and algae. This will strengthen its immune system, reduce aggression and improve overall health. Offer dried seaweed tied to a rock or use a veggie clip, and feed at least three times per week. Sea Veggies, Seaweed Salad and Ocean Nutrition are all ideal products and are very easy to use.

The Yellow Hawaiian Tang is a very common, extremely popular, and hardy addition to any fish-only or reef aquarium system.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1-1/2" to 2-1/2"; Medium: 2-1/2" to 3-1/4"; Medium/Large 3-1/4" - 4-1/2" Large: 4-1/2" to 6"

A tank of at least 30 gallons or larger with a sandy bottom, plants, and coral will provide a healthy environment. Small groups or pairs tend to do better in an aquarium than a single individual, but all need to be introduced to the tank simultaneously and have plenty of swimming room.

The meaty diet of the Bar Goby should include fresh or frozen seafood and brine and mysis shrimp.

Approximate Purchase Size: Indo-Pacific: Small 1-1/2 to 2", Medium 2" to 2-1/2", Large 2-1/2" to 3", Xlrg 3" to 4"

The Niger Triggerfish requires a 180 gallon or larger aquarium with rocks and caves for hiding, and may rearrange the landscaping and rocks. It vocalizes using a "grunting" sound. They are a great active fish for the more aggressive, fish-only display.

The Niger Triggerfish needs a varied diet of meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, small fish and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1" to 2"; Medium: 2" to 3"; Medium/Large: 3" to 4"; Large: 4" to 5"; X Large: 5" to 7"

This blenny will appreciate a minimum tank of 30 gallons or larger with numerous rocks on which to perch. Sometimes, the Midas Blenny will vex small planktivores and has been known to nip at firefish and gobies. Larger tanks are advantageous as many of the Midas Blenny's aggressive behavior traits seem to relate to a confining tank situation.

Unlike most blennies, the Midas Blenny requires a meaty diet including finely chopped crustacean flesh, mysis and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, along with frozen herbivorous preparations, micro and blue-green algae.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1" to 2"; Medium: 2" to 3"; Large: 3" to 4"; X Large 4" to 6"

A 70 gallon or larger aquarium with rocks and caves provides a good habitat. It will rearrange the landscaping and rocks as it wanders in and out of the caves. It vocalizes using a "grunting" sound. The Humu Picasso Triggerfish makes a great conversation piece.

The Humu Picasso Triggerfish needs a varied diet of meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, small fish and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1" to 2"; Medium: 2" to 3"; Medium/Large 3" to 3 3/4"; Large: 3 3/4" to 4 1/2"; X Large 4 1/2" to 5 1/2"

It requires a 30 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of live rock for structure and hiding. They are mostly a peaceful fish that spends most of its time perching and swimming within the branches of hard corals. Use caution when adding to an aquarium with small species of bottom dwelling gobies and blennies. They are bottom dwellers and tend to "hang out" on rock perches, waiting and readying themselves for food to come by.

The Flame Hawkfish diet should include a variety of marine meats, frozen preparations, and live feeder shrimp.

Approximate Purchase Size: 1" to 2-1/2"

In the wild, the Firefish Goby is usually found in groups hovering over the reef, harvesting planktonic food that drifts by in the current. The docile, Firefish Goby is timid and in the wild, each will have a "bolt-hole" into which it quickly ducks when threatened. In the home aquarium, the Firefish Goby needs multiple safety zones amongst rocky crags or outcroppings into which it can dart if stressed. This member of the Gobiidae family is generally not aggressive towards other fish except those of its own species. However, a mated pair can live peacefully together.

To best recreate their wild habitat, the Firefish Goby requires a 10-gallon or larger system with moderate lighting conditions and a moderate current passing over the live rock "reef." Keep in mind that a stressed Firefish Goby will try to jump out of your aquarium. As such, house the Firefish Goby in aquarium systems with a lid. Hobbyists who use a halide system with an open top should construct a Plexiglas "edge" around the trim, at least 10" tall.

Along with algae and zooplankton growing in the aquarium, the diet of the Firefish Goby should consist of finely chopped small crustaceans, vitamin-enriched brine fish (live or frozen), mysis shrimp, and prepared foods.

Approximate Purchase Size: 1-1/2" to 2-1/2"

It should be housed in a 50 gallon or larger aquarium with live sand as the substrate, and an attached populated refugium. The Wheeler's Watchman Goby uses shallow burrows in the substrate as refuge, keeping the substrate well oxygenated. It rarely becomes aggressive towards other fish, but is territorial, and will fight with its own kind unless they are a mated pair.

The Wheeler's Watchman Goby feeds off the bottom as it sifts through the sand. Its diet should include a variety of live and frozen brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, live black worms, and prepared foods for carnivores. It should be fed frequently.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small 1 1/2" to 2"; Medium 2" to 3"; Large 3" to 4"; X Large 4" - 5"

The Citrinis Clown Goby feeds on the mucous polyps of Acropora sp. in the wild and is considered reef safe but will nip at the polyps or bases of Acropora sp. and possibly other SPS corals. If the SPS dominated aquarium is not heavily stocked with very mature colonies these fish may severely damage Acropora sp. in these displays.

It requires a 10 gallon or larger aquarium and prefers branched corals, often resting on them for hours at a time. It will rarely become aggressive towards other fish, but will fight with its own kind in smaller tanks. It is best if it is kept with other docile species.

It is common for clown gobies to spawn in an aquarium. Caution should be exercised if the aquarium contains Acropora sp. or similar SPS corals. They will lay their eggs on the underside of the coral's branch, which will cause tissue recession in that area of the coral.

The Citrinis Clown Goby's diet should consist of a variety of brine shrimp, frozen mysis shrimp, table shrimp, and frozen food preparations for carnivores.

Approximate Purchase Size: 1-1/2" to 2"