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 70-6.&



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EDITOR & PUBLISHER | James M. Lawrence

INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHER | Matthias Schmidt

INTERNATIONAL EDITOR | Daniel Knop

SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD |

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14 RARITIES by Inken Krause
The Partner Shrimp (Periclimines brevicarpalis)
TR ANSLATOR | Mary Bailey
The Longfin Anthias (Pseudanthias ventralis)
ART DIRECTOR | Linda Provost
The Clarion Angelfish (Holacanthus clarionensis)
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32 OH, THOSE TRIGGERS! by Professor Ellen Thaler

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 39 REEF-SAFE TRIGGERFISHES by Scott W. Michael

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/)
A Treasure Island in the Indian Ocean
by Marlen Hundertmark and Christian Hepperger
CORAL®, The Reef & Marine Aquarium Magazine
(ISSN:1556-5769), is published bimonthly in January,
March, May, July, September, and November by Reef
to Rainforest Media, LLC, 140 Webster Road, PO Box
490, Shelburne, VT 05482. Periodicals postage paid
TECHNIQUE
at Shelburne, VT, and at additional entry offices.
Subscription rates: U.S., $37 for one year. Canada, $49 for 54 BREEDING MANDARINS by Matthew W. Wittenrich
one year. Outside U.S. and Canada, $57 for one year.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CORAL, 62 MANDARINS AT THE SMITHSONIAN

64
PO Box 361, Williamsport, PA 17703-0361.
“NO RISK, NO FUN”? Thinking Twice About
CORAL® is a licensed edition of KORALLE Germany,
ISSN:1556-5769 Stocking & Keeping Fishes by Professor Ellen Thaler
Natur und Tier Verlag GmbH | Muenster, Germany
All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this
issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
COVER:
AQUARIUM PORTRAIT
Rhinecanthus aculeatus
Photo by D. Knop
74 HIGHS AND LOWS by René Vachovec
BACKGROUND:
Turbinaria reniformis
Photo by W. Fiedler 80 NEW PERSPECTIVES ON REEF LIGHTING
by Anthony R. Calfo

84 SPOTLIGHT:
The Bubble Tip Anemone by Robert M. Fenner
90 REEFKEEPING 101:
What is Ozone? by Daniel Knop
92 ADVANCED AQUATICS:
Designing a Dream System by J. Charles Delbeek
96 REEF LIFE by Denise Nielsen Tackett

CORAL 1
 LETTER

T
n otes f ro m DA N I E L K NO P

riggerfishes are generally regarded as aggressive ruffi- look at our husbandry practices. In the International
ans—and there is no denying that for the majority of Year of the Reef, which has just ended, many organiza-
species, this reputation is justified. It is often recom- tions arranged conferences and exhibitions in order to
mended that they be kept singly in species tanks. The bring the man on the street closer to the coral-reef en-
aquarium maintenance of many species is generally vironment and introduce him to the fascinating organ-
not advised at all, as the aquarist simply cannot pro- isms that live there. We aquarists already enjoy a greater-
vide for the requirements of these fishes when they than-average insight into this environment, but we need
get large and aggressive. But some species are able to to be mindful that it is a great privilege to keep creatures
live together in relative harmony in the reef aquar- of the coral reef. With each fish or coral we bring home
ium, as long as certain points regarding tankmates and comes the responsibility to keep it in optimal conditions
feeding are borne in mind. and do nothing to shorten its expected life span.
Many triggerfishes grow very large and need to con- There is much to suggest that the spotlight will be
sume enormous amounts of food during their growing on the reefs even more in future than hitherto. This is
phase, which makes them greedy not only because of their vulnerabil-
aquarium occupants and their re- ity to environmental degradation,
quirements abundantly clear. If their but above all by virtue of their us-
hunger becomes stronger than their age in human society, for example
behavioral instincts at any stage, in modern medicine, where marine
then bad times do indeed lie ahead organisms are being increasingly rec-
for cleaner shrimps, which are re- ognized as sources of highly effective
garded as off-limits for most reef chemical compounds. And there is
fishes. A well-fed trigger will seldom, still so much to be discovered beneath
if ever, eat a cleaner shrimp. Oth- the waves—for example, the under-
erwise, these adept crustacean help- water mountains, or “seamounts,”
mates would long ago have become estimated to number 100,000, the
extinct in the wild. If a triggerfish in majority of which apparently possess
the aquarium picks off your favorite a coral reef–like community. To date,
cleaner shrimp, take it as a sure sign only a fifth of one percent of these
that the fish was driven by hunger have been investigated and studied,
and not by its natural instinct— and almost nothing is known about
a reminder of the need for provid- Daniel Knop, founding editor of KORALLE the potential importance of these
ing appropriate food for each species ecosystems vis-a-vis the coral reefs
we keep. that are already known. Seamounts may play a part in
Apropos of this, it is never a bad thing to reconsider larval drift, and may even represent indispensable way
the fundamentals of our aquarium maintenance of coral stations in the distribution of larvae from coral reefs!
fishes; nothing in this world is so good that it cannot Finally, it is with great pleasure that I welcome editor
be improved. Behaviorist Ellen Thaler has a number of and publisher James Lawrence, associate publisher An-
things to say on this theme, and not for the first time: thony Calfo, and the new creative and publishing team,
her article relates to a piece she wrote years ago for the who have produced this, their first issue of CORAL. We,
journal DATZ. Its publication at that time, under the and the many writers and photographers who have been
title “Fish Polemic,” struck a chord in many readers, and friends of both KORALLE and CORAL for years, are con-
there is good reason to believe that her latest article on fident that the magazine is in good hands and has a clear
the subject will do the same. mission to bring you new ideas, new perspectives, and
Moreover, as we become more aware of human and exciting content that will help you get more out of your
PHOTO: DR. MELANIE KNOP-KUBIK

climatic impacts on coral reefs and take a greater interest marine aquarium and reef-keeping experiences.
in protecting the species-rich marine ecosystems of our
planet, it is important for all of us involved in the marine Happy reading!
aquarium hobby to take a critical—and introspective—

2 CORAL
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www.aquacraft.net

CORAL 3
4 CORAL
O
Martin Moe
wel co m e to the ne w CO R A L collecting plankton
in the Florida Keys

ne of our treasures from decades of keep- for half to three quarters

ing marine aquariums is a tattered, salt- of an hour between each
stained, dog-eared, autographed copy of a time of using it. This was
little volume called The Marine Aquarium doubtless a fatiguing op-
Handbook. For the whole first generation of eration; but I had a little
reef aquarists, this was our touchstone and handmaiden, who, be-
bible as we daringly set up our first saltwater sides being rather anxious
systems. Dated 1982, this book appeared at a to oblige me, thought it
time when many still believed that marine fish rather an amusement.’
were impossible to keep, when live rock and skimmers “Yes, we have come
and metal halides were unknown—a time when the idea a long way, and most of
of sustaining live corals in captivity was scoffed at by that journey has taken place in the last 45 years.
preeminent biologists. “For me, the journey began in the early 1960s. I was a
In the past weeks, as we undertook the humbling re- graduate student at the University of South Florida and a
sponsibility of publishing CORAL, the world’s original fishery biologist at the Marine Research Laboratory in St.
magazine for marine aquarists, we turned once again to Petersburg. I did a project for an animal behavior course
our trustworthy mentor and author of that classic text, on the breeding behavior of two species of blennies. The
Martin A. Moe, Jr. aquarium system consisted of twelve 10- and 20-gallon
Currently immersed in breeding experiments with slate bottomed, stainless steel–framed tanks with bubble-
the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in his home labora- up corner filters, a “state of the art” facility. This old
tory in the Florida Keys, Martin readily agreed to join study is now available on the Internet. How’s that for a
us. Here is the response he sent. It is vintage Moe, liter- blending of the old and the new?
ate and thoughtful and perfectly summing up what it is “But of course it is the new that we seek out most
that brings all of us together to support a magazine like diligently. And there is so much now that is new. It is al-
CORAL. ways important, and greatly fascinating, to keep up with
what is happening in the marine environments of our
“There is a fascinating and even primal attraction world and in our endeavors with captive marine life. I am
to marine aquariums that lies deep within the psyche of pleased to learn that CORAL, a premier magazine in this
most people. It seems to go beyond the technical, artistic, hobby and chronicler of all that is new and exciting, is
and scientific satisfaction of creating and/or exploring a gaining a new life.
miniature replica of a marine aquatic ecosystem within “I am most happy that CORAL has fallen into your
our own terrestrial world. purview, and I look forward to many more issues of spec-
“Perhaps this is keyed to the instinctive drive to tacular photos and interesting and accurate information
explore and understand our environment that has al- on marine aquarium systems and captive and wild ma-
lowed us to survive and thrive ever since humanity first rine life. All the best to the new CORAL.”
emerged. We are, and have been for a very long time,
greatly captivated and enthralled by life from the sea in To all faithful readers and supportive sponsors
all its primitive complexity abiding behind glass within who have been so encouraging during this relaunch of
our own environment. CORAL, we thank you and hope you find inspiration with-
“Keeping marine life in captive containers is not a in these covers. To Daniel Knop and Matthias Schmidt,
new endeavor. It actually dates back to 1846, perhaps the enlightened founders of the parent magazine KO-
even earlier, but this was when Mrs. Thynne of London RALLE, we can only say we hope to be good stewards of
kept various invertebrates sent to her from the coast in a this journal. And finally, we extend our sincere gratitude
stone jar for many months of study and entertainment. to all the marine scientists, authors, underwater photog-
“Water changes occurred every three months and the raphers, and lovers of the sea and of coral reefs who have
organisms were kept alive by manual aeration. As Mrs. rallied to join us in bringing you this magazine.
Thynne reported, ‘I thought of having it aerated by pour- —James Lawrence
ing it backwards and forwards before an open window, Charlotte, Vermont

CORAL 5
 from o ur rea d er s

KUDOS
Ever since Daniel Knop started the original German edi- cal economy, but also threaten the survival of the hobby.
tion of KORALLE, I have looked forward to receiving each The local, independent retailer has always been the place
issue, because it always covers subjects that fascinate me: where newcomers get their start. How many people do
aquariums, fishes, coral reefs, and the natural world. you know whose interest in aquariums was inspired by a
Daniel and his publisher, Matthias Schmidt, con- website versus the number who saw a beautiful reef tank
sistently produce timely, very informative, and beauti- on display in a shop?
fully illustrated magazines, and with the appearance a Our hobby must return to its local roots, or the entire
few years ago of an edition published by Leng Sy in the industry can collapse. When the number of aquarium
United States, English-speaking hobbyists were at hobbyists falls below a critical point, even the big-
last treated to this wonderful resource. gest online stores will be forced to close. It’s not all
I’m so glad to know that you have taken on bleak, as I firmly believe it is possible to have both
the publication of CORAL so that it will contin- a growing hobby and successful, independent
ue to inspire involved aquarists and pet dealers. local shops.
I’ve always admired the many books your Mi- Years back, the arrival in town of a na-
crocosm crew has published and produced, and tional big-box retailer quickly killed off every
know that your involvement in CORAL Maga- mom-and-pop hardware store in my area. Folks
zine will assure a standard of information and whose business had been started by their grand-
print quality that is second to none. parents had to retire or seek other employment.
This is a magazine that is to be saved and Now, however, several small hardware shops have
absorbed over time, not merely glanced at and returned. Why?
tossed. At a big box, you are just one of the crowd, often
Julian Sprung, President with little or no trustworthy staff available to of-
Two Little Fishies, Inc. fer advice and answer questions. At a small shop,
Miami Gardens, Florida the staff will take time to understand your proj-
ect. They have the experience to help you choose
CHANGING TIMES the right tools and materials. Nothing beats a good
Congratulations on the relaunch of CORAL. I look retailer who takes a personal interest in the success of
forward to the continuation of the magazine’s famously every customer. This was the key to my store’s success,
high standards. and it remains the key to success for aquarium shops and
I also applaud your intention to support good local their customers. If aquarists will once again realize this,
marine aquarium shops. In this faltering economy, far our hobby has a chance.
too many of them are being forced to close their doors. John Tullock
As a former shop owner myself, I know all too well the Knoxville, Tennessee
challenges they face, even during the best of times.
Many independent retailers see big discount stores W E T - D RY M AG A Z I N E
and e-commerce as the major threats to their survival. As a passionate marine aquarium hobbyist, SCUBA diver,
Some hobbyists will purchase deeply discounted livestock, and amateur underwater photographer, I await the debut
irrespective of the risks involved, with no thought to the of the new CORAL Magazine with keen anticipation.
impact this may have on the hobby itself. I have noth- With its evolution from the European KORALLE, and
ing against people wanting to save a few dollars, but if in the extraordinarily capable hands of its new publish-
we hobbyists don’t support our local shops, we will soon ers, I look forward to a wonderful combination of sub-
have none. Where I live, seven shops once thrived within stance and style that is both intellectually stimulating
half an hour’s drive of downtown. Now there are only and a near-perfect conversation starter for my coffee
three, and one of them may soon close its doors. I hear table. The trick will be to avoid picking it up with wet
things are no better in many other parts of the country. hands after working in my aquarium.
By choosing not to support the dealer down the Michelle Lemech
street, hobbyists not only take their dollars out of the lo- Los Angeles, California

6 CORAL
CORAL 7
 NEWS
f i n d i n g s a n d h a p p e n i n g s o f n o te

The mystery of the Facetotecta larvae

For more than a century, the marine larvae bearing the
name Facetotecta managed to conceal the identity of
their adult form from science. The larvae were known,
but what creatures had produced them, and what they
would grow into, remained a mystery. They had been
found in all the seas of the world from the Arctic to
the tropics, but they could not be matched to any adult
creature, and not even the most basic information was
known about the ecology of the species.
Finally, Danish and Japanese researchers treated
the larvae with a hormone secreted by crustaceans that
stimulates metamorphosis, and watched to see what
would develop from them. The result was a big surprise:
in the course of the maturing process the shrimp-like
Facetotecta larvae shed their external skeletons, and
what appeared was a soft, slug-like marine creature with
atrophied eyes and musculature. The scientists felt that The palytoxin from this encrusting anemone (Protopalythoa
this creature was reminiscent of species with a parasitic grandis) is produced by bacteria.
existence, and thus they now assume that Facetotecta is
a parasitic organism. fends itself with an agent that has been given the name
bryostatin. This substance not only is effective in fright-
ON THE INTERNET ening away enemies, but also can limit the growth of
Glenner H., J. T. Høeg, M. J. Grygier, and Y. Fujita. 2008. Induced cancer cells in humans. Bryostatins are said to be espe-
metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: Towards a solution to a cially effective against leukemia, and for this reason they
100-year-old riddle. BMC Biology 6:21. are currently being tested in clinical studies.
To date, the main barrier to the use of this sub-
stance has been that bryozoans contain extremely small
Medications from the sea amounts of it, so that large numbers of them would have
Numerous sponges, as well as corals, bryozoans, and to be harvested from the wild, which is unacceptable.
other marine creatures, are prevented by their sedentary One alternative might be the artificial breeding and cul-
lifestyle from fleeing from predators and hence have to ture of Bugula neritina, which is not currently possible.
protect themselves in other ways. They employ power- Over the past two decades, many thousands of me-
ful sting-cell poisons and chemical repellents to serve tabolites have been isolated from sponges, algae, and
this purpose. The bryozoan species Bugula neritina de- higher life forms—for example, the didemnins (from
a tunicate, or sea squirt, of the genus Didemnum) and
The secondary metabolites from marine sponges possess an eleutherobin (from a soft coral of the genus Eleuthero-
enormous potential for medical research and treatment. bia). Marine life forms contain agents effective against
diseases such as cancer, AIDS, herpes simplex, and nu-
merous others. Marine life forms are generally among
the most important and productive sources of new natu-
ral chemicals for use in human medicine, but no reliable
method for extracting them has been discovered.
But scientists have now discovered that in many cas-
es these substances are not manufactured by the animals
PHOTOS: D. KNOP

themselves, but by symbiotic bacteria that live within

them. The above-mentioned bryozoan species Bugula
neritina derives its bryostatin from bacteria. Margo Hay-

8 CORAL
CORAL 9
 good of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography discov-
ered the factor that is responsible for the production of
bryostatin. Antibiotic treatment of the bryozoans, which
eliminated all bacteria but did not harm the bryozoans
themselves, actually led to a decrease in the bryostatin
content. Scientists regard this as evidence for the bacte-
rial origin of the substance.
This should come as no surprise, as it has been known
for a long time that some substances with a highly toxic
effect on humans are produced by bacteria: examples
include tetrododoxin, which comes from many of the
puffer-like fishes, the Tetraodontiformes, and palytoxin,
which is found in the zoanthid genera Palythoa and
Protopalythoa. This may mean that bryostatin, and per-
haps numerous other secondary metabolites from other
sea-dwellers, could be harvested outside the sea. In addi-
tion, a bacterium is much easier to influence by genetic
manipulation than a highly evolved organism such as a
sponge, a bryozoan, or a coral. All this also suggests that
in the years to come, the use of marine secondary me- Above: Sorting
tabolites in human medicine may develop by leaps and samples on board the
bounds. research ship Tangaroa
—Daniel Knop Right: Macquarie
Ridge on the map

Undersea mountain a paradise reefs off Norway.

for brittle stars Whenever biolo-
The peak of an undersea mountain south of New Zea- gists study such an
land appears to be a paradise for brittle stars: recently undersea moun-
researchers found dense aggregations there with more tain and its marine
than 100 individuals per square meter. inhabitants, they
Undersea mountains are marine ecosystems that have come across species
some features in common with coral reefs, and there that were previously
is much to be said for regarding them as a further ep- unknown to science.
ochal discovery in marine biology—much like the “black As a rule, a site like
smokers” in the marine abyss and the Lophelia pertusa this houses a rela-
tively species-rich
community that has colonized the elevated structure of
the mountain via larval drift and created an ecosystem
consisting mainly of sponges, corals, and other associ-
ated life forms.
According to scientists’ estimates, there are around
100,000 such undersea mountains worldwide, and only
200 of them have been studied, so there is enormous
potential for the discovery of previously unknown spe-
cies of animals—and sometimes entire ecosystems. One
example of this is the investigation of the Macquarie
Ridge Seamount on an underwater formation known as
Macquarie Ridge, which consists of a series of folds in
the seabed extending for about 1,600 km to the south
of New Zealand. Within the framework of the interna-
tional global project “Census of Marine Life,” scientists
from numerous disciplines are endeavoring to catalog all
NIWA 2008

Close-up of the various inhabitants of the undersea mountain:

brittle stars, sea anemones, sponges, soft corals, and worms.

10 CORAL
 the organisms of the marine world. KO- ples that may require years to study and catalog. Though
RALLE has already reported on this several experts do not entirely agree regarding the identity of the
times. An interdisciplinary research team species, after initial studies taxonomist Tim O’Hara be-
from New Zealand and Australia examined lieves that the smaller, black-brown individuals, which
Macquarie Ridge and its ecosystems dur- live on the top of the mountain and extend a forest of
ing a four-week expedition, using the latest arms into the open water, are Ophiacantha otagoensis
video-recording equipment. The investiga- or O. fidelis, and that the larger, orange-red ones, which
tion was part of a planned study of under- hold their arms out into the current lower down on the
sea mountains termed the “Global Census flanks of the mountain, are O. rosea. Ecologist Dr. Ashley
of Marine Life on Seamounts (CenSeam)” Rowden of NIWA regards the huge aggregation of brittle
under the auspices of New Zealand’s Na- stars on the Macquarie Ridge seamount as sensational,
tional Institute of Water & Atmospheric not only because such a large number of similar organ-
Research (NIWA). It was financed mainly isms exists in one place but also because of the unique
by the New Zealand Foundation for Re- composition of the population, which will have a mas-
search, Science and
Technology.
What the scientists
found at Macquarie
Ridge was a unique eco-
system that consisted mainly of brit-
tle stars. There were many millions of
arms reaching up from the substrate
into the open water to capture pass-
ing plankton; and over the flat top of
the undersea mountain, an area of
around 100 square kilometers, there
was nothing to be seen but brittle
stars—which in this environment
need to do nothing more than extend
their arms to obtain food.
The foot of the mountain lies
at a depth of 850 meters, while the
peak extends to within 90 meters of
the surface. Macquarie Ridge is one
of the very few places that is affected
by the endless circling of the Antarc-
tic circumpolar current at the most
southerly latitudes, mingling the wa-
ters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pa-
cific Oceans. At approximately 110
cm/sec, the current is very strong,
apparently protecting brittle stars
from predators and at the same time
bringing them a constant and plenti-
ful supply of food.
According to Dr. Mike Williams
of NIWA, this circumpolar current is
around 110–150 times as strong as
the currents of all the rivers of the
world added together. Essentially,
New Zealand is situated very close to
the freeway, so to speak. The crew of
the research ship Tangaroa christened
the mountain top “Brittle Star City,”
photographed and filmed the unique
community, and took countless sam-

CORAL 11
 sive effect on scientists’ understanding of undersea NOAA releases
mountains as ecosystems. free Reef
—Daniel Knop M
Manager’s
G
Guide to Coral
ON THE INTERNET B
Bleaching
CenSeam: Global Census of Marine Life on Seamounts— The most ominous
T
part of the global Census of Marine Life (CoML) p
phenomenon faced by
CoML is an expanding global network of researchers co
coral reefs globally is
from more than 80 nations working to catalog, within bl
bleaching on a massive
the space of a decade, all species of marine life, past and
sca
scale. In a joint effort by
present, along with their distribution and frequency.
som
some 50 international
http://censeam.niwa.co.nz/
CenSeam news release: http://censeam.niwa.co.nz/__
sci
scientists at NOAA, the
data/assets/pdf_file/0009/71658/CenSeam_MacRidge_ Aus
Australian Great Barrier
Press_Release.pdf Ree
Reef Park Authority, and
the International Union
for the Conservation of
Nature, a new 178-page book on the
causes and consequences of bleach-
ing has been published and is now
Looking for the Best Quality available for free download at the
URL below.
Marine Fish and Invertebrates?
http://coris.noaa.gov/activities/reef_
managers_guide/

Expedition to the
bottom of the sea
Register online at
Anyone seeing a “black smoker” in
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that carry them. Scientists at the MARUM Re-
search Center took the viewer along
on diving trips to the methane gas
fields in the Indian Ocean, the as-
phalt volcanoes in the Gulf of Mex-
Look for the label to ico, and the cold-water coral reefs of
be sure you are getting the Mediterranean. Viewers accom-
panied scientists on a drillship in the
Quality Marine livestock.
Arctic Ocean, heading for the North
Pole. And in the middle of the Atlan-
MARUM, UNIVERSITÄT BREMEN

tic, where new seabed is constantly

being created, the viewer could see
TM

QUALITY MARINE To find out more please visit QualityMarine.com

for himself just what a “black smok-
er” is like.
The director of MARUM, Profes-
sor Gerold Wefer, said the aim of the

12 CORAL
 Black smokers are hydrothermal vents,
found in fields hundreds of meters wide,
formed when superheated water from
below the earth’s crust comes through
the ocean floor. Dissolved minerals,
most notably sulfides, precipitate in
contact with cold ocean water, forming a
chimney-like structure around each vent.

scientific films was immense and

that letters from all over the world
confirmed this. Viewers were espe-
cially keen on seeing information
about German research.
The series “Expedition to the
Ocean Floor” was broadcast weekly
beginning June 8, 2008, in both Ger-
man and English, as well as German
with Arabic subtitles. The series is
also available as “video on demand”
or can be downloaded.
—Source: IDW

media partnership with DW-TV was to engage the in- ON THE INTERNET
ternational public with the subject of deep-sea research http://www.dw-world.de/projektzukunft
and the work of the research center. DW-TV Director http://www.dw-world.de/tomorrowtoday
Christoph Lanz stated that viewers’ interest in exciting http://www.marum.de

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CORAL 13
 text a n d p ho to s b y IN K E N K R AUS E

Periclimenes brevicarpalis in the aquarium, on a Haddon’s aggressive among themselves, a harem, with one male
carpet anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni). Note the two striking and several females, is recommended for aquarium
ocelli (eyespots) on the tail fin (on the left) in contrast to the maintenance. However, it is also possible to keep several
inconspicuous head with its barely discernible real eyes. males in a large aquarium containing several host anem-
ones. In aquaria without any host anemones, a variety of
The Partner Shrimp large-polyped hard corals, as well as encrusting and disc
Periclimenes brevicarpalis anemones, are acceptable substitutes.
When it comes to diet, P. brevicarpalis is not very
fussy; although it will happily take the usual frozen and
Periclimenes brevicarpalis is a small, delicate shrimp that dry foods, it may still prey on its own host anemone.
many aquarists fail to notice at first glance because it Thus, though fascinating, this combination of creatures
is largely transparent and usually spends its time hid- is not pure symbiosis. When the species is housed with
den among the tentacles of sea anemones. In the wild, very large sea anemones, such as the natural host Cryp-
this species, which attains a maximum length of about todendrum adhaesivum (unfortunately very rarely avail-
1.5 inches (4 cm), lives alone or in harems on the sea able in the aquarium trade) or other large sea anemones
anemone Cryptodendrum adhaesivum. (for example, Stichodactyla spp.), it is rare that there is
Although P. brevicarpalis exhibits no distinct sexual any noticeable damage to the host. Either these large sea
dimorphism, males are larger than females and have a anemones are able to compensate for damage by the little
tendency to develop heavier spotting. Because males are shrimp, or they are capable of preventing such damage

14 CORAL
using protective mechanisms that are lacking in an un- At first glance, P. ventralis appears to be well suited to
natural host such as a large-polyped stone coral. aquarium maintenance. With a maximum body length of
Periclimenes brevicarpalis thus cannot be recommend- 3 inches (8 cm), the species remains very small in com-
ed for aquarium maintenance entirely without reserva- parison to other anthias (for example, the very popular
tions. It may damage sessile invertebrates to a limited P. squamipinnis), so that in aquaria of 250 gallons (ap-
degree. It does best in a peaceful aquarium with no large proximately 1,000 liters) or more it can be kept in large
fishes that might regard this tiny crustacean as food. The groups in line with its natural way of life. Satisfying the
very large sea anemone necessary for the correct main- dietary demands of these planktivores is—as with almost
tenance of P. brevicarpalis is totally unsuitable for the all anthias—difficult; in the final analysis, they should be
average small aquarium. given fine food such as Cyclop-eeze at frequent intervals
Interestingly, this little shrimp is decorated with in order to meet their high energy requirements. Ideally,
ocelli, not only because of its relationship with the host, food should be constantly available.
but also because they provide an excellent method of de- Far more problematic, however, is meeting the spe-
ceiving potential predators. The two dummy eyes on the cial requirements of deep-reef dwellers in brightly-lit
tail fin (see photo) disguise the real head and hence the aquaria. The light conditions in modern reef aquaria are
direction of flight as well. The tail fin looks like a head to very different from those in the natural environment of
the would-be predator, while the real head and eyes are this species. While there have been success stories about
inconspicuously colored. When the shrimp flees, it will the maintenance of anthias from great depths, it can-
leave the predator grabbing at nothing. not be denied that many of them do not live very long
in the aquarium. And it cannot be ruled out that this is
REFERENCES due to stress caused by too high a light intensity (and
Thaler, E. 2003. Auge oder Scheinauge—das ist hier die Frage. possibly too high a temperature). Anyone who is seri-
KORALLE 23:34–37. ously interested in the maintenance of these splendidly
colored fishes is advised to try muted lighting at the blue
end of the spectrum. This will make the fishes feel most
The Longfin Anthias at home in the long term, even if in the blue twilight the
Pseudanthias ventralis bright coloration—which is, of course, the main attrac-
tion of this species—loses much of its effect.

The Longfin Anthias, Pseudanthias ventralis, is a rare fish REFERENCES

that can’t fail to be noticed. With its gaudy pink and
yellow coloration and its elongate finnage, this fish im- Kuiter, R. and H. Debelius. 2006. Atlas der Meeresfische. Kosmos-
Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany.
mediately catches the eye—on the rare occasions that it
turns up in the aquarium trade at all. On the Internet (8-16-08), FishBase:
It is almost unbelievable that this bright coloration http://fishbase.de/Summary/speciesSummary
actually serves as camouflage. And
yet, in the diffuse blue light of its
natural habitat at a depth of up to
66 feet (120 m), the colors that
are so striking under bright light
are practically invisible.
Like many other especially
colorful fishes, P. ventralis oc-
curs on the Great Barrier Reef
off Australia. The species lives in
large groups that populate vertical
surfaces at great depths and snap
up any planktonic organisms that
drift past in the current. In the di-
rection of Johnston Atoll and Ha-
waii, the species is replaced by the
very similar P. hawaiiensis.

Pseudanthias ventralis, photographed

in the De Jong Marinelife display
aquarium at the Interzoo 2008.

CORAL 15
 The Clarion Angelfish more to brown. But the fabulously beautiful blue fin edg-
Holacanthus clarionensis ings and the characteristic blue lips (otherwise known
only in the Flagfin Angelfish, Apolemichthys trimaculatus)
are retained. Pragmatists will maintain that the species
The Clarion Angelfish, Holacanthus clarionensis, is distin- is not appreciably more attractive than its much more
guished from its equally attractive relatives in the genus reasonably priced relatives—for example, the Caribbean
Holacanthus primarily by its extremely high price. An in- Holacanthus ciliaris—but beauty does, after all, lie in the
vestment of at least $3,000 may be required to call this eye of the beholder.
exclusive angelfish your own. And even those who are On the credit side, H. clarionensis is exceptionally
prepared to invest such a sum in a single fish will discover well suited, relative to other large angelfishes, to aquar-
that they are extremely difficult to find in the aquarium ium maintenance. At around 9.8 inches (25 cm) it is
trade. The Clarion Angelfish is not especially rare in the smaller than other species of the genus; nonetheless, it
wild, however, even though its distribution region in the is relatively robust, and like all large angelfishes should
central eastern Pacific off Mexico (above all at the Revil- be provided with adequate swimming space. It must be
lagigedo Islands) is very small. What probably makes it borne in mind that corals and other invertebrates in the
rare is the high cost of collecting and transporting it from aquarium will constitute part of its diet, but anyone who
its isolated range—possibly also a clever export policy. is prepared to pay for such an expensive fish will un-
H. clarionensis is particularly beautiful in its juve- doubtedly not be put off by this dietary preference.
nile coloration, when it exhibits a brass to orange base
coloration with a pattern of brilliant blue stripes. This REFERENCES
pattern disappears in adult individuals, and sometimes Kuiter, R. and H. Debelius. 2006. Atlas der Meeresfische. Kosmos-
the orange also becomes a bit “washed out” and tends Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany.
On the Internet (6-08-08), FishBase:
Juvenile Holacanthus clarionensis, photographed in the De Jong http://fishbase.de/Summary/speciesSummary.php?
Marinelife display aquarium at the Interzoo 2008. The blue stripe ID=11172&genusname=Holacanthus&speciesname
pattern on the body will disappear with age. =clarionensis

16 CORAL
 Dan iel Kn o p ta l k s w i th D E N IS E a n d L ARRY TACKETT

Denise and Larry Tackett are dive professionals and

nature lovers who have devoted their lives to the observation and docu-
mentation of marine organisms on tropical coral reefs. Around 25 years ago,
the two of them left behind their chemical industry and banking careers
so they could do what they really enjoyed:
experiencing and photographing nature.
They began with a part-time job collect-
ing marine sponges for a university doing
cancer research, which left plenty of time
for wildlife photography, and later started
working full-time as a wildlife photogra-
pher-and-author team.

For two and a half decades, the Tacketts have been

living in various remote parts of Indonesia, Malay-
sia, Papua New Guinea, the Maldives, and Palau, as
well as on Mauritius and in other countries, in order
to dive—as part of their work, but also for pleasure.
They have built an immense photo archive, and their
Above, Denise luminous photos and well-researched articles have
Nielsen Tackett been published worldwide in books and magazines.
photographing National Geographic has reported on their work on
a giant stingray, seahorses and in the Lembeh Straits. A few years ago
Daysyatis sp. Denise was honored by having the seahorse species Hippocampus denise named after her; this is
Right, the Tacketts at the smallest seahorse known, attaining no more than a half inch (14 mm) in length. Denise
one of their favorite and Larry have also jointly published an acclaimed book, Reef Life—Natural History and Behav-
bases, Kungkungan iors of Marine Fishes and Invertebrates.
Bay in Lembeh Strait,
Sulawesi. CORAL: Denise and Larry, let me start with a rhetorical question. Have Opposite page
you ever regretted your decision, back in the 1980s, to leave your pro- top: Purple Anthias
fessional lives behind and begin your never-ending coral-reef adven- (Pseudanthias tuka)
ture? swim over a formation
of Yellow Scroll Coral
ALL PHOTOS: D. AND L. TACKETT

(Turbinaria reniformis) in
Denise: No. I’ve never once regretted leaving my secure, established
the Bismarck Sea.
life behind. In fact, I can’t imagine living any other way now. Before
we left, I worried that we’d be sorry one day, but it’s been over 20 Bottom: Female Longnose
years and that day still hasn’t come. I’ve learned so much from liv- Seahorse (Hippocampus
ing in other cultures and from observing and photographing nature trimaculatus) on
that I often wonder how I survived without it in my former life. driftwood

18 CORAL
CORAL 19
 underwater and on land. I think I’m
more interested in the variety of and
commonalities between the behav-
iors of different groups in nature.
There are many parallels between
Clockwise from top left: Small dragonet (Synchiropus sp.). the terrestrial and underwater worlds. Camouflage is
Close-up detail of colonial sea squirts (Botryllus sp.). one example: a moth that disappears on the bark of a
Small Rosewater’s Cowrie (Crenavolva rosewateri) feeds on its tree, a pygmy seahorse disappears on a gorgonian, and
host, a melathaeid gorgonian. an octopus often blends into the reef. Each species is
Large gorgonian (typical habitat for Hippocampus denise) with vastly different yet they use similar tactics for survival—
feather stars (Crinoidea) on reef. that’s what fascinates me. Warning colors are another
example. Think of colorful nudibranchs advertising
Our years of uncertain adventures helped me to view their toxins or unpleasant taste to would-be predators
life from a different perspective and to reorder my pri- and compare that to beautiful butterflies whose col-
orities. I also had the luxury of exploring sides of myself oration also warns predators away. It’s as if there’s a
I never knew existed. thread of oneness that runs through the fabric of all life,
connecting it in ways we don’t notice unless we really
Larry: For me, seeing the world and creating photo- think about it. That fascinates me.
graphs was my dream from an early age. From the time
I finished college and began an engineering career, I had Larry: At first, I found sharks and larger reef life interest-
something of a parallel life. I was always trying to learn ing. After a few hundred dives I, and of course Denise,
more about photography to the extent that I started to began to look at the reef in a different way—not just
teach photo courses at a variety of community venues. I for individual animals to see and photograph, but also
actually began to dive so that I could take images under- for observable behavior that we could record on film. As
water. I used all my available vacation time to take dive this interest developed, I began to look at smaller and
trips and even became a dive instructor. The first class smaller animals, seeing what the majority of divers over-
I taught included Denise as the divemaster and a man look as they swim past to pursue larger marine subjects.
that would later offer us the opportunity to begin our Our arrival in Indonesia marked a turning point in our
life with the sea. Over 6,000 dives and 25 years later, I undersea experiences. For the first time, we were finding
have no regrets. I cannot imagine my life having devel- animals we’d never seen before. Rare and unique ani-
oped any other way. mals were all around us, seemingly waiting to be record-
ed on film. So I guess I would say seeing and recording
CORAL: Is there a group of animals that you find particu- behavior is of most interest to me, not just a particular
PHOTOS: D. AND L. TACKETT

larly fascinating? What do you look out for when you first species of animal.
dive on a coral reef?
CORAL: Would you say there are any places in the world
Denise: I certainly have a special interest in pygmy sea- where you have most enjoyed your diving? Or places that
horses but I’m interested in many different groups— you would like to explore in the future?

20 CORAL
CORAL 21
22 CORAL
Denise: I think every place I’ve dived has something unique A pair of superbly camouflaged pygmy seahorses, Hippocampus
that makes it special, but Indonesia and Papua New Guin- denise, cling to their host gorgonian. The species is named in
ea are my diving favorites because of the extraordinary di- honor of Denise, who first photographed and studied them
versity and the abundance of marine life inhabiting that in Sulawesi.
area. The area surrounding the island of New Guinea is
particularly remarkable because so little of it has been fully served these fascinating little fishes over a long period, and
explored. I could spend a few lifetimes there. Also high on after a certain time you became convinced that they must
my list of favorites are the Maldives and Kangaroo Island be a new species. Pease tell us the story behind this.
in South Australia.
Denise: I had looked for pygmy seahorses for many years
Larry: Without a doubt, Indonesia is my favorite place to to no avail. I’d seen only one photo of them from the
dive and explore. I find the range in habitats and marine New Caledonia aquarium where they’d been found, by
life in general to be the most diverse of any place I have accident, on a gorgonian collected for the aquarium. In
been. When we arrived there in 1995, the diving world 1995-6, when we were working in Lembeh Strait, a dive
was just beginning to discover the incredible diving op- guide in Bali found a pygmy seahorse on a gorgonian
portunities there. Lembeh Strait was all but unknown; there. Once I found out what species of gorgonian they
now it is a well-known and heavily visited area, with lived on, I started finding them in the Lembeh area.
many resorts. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of Indo- Then everyone had pygmy fever—divers were looking
nesia is that there is still a frontier where few have been everywhere for more pygmy seahorses. One day, I was
and many locations have yet to be visited. I always like on a dive when a newly certified diver found an orange
to say that even after a couple of thousand dives in In- pygmy on a different gorgonian. I was one of the first to
donesia, I can still go in the water and have an excellent photograph it. It was hard to focus on it, because it was
chance of seeing something, or some behavior, that I’ve actively swimming up, down, and across the gorgonian
never seen before. It doesn’t get any better than that! —something H. bargibanti rarely does. When I was able
to focus, I could see the different head and snout shape
CORAL: Denise, for many years the pygmy seahorse Hip- and the relatively smoother body. As I observed the tiny
pocampus denise was regarded as simply an unusual color seahorse, I noticed some transparent shrimp on the gor-
form of H. bargibanti. Together with Sara Lourie, you ob- gonian. Each time the seahorse approached one of the

CORAL 23
 shrimps, it would reach out and nip the seahorse on the Commensal Emperor Shrimp (Periclimenes imperator) near the
head. I was convinced it was not H. bargibanti. gills of its host, a Spanish Dancer nudibranch (Hexabranchus
I searched other gorgonians and found more pyg- sanguineus).
mies that resembled the new one, so I knew it wasn’t
an anomaly. I contacted the leading seahorse authority, the most amazing moments of my life.
Amanda Vincent, for more information. She said there After that, we continued to correspond and compare
was very little known about pygmy seahorses and she had notes. I continued my observations and we were able
no idea if it was a new species or just another form of H. to get government approval for sample specimens of H.
bargibanti. I showed my photos to Gerry Allen and Jack bargibanti and the new orange pygmy to be used for sci-
Randall(Drs. Gerald R. Allen and John E. Randall), the entific purposes. Sara and Jack Randall did the scientific
world’s leading fish identification experts—they didn’t work that proved what I suspected all along—that the
know either. So I began observing both types of pygmies orange pygmy was indeed a different species of pygmy
and keeping detailed records of their behavior, as well as seahorse. When Sara told me they named it Hippocam-
a photographic record. I conferred with one of Dr. Vin- pus denise, I was totally surprised and absolutely delight-
cent’s students, Sara Lourie, who eventually joined me ed—it was another one of those amazing moments.
in Indonesia and agreed to look into the possibility that
the orange pygmy seahorse might be a different species. CORAL: What was your closest call with a potentially dan-
The first time I dived with Sara, I took her to one of gerous marine fish or animal?
the gorgonians with H. bargibanti that I’d been observ-
ing. We planned to measure the seahorses, something Denise: Years ago, on my first dive in Papua New
that proved to be more difficult than we’d imagined. Guinea, I encountered my very first sea snake. I’d been
Sara was able to coax one off its branch. She held it very searching for one so I could photograph it. Unsuccess-
gently between her fingers as I prepared to photograph ful, I ascended to the surface and signaled for the boat
it alongside a ruler. The tiny seahorse started to flick its before realizing an olive green sea snake had wrapped it-
tail and each time it did, it forced tiny, fully formed baby self around my arm. At that moment of mutual recogni-
seahorses into the water column. We watched in awe as tion, we both sprang into action—the snake slipped off
the pygmy gave birth to 34 tiny seahorses! It was one of my arm and descended as I followed in hopes of getting

24 CORAL
a photo. My photo was a fuzzy tail shot but I learned along the way so as not to crush some small, unsuspect-
an important lesson that day: even the most venomous ing critter. Just as my right knee touched down, I felt
marine animals are as scared of you as you are of them. a bump and saw a flurry of sand that finally settled a
That realization guides me even today because I try to few feet away. Much too my surprise, it was a venom-
respect and forge a bond with animals before attempt- ous Spiny Devilfish that had been buried just under the
ing to photograph them—something I believe leads to sand! Had it not fled, I would have knelt on it, leaving
better images. the fish only one option: to sting me with its venomous
spines. Now I never kneel or touch anything underwater
Larry: My closest call was on a dive in Indonesia with without having a second look.
a sandy bottom. I’d been kneeling in the sand while I
photographed some invertebrates on an isolated coral CORAL: Denise and Larry, thank you very much for
head. I inched closer to my subject, checking the sand this interview!

CORAL 25
 TRIGGERFISHES
%BOJFM
,OPQ
t
QIPUPT
CZ
3
)FCCJOHIBVT

26 CORAL
CORAL
It is
almost like something out of a science fiction film—the
rhomboidal body of a triggerfish glides calmly along,
propelled only by the undulating movement of the edges
of the fins that surround the rear third of its body. No
beats of the tail, no paddling pectoral fins. It looks like
a swimming head, as the jaws are so powerful that the

Niger Triggerfish, Odonus niger

CORAL 27
 Black Triggerfish, Melichthys niger

Pinktail Triggerfish, Melichthys vidua

28 CORAL
head occupies the entire anterior third of the body. The between the substrate and the underside of the urchin.
mouth, by contrast, is almost tiny, and the gills are so Undulate Triggerfishes (#BMJTUBQVT
VOEVMBUVT) and Clown
small that they often go unnoticed at first glance. Triggers (#BMJTUPJEFT
DPOTQJDJMMVN) are particularly skilled
Triggerfishes get their name from a unique anatomi- at this. Once the Diadem Sea Urchin—often consider-
cal feature they all share: the very strong first ray of the ably larger than its attacker—has finally been freed from
forward dorsal fin can be erected and locked in place by its resting place, the triggerfish uses its teeth to grasp its
a small second spine to allow them to anchor in crevices victim by the outermost tips of the spines and drags it
and thwart predators attempting to pull them out; the away to a suitable working place, usually a depression in
second ray, in triggerlike fashion, can be depressed from the sand. To start with, the tips of the spines are succes-
the locked position to release the first spine. sively shortened (and eaten), so that the mobility of the
Triggerfishes belong to the order Tetraodonti-
formes (puffer-like fishes), and the resemblance is
easy to see; in spite of the much-compressed body,
a number of similarities to pufferfishes are clearly
visible. Moreover, the differences from the mem-
bers of the order Perciformes (perch-like fishes),
to which the majority of coral fishes belong, are
evident at first glance, even to the layman; trig-
gerfishes are, quite simply, different.
In addition, some triggerfish species exhibit
a body pattern that looks rather like an abstract
painting. There is a whole group of species deco-
rated with works of art reminiscent of the Cub-
ist movement. As a result, in many languages the
name of the gifted Spanish painter Pablo Picasso
appears in the popular terms for these species
of the genus 3IJOFDBOUIVT
(Arabian, Blackbelly,
Halfmoon, and Picasso Trigger).
Numerous different factors may have been re- Bluelined Triggerfish, Pseudobalistes fuscus: juveniles such as this are
sponsible for the evolution of the unusual color destined to grow large, with a maximum size of 21.7 inches (55 cm).
patterns of triggerfishes, but in the Picasso Trig-
gers and a number of others, for example the Clown urchin is compromised. Then the triggerfish repeatedly
Trigger (#BMJTUPJEFT
DPOTQJDJMMVN), on closer examination tries to turn the urchin over so that its mouth area faces
it can be seen that the body coloration conforms to the upwards. Once it has bitten this region free of its cover-
rules of “counter shading.” This term refers to a type of ing of (already) short spines, it cracks the urchin open
color pattern in which the upper surface is dark while with a number of carefully aimed bites to the mouth
the underside is light. The reason for this is very simple opening; in the aquarium, these bites can be heard very
and can be appreciated by anyone who has ever dived clearly! It is all over quickly, and all that remains is an
or snorkeled in the sea: if one looks down through the empty shell, nibbled clean, covered with little more than
open water by day, with no bottom or rock formations a stubble of spines. Now and then triggerfishes even pull
in sight, the water appears dark. If, on the other hand, the Diadem Sea Urchin’s “jaws,” the so-called “Lan-
one looks up toward the surface, the water looks light tern of Aristotle,” from the shell fragments and nibble
because of the daylight coming from above. It follows away every last remnant of tissue. When one finds such
that a fish that has a dark dorsal surface will be easily sea-urchin remains on the reef, it is very obvious that
overlooked by predators looking down from above into the predator was a triggerfish and not another urchin-
the dark seawater. If it also has a light underside, it will eating fish. It is astonishing how even sea urchins hid-
likewise be visible only with difficulty from below. This den in the sand are tracked down, blown free, and eaten.
“counter shading” is, of course, not an invention of the #BMJTUFT
WFUVMB, the Queen Triggerfish of the Caribbean,
triggerfishes, but has evolved many times in the animal specializes in this type of hunting and particularly en-
kingdom through predation selection; another excellent joys cracking open %JBEFNB
BOUJMMBSVN.
example is the Nautilus, for example /
QPNQJMJVT. Although triggerfishes are not deliberately harvested
Triggerfishes have also evolved to be aggressive. Even for human consumption, they do often turn up in fish
relatively small juveniles are quite capable of tackling markets in tropical countries with long coastlines. Un-
large Diadem Sea Urchins: they start by “blowing” them like their relatives the pufferfishes, which secrete a toxin
away from the substrate, usually positioning themselves called tetrodotoxin that is produced by bacteria, trigger-
at an angle in order to aim the jet of water accurately fishes are not fundamentally poisonous. Nevertheless,

CORAL 29
cases of poisoning from eating triggerfishes are com- sumption of the dinoflagellate by algae-eaters such as sea
mon. The reason for this is a toxin that enters trigger- urchins. These, in turn, fall prey to predators—including
fishes more by accident than by design, and by a devious triggerfishes—in whose bodies the toxin accumulates.
route. Along with their food, triggerfishes sometimes The triggerfishes themselves are not affected, as these
eat the dinoflagellate (BNCJFSEJTDVT
UPYJDVT, an organ- sea-dwellers have experienced such close and continuous
ism that lives on algae and secretes a toxin known as contact with numerous marine toxins during their evo-
ciguatoxin. This causes the poisoning syndrome known lutionary history that their systems have been able to de-
as ciguatera, which initially resembles a case of food velop immunity. But humans, who have rarely been ex-
poisoning (vomiting, diarrhea), but then affects the posed to these toxins (and only in the past few hundred
nervous system and causes neurological symptoms. years), sometimes react dramatically to this and other
Normally the concentration of this dinoflagellate in toxins produced by inhabitants of the sea. Ciguatoxin
triggerfishes is slight, but occasionally there is a massive poisons between 10,000 and 50,000 people annually
proliferation of the algae, which leads to increased con- (Mebs 2000), sometimes up to 40 percent of the popu-
 Bluechin Triggerfish, Xanthichthys auromarginatus

lation on some islands in the South Pacific. cious in the aquarium that they will eat all the food of-
One of the most striking characteristics fered, causing tankmates to go hungry. For this reason,
of the triggerfishes is their assertiveness, in the the choice of species in relation to tank size and other
aquarium as well as in their natural habitat. In occupants is probably the most important criterion for
the sea this sometimes goes unnoticed, even by div- the aquarium maintenance of triggerfishes, and only
ers and snorkelers, as Prof. Ellen Thaler describes in certain species are suitable for normal-sized tanks, as
her article in this issue. But in the aquarium this char- Professor Thaler relates. But despite all this, triggers are
acteristic can be exacerbated by hunger: the enormous fishes of great character and, as such, highly inter-
size that the majority of species attain as adults dictates esting for divers, snorkelers, and naturalists.
a huge rate of growth, which, of course, raises their food
requirement far above that of other fishes of the same REFERENCES
size with an inappreciable growth rate. Not surprisingly, Mebs, D. 2000. Gifttiere. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft,
the result is that many triggerfish species are so vora- Stuttgart, Germany.

CORAL 31
 Oh,
TRIGGERFISHES

those
Triggers!

CZ
1SPGFTTPS
&MMFO
5IBMFS

32 CORAL
 T riggerfishes are unusually appealing fish personalities.
They are also a real stumbling block for every novice
in the aquarium hobby, as they are “must-have” fishes
in the minds of most beginners. Almost immediately,
and without further ado, triggerfishes are given names,
even by those who are not normally inclined to anthro-
pomorphize their fishes (which is, of course, all to the
good). A triggerfish might be called Max because it looks
just like Uncle Max—or behaves in the same “pushy”
way. My own two Picasso Triggerfishes were christened
Leopold and Leopoldine and had godparents, and there
was a long and rather silly story attached to them (Thal-
er 1999). You either love triggerfishes or you hate them;
there is no neutral ground. We sacrifice entire fish com-
munities to them, along with heater-stats and hydrom-
eters, pump components, cable connectors, and some-
times even the entire aquarium; and, if we are unlucky
and the triggerfish has gnawed away the pipework, we
even flood the house for them. Then, and only then, do
we—usually—part with them.
Triggerfishes are cunning rascals that can also be a
little underhanded—or downright wicked! They are in-
telligent and always hungry, and it is this combination
that causes the problems, as triggerfishes will do abso-
lutely anything in order to obtain food. Face-on, a Bluechin Triggerfish, Xanthichthys auromarginatus,
displays typical male coloration. Females lack the blue
T R I G G E R F I S H E S I N T H E AQ UA R I U M? pigmentation. This species has small teeth and is reef-safe.
And so we come to the million-dollar question: do trig-
gerfishes belong in an aquarium? In a reef aquarium? to be always hungry! However, inquisitive aquarists like
Even fish-loving, long-term experts such as De Graaf, us should know that the food-hunting behaviors of trig-
Klausewitz, or Chlupaty advise keeping a single trigger- gerfishes vary. For instance, we find dangerously intel-
fish in a fish-only aquarium with large fishes that are ligent triggerfishes in the genera Balistapus, Balistoides,
able to look after themselves. Triggerfishes are subject to Pseudobalistes, Balistes, and Rhinecanthus. These are pre-
an outright ban in the higher echelons of reef aquarists; dominantly composed of species that seek out their prey
zoological gardens tend to keep them in the shark tanks, near the bottom, and when they find it often behave
and that is not a bad thing because, in most cases, they rather badly. For example, the Green Triggerfish (Bali-
get enough to eat now and then. And even such thugs stoides viridis) and the Bluelined Trigger (Pseudobalistes
as the Titan Trigger, the Clown Trigger, various Widow fuscus) will rip meter-long pieces of coral out of the sub-
Triggers, and all the species that grow to half a meter strate and turn them over if there is a crab inside, and it
or more can be accommodated thus with a clear con- is not difficult to imagine how an aquarium-sized juve-
science. nile of such a species will behave when it is hungry. They
Triggerfishes of all genera and species have one fea- can be incredibly inventive, and the less well they are
ture in common: they need to be fed well, and copiously, fed, the more inventive—or more accurately, reckless—
but sensibly; in other words, the old, old story. But trig- they will become, until they actually get too weak for
gerfishes let us know when they are hungry more em- feats of strength. Unfortunately, triggerfishes are also
phatically than all other fish families, with the possible masters of survival and can tolerate a lack of food for
PHOTOS: E. THALER

exception of the large groupers. And they really do seem long periods. In no other fish family do we so often find
deformed specimens as in triggers that have received too
Young Clown Trigger (Balistoides conspicillum) and Brown Tang little food in too small an aquarium. Such specimens
(Zebrasoma scopas) confronting one another. usually are mostly head, with tiny bodies and oversized

CORAL 33
 At left is the Clown Trigger (Balistoides
conspicillum) in a typical threat display with
open mouth and spines erect.

clops as “occupational therapy.” You must

also provide a varied aquarium landscape
that offers “current channels” in various
places, where the fishes can fully exert
themselves. For example, the output from
the pump can be aimed directly among a
number of reef elements; the fishes will
often remain for several minutes in the
fiercest of the turbulence where they will
use their full swimming power. Any other
fish would simply be blasted away!
Surprisingly, triggerfishes do not take
any particular pleasure in variable current
conditions, demonstrating that they are,
in fact, rather conservative in their prefer-
ences: they always stubbornly seek out the
same spots. Their least favorite places are
those in which currents run directly along
fins (and they always remind me of Gothic representa- the front glass, where they are often prone to stereotypi-
tions of children as dwarfed adults), and remain so for cal panic swimming. This is perhaps a reaction to the
years until they die. water pressure from one side contacting their lateral-
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Quite the con- line system.
trary: triggerfishes can positively enrich an aquarium Naturally they like plenty of caves, tight crevices,
through their presence, their multi-faceted behavior, passages, pillars, and coarse rubble, as well as fine sand.
and even their occasional acts of wickedness. And it is In such areas of shell and coral rubble they will exhibit
also possible to satiate their appetites without fouling their trigger-typical hunting behavior: first they drag the
the aquarium environment in the process. large pieces to one side and then they blow the sand
away in order to get at some delicacy or other (but un-
S P E C I E S S U I TA B L E F O R T H E AQ UA R I U M fortunately, they don’t like bristleworms). Even pre-
At present, I have two splendid Crosshatch Triggerfishes dominantly planktivorous species like the Niger Trigger
(Xanthichthys mento), which I have to keep an eye on to will behave in this way. Small crabs are apparently ir-
some extent (for example, when they try to dig a breed- resistible morsels; once they have captured one they will
ing pit in a corner of the aquarium and are doing every- often dig in the same place for days on end!
thing they can to cause an avalanche), but which are
essentially very pleasant and friendly and do not harm SEX-CHANGING
bottom-dwelling blennies or dottybacks, or even cleaner Triggerfishes are thought to be obligatory sex-changers.
shrimps. Every evening after the last feed, I give them I have observed the utterly fascinating metamorphosis
the largely empty glass bowl I have been feeding from so from female to male in three species. In the Bluechin
that they can nibble it really clean down to the last tiny Trigger (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) and the Cross-
crumb: they wait expectantly for this treat and angle hatch Trigger (X. mento) the transformation is particu-
themselves rather neatly so they can watch me out of larly impressive: the initially rather unassuming gray-
one eye as they scrape away. But when there really is no blue-silvery Bluechin Trigger female, with her fascinating
more left and I don’t take the food bowl, and my hand, blue eye-rings and gossamer, almost transparent glassy
out of the water in time, they often bite me—not hard, fins, develops delicate golden fin edgings and only even-
but as if to say, “That was nice, you can go now!” tually the brilliant blue chin, or cheek, that gives the
All in all, it is possible to maintain species of the species its name. At this stage all the fins are edged with
genera Xanthichthys, Melichthys, Odonus, and, with lemon yellow and the fish is some 6 inches (16 cm)
some reservations, Sufflamen, fairly well in the reef long. The change in X. mento runs a similar course, but
PHOTOS: E. THALER

aquarium, as this group also includes a lot of plank- is somewhat less spectacular: the initially ochre-edged
ton hunters—provided you are willing to cater to their parts of the fins become brilliant yellow, the caudal fin
needs. That is to say, the food should not only be var- turns to bright red, and the entire body takes on an in-
ied but should also include small particles such as Cy- tense greenish hue, the cheek stripes a vivid blue. In the

34 CORAL
Above, the common Picasso Trigger (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) in
its sleeping cave. Below, a Rectangular Trigger (Rhinecanthus
rectangulus) inside and R. aculeatus in front

CORAL 35
 This juvenile Bluelined Triggerfish (Pseudobalistes fuscus) is demonstrating the triggerfish habit
of blowing into the substrate in order to uncover prey. Below: Clown Trigger making a meal of its
favorite food, a sea urchin that it has gotten into a vulnerable upside-down position.

deep black Melichthys ni- spectacle of the fishes doggedly working so hard in this
ger, only the small “sail” way is certainly impressive: clouds of “dust” envelop the
of fin linking the three aquarium, and all the fishes stand around inquisitively
dorsal rays changes color and watch with interest—albeit at a respectable distance,
to orange-red, while the as otherwise they are chased away fairly aggressively. Re-
white area at the base of ally determined attacks are reserved for the camera lens
the fin becomes wider. if it comes too close!
What does alter dra- But what rather spoils the pleasure of watching them
matically, however, is the is the fact that the female, who always spawns again
behavior, above all when several weeks later (in my tank the clump of spawn in-
one of two female-colored fishes becomes aware of the variably disappears during the first night), will in turn
impending change to male and begins to display. Trigger- begin to change sex. This is immediately apparent: there
fishes can be very “vocal” in their wooing; they chatter, are regular noisy quarrels, the partners no longer swim
grunt, and bark at every pitch when they court a female together, and usually a change in fin color is already
in the process of changing, and guide her to a spawn- visible. And unless the pair are now separated very rap-
ing pit or to a corner of the aquarium where they will idly (that is, one of them is removed), it is likely that
excavate one. And they don’t go about it at all daintily: one of the triggerfishes (often both) will jump out of
it is rare that there are no scratches or fin damage, but the tank or die from stress. The fact that the initial-
these heal very quickly. This phase is rather uncomfort- ly dominant male fish retains his supremacy for only
able for the aquarist, as the fishes, working frantically a short time may be a result of his exhausting himself
with teeth and thrashing fins and beating tails, try to during all the digging activities. If he yields in any way
excavate their pit as deep as possible and become angry to his female—in other words, fails to demonstrate his
when they reach the glass bottom—and perhaps also see supremacy without pause—then “she” may get the up-
themselves reflected there. per hand. This scenario may well be restricted to the
I always try to cover the exposed bottom with large aquarium; on the reef, the two fishes would simply go
round pieces of coral that will be difficult for the fishes to their separate ways.
grasp with their teeth, but I am always worried that the In my aquaria, Bluechin Triggers have always changed
bottom may get cracked or collapsing fragments of reef sex after a maximum of six years, and on each occasion I
PHOTOS: E. THALER

will topple and break the glass (but, so far, so good!). have then introduced as small an individual as possible
If plastic is used instead, they rapidly tear it to pieces, as a replacement. It should be easy to establish whether
and sooner or later they will shift flat, heavy stones out matters follow the same course in other species suitable
of the way or start digging in a different spot. And the for the aquarium (for example, the Niger Trigger), albeit

36 CORAL
 in suitably large aquaria and with the appropriate main- until the tip of the second spine is pulled posteriorly.
tenance conditions! The family name Balistidae is formed from the genus
name Balistes, which is derived from the Latin ballista,
G E N E R A L I N F O R M AT I O N O N another name for the Roman catapult, in allusion to the
T H E T R I G G E R F I S H FA M I LY trigger mechanism of the dorsal-fin spines.”
The triggerfishes, family Balistidae, comprise 11 genera A striking feature is the head, huge in comparison
with a total of around 40 species, and occur in all the to the body, with its little eyes always glittering alertly;
warm seas of the world. They are, however, mainly in- the mouth is terminal and small but contains very effi-
habitants of coral reefs, and only a very few species live cient dentition. Generally speaking, triggerfishes always
in subtropical regions or in open water. Many species look foreshortened and stocky and a bit head-heavy, and
are colorful, some incredibly gaudy—consider the Clown thus do not conform to the usual fish outline. Perhaps
Trigger, for example. Astonishingly, in their natural it is this that makes them so especially appealing? They
habitat these bright patches of color are lost amid the swim by undulating their dorsal and anal fins and ac-
equally colorful coral aquascape. Their coloration has celerate via powerful beats of their tails—they are rapid,
the effect of breaking up the outline of the fish. agile swimmers with plenty of stamina, and require a
According to Dr. Phil Heemstra of East Coast Fish- lot of space.
Watch, “The triggerfish takes its name from the locking The triggerfish genera use a variety of hunting and
mechanism of the stout first dorsal-fin spine and the reproductive strategies. Many of them (such as the
smaller, slender second spine (the trigger). When the plankton-feeding Niger Trigger or a number of Melich-
first spine is erected, the second spine is also pulled up thys species) live in harems or large hunting packs, or
and functions like a cam to wedge the larger spine in a in pairs, like the well-known Picasso Triggerfish (Rhin-
vertical position. The first spine cannot be folded down, ecanthus aculeatus), which is frequent in all tropical
coral-lagoon landscapes. In many cases they excavate
pits at spawning time, lay a ball of eggs, and cover them
with sand; these are often guarded very assiduously for
several days by the male or female. Diving schools can
tell a tale or two about the territoriality of breeding

Left: the Assai or Arabian Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus assai)

Below: Members of three related families from the Tetraodontiformes
(puffer-like fishes): triggerfishes (Balistidae), boxfishes (Ostracidae),
and pufferfishes (Tetraodontidae)
ABOVE: R. HEBBINGHAUS, RIGHT: E. THALER

CORAL 37
 triggers, which seem by preference to colonize the most sible, the latter should be kept in slightly cooler condi-
frequently dived entry points. tions; temperatures of more than 79ºF (26°C) make it
There are also pelagic pairs or group spawnings. high-strung. Astonishingly, its cousin from the Carib-
Some species appear to be solitary and join with a bean, the Sargassum Triggerfish (X. ringens), has quite
partner only for a short time during the courtship and different feeding habits: it hunts its prey near the bot-
brood-guarding period, although in the case of pairs the tom and is a sea-urchin eater.
more secretive, more circumspect partner may often be I have little experience with the genus Sufflamen, and
overlooked. In addition the species differ considerably have kept only a single Scimitar Triggerfish (S. bursa).
in size: there are small, dainty, 4-inch (10-cm) species Though not a plankton feeder, it was rather peaceful and
such as some Rhinecanthus, and there are meter-long its main interest was only in small crustaceans—now and
giants like the Titan Triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens). then it would find a freshly molted cleaner shrimp impos-
Plus, triggerfishes are generally diurnal. At night they sible to resist. All in all, however, I would advise against
sleep deep (and deeply) among the corals, wedged into the maintenance of members of this genus because of
a rocky crevice, sometimes with just the tip of a caudal- their feeding habits (they are substrate hunters).
fin lobe protruding. It is supposedly impossible to pull Unfortunately, the loveliest of the triggerfish spe-
a sleeping triggerfish out of its sleeping-hole even by cies also have these disruptive feeding habits. Clown
force—you are more likely to pull it apart! Triggers (Balistoides conspicillum) really are unsuitable
in many respects. They love any type of creature with
AQ UA R I U M M A I N T E N A N C E O F spines, and it is these that are their preferred prey on the
TRIGGERFISHES reef as well. If you keep this fish, you must forget about
In conclusion, here are a few concrete hints regarding maintaining sea urchins, starfishes, and sea cucumbers;
the suitability of a number of triggerfishes for the aquar- even bivalves may arouse their interest. They will live in
ium. Essentially, only species that feed predominantly peace and harmony with cleaner shrimps, but not with
on plankton are worth recommending as aquarium all other small crustaceans or even larger crabs. They
fishes. The deep blue Niger Trigger (Odonus niger) is very will routinely break small coral-dwelling symbiotic crabs
popular and attractive in its coloration, and it is also out of the coral branches; even pistol shrimps are not
the species seen most commonly in the trade. On the always safe from them, and they may even carry off the
reef it feeds predominantly on planktonic organisms, symbiotic blenny at the same time.
and occurs there in vast numbers. In the Maldives there Sooner or later, the Clown Trigger displays its aggres-
are veritable “curtains” of Niger Triggers, all hunting sive nature, often without any discernible provocation.
peacefully next to one another, through which one can Possibly even the biggest and best-decorated aquarium
swim—and they hardly bother to move out of the way. It is insufficient to satisfy their urge to explore. And if they
is unthinkable to keep just one on its own! get really bored, then heaven help anything that gets in
A group of five Nigers is a splendid sight, provided the way of their teeth! On the reef, it is very noticeable
they have sufficient space: they require a really large that “everyone” deliberately gives Clown Triggers a wide
aquarium, as they attain a good 12–16 inches (30–40 berth. Even very large angelfishes (such as the Blueface
cm) in length and require feeding to match. It should Angelfish, Pomacanthus xanthometopon) turn aside when
not be our goal to produce dwarfed fishes through lack a Clown Trigger comes along. I have similar reservations
of food; leaving aside the animal cruelty aspect, there is about the Undulate Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus)
no chance of maintaining these fishes in groups or pairs. and also, unfortunately, the various Picasso trigger spe-
Competition for food gives rise to aggression, and that cies, although the latter at least don’t grow all that huge.
is hardly news! In addition, the adults do not develop They may behave nicely for a long time and appear to
their bright red chisel-like teeth unless they are healthy. be peaceful and well behaved, but they simply cannot
But given the appropriate conditions, Niger Triggers are be trusted! And many species just grow too large, even
wonderful fishes to keep, rather undemanding in their for a shark tank. Even there, they are not happy. Still, an
food requirements (you just need to give them enough). aquarium with no triggerfish at all is a bit like a soup
They like plenty of current and a varied profile to the with no salt. I am happy to admit I am a trigger fan!
reef, but otherwise conform to the stereotype. All this
applies equally to the following triggers: the Black Trig- REFERENCES
gerfish (Melichthys niger), the similar but more strikingly De Graaf, F. 1977. Tropische Zierfische im Meeresaquarium.
colored Pinktail Trigger (M. vidua), the Indian Trigger- Neumann-Verlag, Melsungen, Germany.
fish (M. indicus), and, especially recommended, as it is Klausewitz, W. and P. Wilkens. 1979. Handbuch der
also smaller, the Bluechin Triggerfish (Xanthichthys au- Meeresaquaristik. Fische/Niedere Tiere, Vol. 3. Pfriem-Verlag,
romarginatus). It also applies to the fabulous Crosshatch Wuppertal, Germany.
Triggerfish (X. mento), whose courtship and spawning Thaler, E. 1997. Leopoldine—Eine recht dumme Geschichte.
behavior I never tire of watching in my aquaria. If pos- Das Aquarium 12, 342:40–42.

38 CORAL
 Reef-Safe Triggers
t
BY SCOTT W. MICHAEL

The vast majority of triggerfishes are not the least bit

suitable for the reef aquarium. Most are polyphagous,
feeding on a wide array of invertebrates, including prized
species that we nurture in our reef tanks. A small group
of triggerfishes, however, are exceptions to this rule.
These reef-tank-suitable species feed mainly on zoo- Pinktail Triggerfish (Melichthys vidua)
plankton and typically ignore invertebrates if they are
fed frequently enough by the aquarist. One important
caveat: they are likely to “stray” and start eating your de-
sirable invertebrates if they are underfed. They are also Sargassum Triggerfish (Xanthichthys ringens)
prone to weight loss if not fed several times a day.
The good triggerfishes for the reef tank are also less
likely to rearrange the aquarium decor. This potentially
destructive triggerfish behavior can lead to corals toppling
over or falling on each other, causing mechanical damage
and subsequent death. Some triggerfish species may leap
from an open aquarium or spit water on electrical out-
lets. This includes members of the genus Xanthichtys.

Melichthys niger (BLOCH, 1786)

BLACK TRIGGERFISH (BLACK DURGON)

This species is found in tropical waters around the world

and is usually seen in aggregations, swimming high
above the reef, often with schooling zooplankton feed-
ers. It is also found associating with large floating rafts
of Sargassum, a species of brown algae. Because it feeds
mainly on floating plant material and zooplankton, it
is a possible candidate for the reef aquarium. Howev-
er, in nature and in captivity it will occasionally nibble
on sessile invertebrates. It may also harass ornamental
shrimps that are introduced after it has become adjusted
to its captive home.
Bluechin Triggerfish
Melichthys vidua (SOLANDER, 1844) (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) male: some zooplankton-
PINKTAIL TRIGGERFISH
feeding triggerfish species can be kept in a reef tank.
This attractive triggerfish is a good candidate for the
reef aquarium. It is a mild-mannered fish that is even
more sociable toward other fishes than most triggers gerfish. Provide enough meaty food to keep them from
(including the Niger Triggerfish). Unlike others in the developing problematic feeding habits.
reef-suitable triggerfish category, this species feeds on
larger, motile invertebrates (including crustaceans and Xanthichthys SPP.
XANTHICHTHYS TRIGGERFISHES
octopuses) and small fishes. It is more likely to ignore
cleaner shrimps if they are introduced before it is. These are easily the best triggerfishes for the reef aquar-
ium. On rare occasions, these species may nip at sessile
Odonus niger (RÜPPELL, 1837) invertebrates or attack delicate crustaceans, like anem-
NIGER TRIGGERFISH (REDTOOTH TRIGGERFISH)
one shrimp (Periclimenes species), but most individuals
This triggerfish is primarily a zooplankton feeder and it will behave themselves when it comes to corals. They
can be successfully housed in reef aquariums. That said, are rarely aggressive toward their tankmates, unless the
PHOTOS: SCOTT W. MICHAEL

some have been known to feed on encrusting sponges. latter are much smaller and/or introduced to the aquar-
I have also seen the rare individual nip at snails and ium after they are. Larger individuals have been known
ornamental crustaceans. They are unlikely to harm cor- to prey on small fishes.
als. If you want to attempt to keep a shrimp with this From The PocketExpert Guide: REEF AQUARIUM
triggerfish, add the crustacean before you add the trig- FISHES (Microcosm/TFH Professional Series)

CORAL 39
TRIGGERFISHES

THE SYSTEMATICS of the

Triggerfishes
[ Family Balistidae]
by Inken Krause

40 CORAL
 Left: Undulate Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus)
Below right: Two young Queen Triggerfishes (Balistes vetula)
Opposite page: A pair of Bluechin Triggerfishes (Xanthichthys
auromarginatus) in a large reef aquarium

T he triggerfish family (Balistidae) belongs to the

order Tetraodontiformes, the puffers and their
allies. Triggerfishes are thus related to puffers,
boxfishes, porcupinefishes, and filefishes, as well
as the huge ocean sunfishes (Molidae). The
family contains 12 genera with some 38 spe-
cies that inhabit the Atlantic, the Indian, and above all
the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to the triggerlike action of its dorsal fins,
described previously, a characteristic of the anatomy of
all triggerfishes is the rhomboidal body, which is cov-
nance unless a water volume approaching 1,000 gallons
or several thousand liters is available. In addition, the
species, when adult, is colored a rather unattractive sil-
very gray except for the “star spot” on the dorsal region
that gives the species its name. Juveniles are appreciably
more attractive to look at, with a yellow to brown pat-
tern on a light background, and thus a little reminiscent
of Pseudobalistes fuscus. A. stellaris enjoys greater popu-
larity as a food fish in the markets of Southeast Asia.
The second species of the genus, A. filamentosus, wasn’t
described until 2004 (Matsuura & Yoshino).
ered in a very stiff, leathery skin. The posterior part of
the body is stiff and rigid, and for this reason trigger- G E N U S Balistapus
fishes propel themselves with undulating movements of The only representative of the monotypic genus Balista-
the anal and dorsal fins, which are strongly developed pus is the gloriously colored B. undulatus. The Undulate
in almost all species. They can, in fact, attain speeds Triggerfish is widespread over the entire Indo-Pacific.
that are almost incredible, especially in the case of the Thanks to its splendid appearance (bright yellow-orange
large, rather plump-looking species. Many members stripes on a blue-green background) and its rather small
of the family have strongly developed, chisel-like teeth maximum length of only 12 inches (30 cm), it is a popu-
with which they can effortlessly crack open the bodies lar aquarium fish. Unfortunately, however, its immense
of hard-shelled mollusks and spiny invertebrates such potential for aggression is often underestimated, and can
as sea urchins. greatly exceed that of some larger species. Only relatively
Below is a list of all the genera of the family, with a large and aggressive fishes are suitable as tankmates. B.
summary of their ecology and peculiarities, as well as the undulatus is especially interesting on account of its sexu-
suitability of selected species for aquarium maintenance: al dichromatism, rather atypical for the family, as adult
males lack the pattern of stripes or dots above the mouth
G E N U S Abalistes (Schneidewind 2002). Nevertheless, extreme caution is
The genus Abalistes, with its two species A. stellaris and advised when attempting to keep a pair in the aquarium.
A. filamentosus, is virtually unknown to aquarists. For a
long time it was regarded as monotypic, that is, contain-
ing only one species. The type species, A. stellaris from
the Indo-Pacific, attains a length of around 24 inches
(60 cm), and hence is unsuitable for aquarium mainte-
PHOTOS: E. THALER; ILLUSTRATION BY JOSHUA HIGHTER

The “Trigger” Mechanism:

(A) The folded down dorsal spines. (B) When the fish becomes
alarmed, it raises the very strong, tall first dorsal spine, which is
followed by the “trigger,” a shorter, more slender second spine.
(C) The locked position. Only when the second spine is relaxed
can the first spine
fold back down. C
B

CORAL 41
 On the one hand the patterning in this species varies on various spiny invertebrates and crustaceans. It has a
depending on its geographical origin, which makes un- nasty reputation for sometimes changing personalities,
equivocal determination of the sexes more difficult, and shifting from a good member of a community aquarium
on the other, even individuals of opposite sexes can be to one that viciously attacks tankmates, sometimes de-
very aggressive towards one another. veloping a habit of targeting its victims eyes.
Balistoides viridescens (the name literally means “be-
G E N U S Balistes coming green”), the Titan Triggerfish, can justifiably be
Of the four species of the genus Balistes (B. capriscus, described as the “big brother” of the Clown Triggerfish.
B. polylepis, B. punctatus, and B. vetula) only the last- It exceeds even the latter in size and aggressiveness. Ex-
named species, the Queen Triggerfish, is in fact relevant perienced divers are fearful of accidentally encountering
to the aquarium hobby. B. vetula is indeed extremely at- brood-caring pairs of this up-to-30-inch (75 cm) fish
tractive because of its pretty coloration in various shades because of its readiness to attack. Further details of its
of blue, green, and yellow, but with a maximum length unsuitability as an aquarium fish should not be neces-
of 24 inches (60 cm) it is more suitable for public dis- sary. Give this species a wide berth in the wild and don’t
play aquaria. Males and females are colored essentially even consider it for a home aquarium.
the same, but adult males can be recognized by their
noticeably longer filaments. Divers know this species as G E N U S Canthidermis
a fierce biter when defending its nests. The genus Canthidermis, from the Red Sea and parts of
the Indian Ocean, contains three species (C. macrolepis,
G E N U S Balistoides C. maculatus, and C. sufflamen), which, at first glance,
The genus Balistoides contains two species: Balistoides the layman might not recognize as triggerfishes at all.
conspicillum and B. viridescens. By virtue of its “eccen- The body is unusually elongate and has an equally atypi-
tric” coloration, Balistoides conspicillum, the Clown Trig- cal high second dorsal and deep anal fin. In addition,

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: I. KRAUSE, D. KNOP, E. THALER, I. KRAUSE

gerfish, is undoubtedly one of the most attractive fishes Canthidermis species do not live reef-bound like their
that the family Balistidae has to offer. The bold pattern relatives, but in the open water, where they form pe-
of white spots on a midnight-black base color, along lagic schools (above all in the case of C. macrolepis) and
with the bright yellow lips and fin edgings, make this follow larger predators such as sharks in the hope of
species a real aesthetic experience. But the Clown Trig- eating discarded scraps of food (Schneidewind 2002).
gerfish owes its popularity mainly to the black and yellow Because of their way of life, all species are unsuitable
pattern on its back, which is immediately reminiscent for aquarium maintenance—and also of little interest,
of the spotted coat of a leopard. Because of its appear- as they have minimal aesthetic appeal.
ance many aquarists do not hesitate to buy this splendid
fish for maintenance in the aquarium, unaware of its G E N U S Melichthys
eventual size of up to 20 inches (50 cm), its aggressive The genus Melichthys contains three very similar species:
temperament, and its family-typical liking for dining the Indian Triggerfish (M. indicus), the Black Trigger-

Black Triggerfish (Melichthys niger) Indian Triggerfish (Melichthys indicus)

42 CORAL
 Clown Triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)

Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger)

CORAL 43
 Rectangular Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus) Assasi or Indian Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus assasi)

fish (M. niger), and the Pinktail Triggerfish (M. vidua). appropriately known as the Redtooth Triggerfish, as the
With a maximum length of less than 14 inches (35 majority of specimens (albeit not all) possess character-
cm), all are relatively small, and all are characterized istic angular red teeth that are used above all to scrape
by a rather nondescript dark base color, which prob- sponges and similar growths from rocks, but hardly ever
ably serves as camouflage when they leave the shelter of to prey on larger invertebrates.
the reef to hunt for food in open water. But in shallow Like the members of the genus Melichthys, O. niger
water and in bright light (for example in an aquarium has an upward-pointing mouth, which characterizes
with HQI or T5 lighting), a fine, sometimes very at- plankton-feeding species. This species, too, forms loose
tractive pattern becomes visible in all three species. A feeding groups, often containing very large numbers of
characteristic feature of the genus is an upward-point- individuals, to hunt macroplankton in the open wa-
ing mouth, which identifies the species as a plankton- ter. This circumstance even permits the maintenance
feeder. But they will ingest macroalgae and floating plant of the Niger Triggerfish in reef aquaria, as attacks on
material (especially in the case of M. niger) and some- any invertebrates they contain are most unlikely. But
times form loose groups to hunt for food. Spiny inver- one should not forget the adult size attained, which
tebrates and crustaceans, which figure on the menu of can reach up to 20 inches (50 cm). Anyone who has
the majority of triggerfishes, are almost never harmed, once seen the imposing sight of full-grown O. niger in
even in the aquarium. Hence the species of the genus its natural habitat is unlikely to countenance the idea
Melichthys are appreciably better suited to aquarium of keeping such a fish in a normal-sized aquarium, and
maintenance than the majority of other balistids. They will have no time for those aquarists who deprive the
are deserving of more attention. juveniles imported as “baby triggers” of the chance for
natural development.
G E N U S Odonus
The genus Odonus contains only one species, namely the G E N U S Pseudobalistes
Niger or Redtooth Triggerfish (O. niger), which, howev- The three species of the genus Pseudobalistes—Yellow-
er, is probably better known among aquarists than any margin Triggerfish (P. flavimarginatus), Bluelined Trig-
other triggerfish. O. niger is one of the species that most gerfish (P. fuscus), and the Stone Triggerfish (P. nau-
frequently find their way into marine aquaria. Although fragium), are, at up to 24 inches (60 cm), among the
its scientific name would suggest otherwise, O. niger largest members of the family Balistidae. In practice,
is not, in fact, black, but dark blue, sometimes with a only P. fuscus is occasionally available in the aquarium
greenish sheen. The precise color and the stripe pattern trade, a fact that is linked on the one hand to its attrac-
PHOTOS E. THALER

on the head vary within its vast distribution in the Indo- tive coloration and on the other to the droll appearance
Pacific, from the Red Sea to Polynesia. The species looks of the juveniles that are often imported at a tiny size.
really black only in the blue twilight at great depths, or The species usually lives solitarily over expanses of sand
when preserved in alcohol. In Germany O. niger is more in the reef areas of the Indo-Pacific (above all the Red

44 CORAL
 play a role in the marine aquarium
hobby. The origin of the name will
be obvious to anyone who has seen
one of these fishes with its colorful,
abstract geometrical lines on a light
background. Post-larval juveniles are
uniform gray in color up to 4 cm
long and only then take on the re-
markable coloration of their species.
Rhinecanthus aculeatus is distrib-
uted across the entire Indo-Pacific
region, with the exception of the
Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, where
the species is replaced by the endem-
ic (and very similar) species R. as-
sasi. Both live over sandy substrates,
in lagoons, and on reef flats, where
they feed on a wide variety of inver-
tebrates (and sometimes also small
fishes), which, when necessary, are
Scimitar Triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa) extracted from the sandy bottom in
the triggerfish-typical manner, by
Sea) and is sometimes found in lagoons. Juveniles of “puffing.” With a maximum length of 12 inches (30
P. fuscus, which have dark spots on a yellow and white cm), both species are not only popular for aquarium
background, are colored quite differently from adults, maintenance, but also eminently suitable as long as an
which are no less beautiful with their bright blue stripes adequately large aquarium (1,500 liters upwards) is pro-
on a yellow base. Even though it is all too easy to buy the vided and they are not housed with potential prey (spiny
comical little juveniles on impulse, none of the species invertebrates, small crustaceans, or small fishes).
TOP AND RIGHT: E. THALER, BOTTOM LEFT: D. KNOP

of the genus can be recommended because of their size

and their potential for aggression. G E N U S Sufflamen
The genus Sufflamen contains five species that are dis-
G E N U S Rhinecanthus tributed mainly in the Indo-Pacific. Externally they
The genus Rhinecanthus comprises seven species, but exhibit close similarities to the species of the genus
only the two known as the Picasso Triggerfish (R. aculea- Rhinecanthus. Like the latter, they are relatively small
tus) and the very similar Assasi Triggerfish (R. assasi), and attain less than 12 inches (30 cm) in length. Suf-
and very rarely the Halfmoon Picassofish (R. lunula), flamen species are essentially rather soberly colored and

Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) Bluelined Triggerfish (Pseudobalistes fuscus), juvenile

CORAL 45
 ,
SYSTEMATIC OVERVIEW OF THE Triggerfish Family [Balistidae]
W ithin the order Tetraodontiformes (puffers GENUS Abalistes (2) GENUS Pseudobalistes (3)
and their allies), the triggerfishes constitute A. stellaris P. flavimarginatus
the relatively small family Balistidae, with at
A. filamentosus P. fuscus
present 12 valid genera to which a total of 38
P. naufragium
species are assigned. This should in no way be GENUS Balistapus (1)
regarded as static. The systematics of the trig- B. undulatus GENUS Rhinecanthus (7)
gerfish family, like those of many other fish R. abyssus
families, are subject to change, and new spe- GENUS Balistes (4)
R. aculeatus
cies have been described in recent years, for B. capriscus R. assasi
example Abalistes filamentosus in 2004 (Mat- B. polylepis
suura & Yoshino, 2004). R. cinereus
B. punctatus R. lunula
Even though it is not always easy to
B. vetula R. rectangulus
comprehend the details of their systematics,
thanks to a number of characteristic features GENUS Balistoides (2) R. verrucosus
even the layman can generally immediately B. conspicillum GENUS Sufflamen (5)
recognize a triggerfish as such. B. viridescens
—Inken Krause S. albicaudatum
ON THE INTERNET GENUS Canthidermis (3)
S. bursa
S. chrysopterus
(6-22-08), FishBase: C. macrolepis
S. fraenatum
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/ C. maculatus
FamilySummary.cfm?Family=Balistidae S. verres
C. sufflamen
Clockwise from top left: Deep-Sea Triggerfish GENUS Xanthichthys (5)
GENUS Melichthys (3)
(Xanthichthys mento), Blue-Throat Triggerfish X. auromarginatus
(Xanthichthys auromarginatus), Picasso Triggerfish M. indicus X. caeruleolineatus
(Rhinecanthus aculeatus) being cleaned by the M. niger X. lineopunctatus
Whitebanded Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis), M. vidua
Sargasso Triggerfish (Xanthichthys ringens), X. mento
GENUS Odonus (1) X. ringens
O. niger GENUS Xenobalistes (2)

X. tumidipectoris
X. punctatus

PHOTOS: E. THALER EXCEPT FOR BOTTOM RIGHT, D. KNOP

46 CORAL
hence of little interest to aquarists. This is probably the
reason why most of the species of the genus are rarely
seen in the trade, apart from the Halfmoon Triggerfish
(S. chrysopterus), which is somewhat more popular. This
species is chiefly interesting because adult males can be
identified by their blue chest and throat region, lacking
in juvenile and female individuals; the species thus ex-
hibits sexual dichromatism.

G E N U S Xanthichthys
The genus Xanthichthys is very interesting for the aquar-
ist with its five species: the Bluechin (X. auromargin-
atus), the Bluelined (X. caeruleolineatus), the Striped (X.
lineopunctatus), the Crosshatch (X. mento), and the Sar-
gassum Triggerfish (X. ringens). In particular, X. auro-
marginatus enjoys considerable popularity in the aquari-
um trade. On the one hand, all the species remain small
enough, at 8–12 inches (20–30 cm), for maintenance
in larger aquaria; on the other, like their relatives in the
genera Melichthys and Odonus, they live a planktivorous
existence and, with their upward-pointing mouths, are
not inclined to dine on large invertebrates. The genus is,
however, also interesting by virtue of the marked sexual
dichromatism that occurs, at least in the three species
mentioned. Thus, for example, male individuals of X. au-
romarginatus have a blue throat and yellow fin edgings,
while the females are uniformly silvery gray. Thanks to
this characteristic, there is no problem at all in putting
together pairs for aquarium maintenance, and they al-
ways tolerate one another well, even though in the wild
they can be seen living together in loose groups.

G E N U S Xenobalistes
The genus Xenobalistes (Matsuura, 1981) is the youngest
within the family Balistidae, and to date includes only
two species: the type species X. tumidipectoris, which was
described on the basis of a single specimen found in the
stomach of a Blue Marlin, and X. punctatus. Extremely
unusual in the triggerfish family, X. punctatus looks
rather like a boxfish when viewed from the front,
more like a triggerfish in the lateral view.

REFERENCES

Schneidewind, F. 2002. Drückerfische. Tetra Verlag, Bissendorf,

Germany.
Nelson, J. S. 1994. Fishes of the World, Vol. 3. John Wiley & Sons,
Hoboken, NJ. Pp. 445–446.
Kuiter, R. and H. Debelius. 2006. Atlas der Meeresfische.
Kosmos-Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany.
Matsuura, K. 1981. Xenobalistes tumidipectoris, a new species
and genus triggerfish (Tetraodontiformes, Balistidae) from the
Marianas Islands. Bull Natl Sci Mus (Ser. A) (Zool.), 7 (4):191–200.
Matsuura, K. and T. Yoshino. 2004. A new triggerfish of the
genus Abalistes (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from the
western Pacific. Records of the Australian Museum 56 (2):
189–194.

CORAL 47
 MADAGASCAR
A T R E A S U R E I S L A N D
by Marlen Hundertmark and Christian Hepperger

48 CORAL
I N T H E I N D I A N O C E A N
From legend and old stories, many people know Madagascar as an island
of pirates and treasure. In the past there was indeed much hunting and
digging for treasure there, but after a firsthand look for ourselves, we were
left with the impression that the real treasures of this island definitely lie
somewhere else: in its unspoiled nature and
its unique and ancient wildlife.
Madagascar is the fourth largest island on
Earth and is also sometimes called The Sixth
Continent. Because of its separation from Africa 150 million years ago and
its subsequent long isolation, unique flora and fauna, unequalled anywhere
else in the world, have evolved there, both on land and in the water. For
this reason we decided to spend six weeks experiencing this unique natural
history for ourselves.
Following our arrival in the capital, Antananarivo, and a visit to the An-
dasibe nature reserve, where we managed to find amphibians, reptiles, and
lemurs, above all the Indri—not a particularly difficult feat, given its shrill
cries—we eventually traveled to the sea. In view of the political situation in
the country caused by an impending presidential election, we were at pains
to avoid problem areas and take the quickest route to our first objective, the
Masoala Peninsula in the East of Madagascar.
We decided against whale watching, an activity that had
figured quite high on our wish list; given that we were going to
be there, we really wanted to make the most of the opportunity.
But the political situation simply didn’t allow it, so we took

The big feed: a group of Monk Tangs (Acanthurus gahhm)

with a Zebrasoma desjardinii and a parrotfish

CORAL 49
 A pair of Melon Butterflyfishes
(Chaetodon trifasciatus) in their
land of milk and honey

Chevron Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifascialis)

a rattly old plane to Maroantsetra, a lonely little town opportunity to go on a whale watching trip, we were
on the edge of the Masoala National Park. From there exceedingly happy that the whales had apparently come
we continued our journey by boat in order to penetrate looking for us! During the rest of the crossing we saw
further into the Masoala rainforest. even more of these marine mammals, although they
passed us by at a greater distance.
W H A L E DAY The next morning we went into the water for the
During the roughly two-hour boat journey, we paused first time, prepared to meet anything, and we were hard-
for a fairly long time as a mother whale and her calf ly worried at all when, again, a gigantic whale surfaced
suddenly surfaced close to our boat! At first we were ter- only around 50 meters away. We made our way across
rified by the presence of the dark colossus close to our small meadows of seagrass to the colorful gardens of
little cockleshell, but after the initial shock had worn off coral. A striking feature of this area was the presence
we enjoyed the encounter. The two whales swam around of truly enormous large-polyp stony corals in a variety
near us for quite some time; having had to pass up the of colors—chiefly brain corals, but there were also great

Scrawled Filefish Giant Clam

(Aluterus scriptus) (Tridacna maxima)

CORAL 51
 Now and then we even encountered
T U R T L E S A N D D O L P H I N S ,
which served to confirm further
the impression of an unspoiled
underwater world...

Sudden close encounter with sea turtle

expanses of Acropora species and other small-polyped the Seychelles and had seen dramatic evidence of the
genera. In addition we saw splendid giant clams, which effect of the climatic phenomenon El Niño. It was only
the people of Madagascar like to eat, hence the empty the direct comparison that truly brought home to us
mollusk shells found all over the beaches. how severe the damage in the Seychelles had been, and
The fishes that live here really are dwelling in para- we hope that the coral reefs of Madagascar will remain
dise. They swim around in a regular soup of plankton, unaffected by such dramatic influences.
surrounded by an unspoiled coral landscape that offers What particularly fascinated us was the proximity
innumerable hiding places. But that was precisely what of this marine biotope to the undisturbed jungle, so
made it difficult for us to watch them, as they would rap- that the two most species-rich habitats on our planet—
idly disappear beneath a rocky overhang, into a crevice, coral reef and rainforest—practically bordered on one
or among the dense branchwork of the corals. Appar- another. We found this intense experience of nature
ently they weren’t used to visits from divers with bub- truly unforgettable. We would recommend this excep-
bling breathing apparatus or snorkelers with paddling tional place of forests—and water—to anyone who loves
fins. For this reason we tried to move as quietly as pos- nature, enjoys adventure, and is not too concerned
sible. But we nevertheless had the impression that the about comfort. Madagascar also has something to offer
fishes here were considerably more circumspect than in to those who don’t like doing without electricity and
other places where we have snorkeled. Everywhere we hot water, but they would do better to stick to the West
went, at best we saw them peering out of their hiding coast, where there are areas that are better equipped to
places and eyeing us with considerable suspicion. welcome tourists.
Butterflyfishes, wrasses, the blue and yellow Long-
nose Filefish (Oxymonacanthus longirostris), and even T H E W E S T COA S T
the normally rather aggressive damselfishes—all pre- After another uncomfortable flight over the rainforest
ferred to swim out of our way. The only fish on which and an 11-hour ride in the cargo space of a very old,
we had little effect was the huge Napoleon Wrasse. beat-up truck, we reached the boat to the island of Nosy
The underwater world of Madagascar is astonish- Be. (It should be mentioned that in those 11 hours we
ingly unspoiled. Two years previously we had been in traveled barely 68 miles—110 km). The roads—if you can

52 CORAL
Brightly-colored Acropora stony corals

call them that—are generally in catastrophic condition tion in the current, giving us reason to pause.
and sometimes barely negotiable, but they are notice- There were coral gardens as far as the eye could see.
ably better in the West than in the East. Driving slowly, Soft and leather corals grew next to blocks of Porites,
we should admit, has its upside: during this journey we surrounded by colorful sponges, gorgonians, Seriatopora
saw lots of chameleons and Phelsuma species (the large and Montipora stone corals, brain corals, and expanses
day geckos) by the side of the road. of sea anemones in which innumerable Skunk Clown-
Nosy Be is an island off the Northwest coast of fish (Amphiprion akallopisos) were frolicking, and in be-
Madagascar and was to be the starting point for our tween them growths of Acropora with the diameter of a
proposed sailing trip. We sailed south along the coast to two-bedroom house—and all this in the loveliest colors
seek out the finest areas for snorkeling. The reefs of the imaginable. Giant clams and a huge variety of other ses-
islands that lie offshore along the West coast of Mada- sile inhabitants of the reef were also here, in a wealth
gascar represent a fantastic experience for any marine of species that took our breath away. Now and then we
aquarist, and a significant advantage of such a boat trip even encountered turtles and dolphins, which served to
is that you have immediate access to the diving or snor- confirm further the impression of an unspoiled under-
keling site—straight from the ship. water world, but sometimes also gave us a tremendous
A multitude of brilliantly colored fishes were dis- shock—as when a group of 20 dolphins suddenly ap-
porting among the corals: grammas, anthias, wrasses, peared from out of the deep blue of the ocean.
filefishes, tangs, and rabbitfishes as well as big fishes— During this sailing trip we snorkeled countless times,
everything the aquarist’s heart could desire. There were each session being quite unique and often lasting lon-
also numerous butterflyfishes, for example Chaetodon ger than the captain of the boat would have preferred.
madagascariensis, C. lunula, and C. trifasciatus, frolick- Unfortunately these days at sea sped by faster than we
ing among the corals and here and there nipping at the would have liked, so we were soon sailing back to the
polyps. Pairs of Moorish Idols (Zanclus cornutus), and main island of Nosy Be. We spent one more final day
bannerfishes such as Heniochus acuminatus (again in there, reviewing our experiences of the past weeks, and
pairs) swam repeatedly to and fro across the reef. Here agreed that Madagascar is one of Earth’s most fabu-
and there we saw single large barracudas holding posi- lous destinations.

CORAL 53
54 CORAL
N ot long after my Complete Illustrated Breeder’s Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes
was released, I was confronted by people asking, “Why aren’t mandarins in
the book?” My answer was quite simple: I never really thought about it. In
fact, I realized that I had been shunning mandarins for many years.
When I was 12 years old I set up my first marine aquarium. I was de-
termined to fill the system with bold and beautiful colors from around the
world, and my eyes were quickly drawn to a fish with fluorescent stripes and swirls of
green and blue. As I watched the bright blue pectoral fins undulating wildly against
the bright orange background color and the long dorsal fin flashing high above the
body, I was won over: I purchased my first Green Mandarin, Synchiropus splendidus.
Within days the subject of my fascination was showing signs of stress as he
Breeding
Mandarins story and photos by Matthew L. Wittenrich

tirelessly hunted the captive reef for prey. Days and weeks went on as he grew thin-
ner and ever more emaciated. My most-prized fish slowly wasted away, then died.

N E W H O P E F O R A S TA R - C R O S S E D S P E C I E S
After a 14-year hiatus, I must admit that the mandarins I had been boycotting are
slowly creeping toward the top of my list of favorite fish.
Mandarins, or dragonets, are among the most beautiful and graceful marine fishes
encountered in the aquarium trade, offering bold and exciting colors and contrasting
patterns that seem to wave and roll as they hover above the reefscape. Unfortunately,
the Green Mandarin, and its congener the Spotted Mandarin, S. picturatus, exhibit
one of the highest rates of mortality among captive marine fishes. Until a few years

CORAL 55
56 CORAL
ago it was a challenge to keep one alive for more than a few B R O O D S TO C K B A S I C S
months. Due to their tiny mouths and strong preference Perhaps the largest hurdle to breeding mandarins is
for small, live crustacean prey, mandarins are difficult to the difficulty of obtaining healthy broodstock. I choose
feed in aquariums and most suffer from starvation. full-bodied specimens that seem alert and active. Wild
Today, dedicated hobbyists are teaching their man- mandarins are starved through the transport chain and
darins to accept frozen and even pelleted foods and, are generally emaciated, often beyond the point of no
with a bit of patience, mandarins are no longer a “for return, by the time they reach retail outlets. Bringing a
experts only” fish. badly emaciated mandarin back from the brink is a defi-
nite challenge and without sufficient quantities of live
B R E E D I N G M A N DA R I N S : M Y W HY mysis shrimp, I have always lost this battle. Even badly
Noted reef aquarist Julian Sprung first raised a single emaciated mandarins with pinched bellies will pick at
Green Mandarin in 1989, and a handful of aquarists have the substrate and seem alert to food stimuli, but with-
since reported limited success. I had heard various re- out high protein, lipid-rich food in sufficient quantities,
ports of European aquarists raising a few mandarins and most will certainly perish.
even tracked down a copy of Wolfgang Mai’s article in Many aquarists report that heterosexual pairs con-
CORAL magazine (Vol. 1:2) about his successful journey fined in aquariums quarrel tirelessly. Males most often
with Spotted Mandarins. These initial successes, coupled antagonize females, but many times females become the
with my concern about the methods used to capture wild aggressors. These situations almost always arise from
mandarins, prompted me to begin experimenting with insufficient food and poor body condition. Though
new rearing techniques and foods in early 2008. reproduction is a strong driving force in the lives of
Highly cryptic and crepuscular in nature, mandarins mandarins, feeding comes first. Mandarins will defend
are captured for the aquarium trade using slingshot- feeding territories aggressively when food is scarce. In
style mini-spearguns constructed from local bamboo. such cases, it is not unusual to see pairs of newly ac-
Pulling back on a thick rubber band, divers fire long, quired mandarins fighting. This behavior quickly sub-
double-pronged needles into the sides, belly, or tail of sides once the fish are properly fed.
the fish. When speared in the posterior portion of the
body, and assuming the spears do not damage vertebrae, S E C R E TS O F M A N DA R I N F E E D I N G
there are no long-term consequences. Missing vertebrae To thrive in a captive environment, mandarins must be
and visceral punctures, however, create immediate or supplied with sufficient high-protein foods.
delayed risk of mortality. Of the two common feeding methods, one certainly
The fishery for mandarins is highly selective, targeting produces better long term results. It has long been said
large males. According to the work of Yvonne Sadovy, a that in order for mandarins to survive, a large, mature,
research scientist at the University of Hong Kong, Green rock-filled aquarium is needed—the idea being that har-
Mandarins congregate nightly at designated spawning pacticoid copepod populations present on a large surface
sites on the reef. Here, females select the largest males area of live rock will support the near-constant foraging
to mate with. As the large males are removed for the behavior of this fish. While this method can support the
aquarium trade, females are forced to mate with smaller dietary demands of a mandarin, it is far too prone to fail-
males. Sadovy’s observations suggest that as females ure in closed systems. (Aquarists often overestimate the
mate with smaller, less experienced males, spawning as- productivity of their reef systems or stock species that
cents become awkward and prolonged, which renders compete for the limited crops of microfauna.) Refugi-
the pair more prone to predation. ums help support copepod populations, but all too often

Previous page: One of the

author’s male broodstock
Spotted Mandarins
(Synchiropus picturatus)
Left: Male Green Mandarins
(Synchiropus splendidus)
displaying to a nearby
female in the author’s
breeding aquarium
Right: At 10 months of age,
this captive-raised pair of
Green Mandarins exhibits
sexual dimorphism.

CORAL
CORAL 57
 A handful of juvenile
Green Mandarins at three
months, from the author’s
first successful rearing.
Right: A mixed cohort
of captive-raised
mandarins fully trained
to accept prepared foods,
making the challenge of
successfully feeding these
species a thing of the past.

mandarins slowly starve in such settings.

A much more realistic and successful approach in-
volves weaning mandarins off a strictly live-food diet
and teaching them to accept frozen foods that are read-
ily available, such as mysis shrimp. (Piscine Energetics is
the brand I trust most.) Matt Pedersen of MOFIB (Ma-
rine Ornamental Fish and Invertebrate Breeders) devel-
oped a simple way to do this: isolate new mandarins in
suspended breeder baskets (or small quarantine tanks)
and get them feeding on enriched live brine shrimp.
Then introduce frozen brine shrimp and mysis shrimp.
After the fish begin sampling the frozen fare, gradually
withdraw the live diet. Once they are eating frozen fare
with vigor they are released into the display tank, where
their “training” pays off.
Once conditioned and eating prepared foods, pairs
of mandarins require little environmental stimuli to be-
gin spawning. I prefer to use two-bulb lighting fixtures
with “bright” and “actinic” bulbs that mimic dusk and
dawn. While this is not necessary to trigger spawning, it
allows you to set your clock according to nightly spawn-
ing events—and the sight of a pair rising into the water
column and casting hundreds of eggs towards the sur-
face is amazing.

F E E D I N G A N D R E A R I N G T I NY L A RVA E
While breeding and raising coral-reef fishes in captiv-
ity has become a popular aspect of the hobby over the
past few years, and the number of successfully raised roughly .8 mm in diameter and hatch after 13 hours
species continues to increase dramatically, we have yet into oblong prolarvae with huge yolk sacs. No oil glob-
to develop the best methods of rearing delicate larval ule is present, and they have no eyes or mouths, no di-
forms. The research and development that is needed to gestive tracts, and no fins. Two days after hatching, the
bring new species to market is most often hindered by larvae transform from oddly shaped yellow blobs into
an incomplete understanding of a species’ life history more streamlined shapes that slightly resemble larvae.
requirements. As culturists, we have come to appreciate Dragonets are known to produce some of the small-
the diversity of larval forms in marine fishes, and real- est larvae in the ocean. While this may seem intimi-
ize that not all larvae are created equal. The techniques dating to would-be breeders, the larvae are surprisingly
we employ to feed and raise different species should be capable hunters. On day three or four after hatching,
modified to accommodate these variations. the larvae have grown to nearly 2 mm in total length.
Mandarin eggs are clumped together at first, and Mandarin larvae are tiny, but they are beautiful. Their
break apart as they swell with water. They measure eyes shine bright silver and their bodies bright yellow.

58 CORAL
Their mouths are open and they are ready to feed. Larval dorsal and ventral fin-fold. An interesting aspect of devel-
mandarins are not active swimmers and prefer to re- opment in both species is the total lack of pigmentation
main stationary in slow-moving currents. It is amazing on the posterior fin-fold.
to watch such small fish curl into S-shaped patterns and Over the coming days, their bodies thicken and their
pounce forward at rotifers and copepods. heads become broad. At about 10 days after hatching
On day five after hatching, the larvae of Green Man- for Spotteds and 16 days for Greens, the larvae begin to
darins transform from small yellow missiles to chunky, settle on the sides of the tank, occasionally swimming
bright, almost fluorescent orange carrots. Every one of around in search of food and a new place to rest. By day
them is visible through the green-tinted, phytoplankton- 15, most larval Spotted Mandarins adopt this intermit-
dosed water. Their movements are slow and deliberate tent settling behavior, whereas Green Mandarins exhibit
and simply stunning to watch. Instead of turning bright this behavior until day 20. Their bodies turn a tan and
orange like the Green Mandarins, Spotted Mandarins mottled pattern and their pelvic fins are well adapted
turn a dirty orange or rust color with white spots on the for “hopping” on the bottom. At 4 mm in total length,

CORAL 59
 achieved at around day 17 for Spotteds and day 25 for
Greens, the little mandarins are perfectly suited to life
on the bottom. Their coloration makes them blend in
perfectly with a sand or rubble substrate and their small
protrusible mouths are ideal for snatching small cope-
pods from the complex substrate. By day 40 they begin
to slightly resemble their parents, and by day 50 both
species exhibit an intricate pattern of green and brown.
Green Mandarins appear in colors of mottled browns,
whereas Spotted Mandarins take on drab olive tones.
Juvenile mandarins greedily devour newly hatched
Artemia and other microfauna lurking on the bottom of
the rearing tanks, but to benefit the aquarium hobby and
their keepers they need to be trained to accept prepared
foods. With a bit of patience all captive-raised manda-
rins can be taught to do this. Like most micropredators,
they seem to home in on movement. The largest hurdle
is getting them to accept something that lies still on
the bottom. Once they come to recognize still matter as
food, the rest is easy. Pulverized pellets and Rod’s Food
seem to be their favorites.

D I V E R S I T Y A N D T H E N E X T G E N E R AT I O N
Much of a species’ popularity in the aquarium trade
arises from mutation or morphological variation.
Whether these mutations are naturally occurring or are
achieved through selective breeding, they form the basis
of a huge surge in the popularity of certain species. The
patterns, colors, and variation we see in a given group
of offspring are regulated by an enormous number of
genes and environmental regulators. Diet and nitrog-
enous waste buildup are the major causes of undesirable Captive-raised Green
mutants with stunted heads and deformed bodies, but Mandarins exhibit
desirable offspring with a misplaced stripe or brighter tremendous diversity of
body coloration are just as common. color and pattern. These
The frequency with which we observe these desirable two are eight months old
and fully colored.
traits is usually limited by our success as culturists. If
we are only successful in bringing five percent of larvae
through to metamorphosis, our chances of observing
oddities is drastically reduced. With mandarin survival
in my own aquarium reaching 90 percent, I was sure I
would observe some variation, but just how much was
quite surprising. Two of the most intriguing sources of
diversity were pattern and body color. No two individu-
als were patterned alike, and in most fish each side con-
trasted to the other. The turquoise and green swirls on
the sides of the Green Mandarins would form intricate ant is quite popular and extremely attractive, though not
honeycomb grids on some, figure eights on others, and much is known about it. Some anecdotal information
perfect exes on a few. Males seemed to have vertical dot- suggests it originates from a handful of islands in the
ted lines while females seemed to display the handiwork Philippines. After observing hundreds of captive-raised
of a creative artist. Could these be designer mandarins, mandarins from many different pairs, however, I believe
and could we isolate some of these intricate patterns this is probably an example of variation within a species
and enhance them in future generations? Of course! rather than a distinct geographical morph. Most of the
One of the most desirable natural variations of Green juvenile Greens exhibit an overall greenish or blue hue,
Mandarins seen in the trade is the so-called red morph. but some—a minority for sure—are bright red with tur-
With a distinct reddish or orange body color, this vari- quoise swirls that seem to jump from the body. These are

60 CORAL
my favorites. There are also dark blue ones that seem to credible fishes offers a boundless source of enthusiasm.
blend monochromatically with their blue swirls. Captive-raised mandarins that dine on prepared foods
Perhaps my greatest excitement about mandarins are ambassadors for their species, and the select few on
came from a little yellow Spotted Mandarin. At four display at the Smithsonian will teach responsibility, sus-
months old, when all his siblings were fully adorned tainability, and conservation to millions of visitors every
in mint green and orange suits, this little mandarin re- year. For me, there is nothing so rewarding as standing
mained the color of mustard. Today, at about ¾" long in front of one of the nation’s preeminent reef aquari-
and six months old, he still has refused to go green. ums and watching as visitors get excited about seeing
While designer mandarins might be a few years some of the first captive-raised mandarins ever to be
away, there is no doubt that captive breeding of these in- shown to the public.

CORAL 61
 Panoramic view of the
estuaries and coral reef
displays in the new
Sant Ocean Hall at the
Smithsonian’s National
Museum of Natural History.

Below: A bird’s eye view

of the 2,000-gallon living
coral reef designed by
Jeff Turner—the Sant Hall’s
only living display.

Mandarins
O
story and photos by Matthew L. Wittenrich

n September 27, 2008, the new bol of reef conservation, featuring over 100 specimens
Sant Ocean Hall, created in part- of aquacultured corals and fishes and connecting both
nership with the National Oce- the beauty and plight of a little-known world to a truly
anic and Atmospheric Admin- enormous audience.
istration (NOAA), opened at the It is fitting that here at the Smithsonian, where
Smithsonian’s National Museum of major goals include inspiring curiosity in visitors and
Natural History in Washington, DC. teaching them about the natural world, captive-raised
According to the Smithsonian’s press re- mandarins are now on public display for the first time.
lease, “The Hall’s combination of 674 marine specimens I carefully stowed a dozen eight-month-old mandarins
and models, high-definition video experiences, one-of- (including some juveniles with elongated dorsal fins) in
a-kind exhibits and the newest technology allows visi- a suitcase and checked them in at the Fort Lauderdale
tors to explore the ocean’s past, present and future as airport. Six hours later the little mandarins were im-
never before.” A 24-foot-long giant squid and a model mersed in a completely new world in Washington.
of Phoenix, a 45-foot-long North Atlantic Right Whale, Although mandarins are hugely popular in the
are among the largest and most visual displays in the aquarium trade, we know surprisingly little about their
museum’s 23,000-square-foot arena. Just around the life in the wild. Mandarins and other callionymids pro-
corner, a 2,000-gallon living coral reef—the hall’s only duce some of the smallest larvae in the ocean, making
living exhibit—stops onlookers in their tracks and keeps it extremely difficult to observe them. When mandarins
them mesmerized. emerge from their egg cases they are a mere 1.5 mm in
Nearly five years ago, Jeffrey Turner of Reef Aquaria total length. After a few weeks in the open ocean they
Design in Coconut Creek, Florida, was tasked with cre- have grown to 4 mm (the size of a newly hatched clown-
ating an icon. Today, his vision, a delicate balance of liv- fish) and are ready to settle to the lagoon floor. They eas-
ing corals, beautiful reef fishes, and invertebrates, is sep- ily pass through the mesh of most survey nets, and spot-
arated from an estimated seven million newly crowned ting a 4-mm-long mandarin on the complex mosaic of
reef ambassadors a year by an eight-foot-high curved the reef is like finding a needle in a haystack. Identifying
glass wall. The Smithsononian’s exhibit is a major sym- recruitment and population trends has been all but im-

62 CORAL
at the Smithsonian
possible. Aspects of a fish’s life history, such as growth dous insight into the life history of the genus.
rate, time to maturity, morphological plasticity, and lar- Two months after the mandarins were introduced
val characteristics, are taken for granted in many spe- to the living reef, Joe Farmer of Reef Aquaria Design no-
cies, but our knowledge about mandarins is very limited. ticed that each evening, as dusk approached, one large
Captive-raised mandarins may answer many important male and up to three smaller females would congre-
questions. With their conservation status in question, gate at a prominent outcropping on the reef. The male
the mandarins at the Smithsonian have offered tremen- would stretch his fins and circle the females in a proud
posture as the females recip-
rocated and entered the wind-
ing dance. While no spawn-
ing has been witnessed, this is
what mandarins do in the wild.
Throughout the day the captive
mandarins are cryptic and pe-
ruse the reef singly in search of
food, congregating at dusk for
courtship. It is truly an incred-
ible opportunity to have such
a large and beautiful aquarium
where natural behaviors can be
observed. The Smithsonian may
very well become home to the
second generation of captive-
raised mandarins, providing a
firm foundation for educa-
tion and conservation.

CORAL 63
 “NO RISK,
NO FUN”

?
64 CORAL
Thinking twice about
how to stock a reef aquarium

T
story and photos by Professor Ellen Thaler

here is no doubt that the saying “no risk, no fun” has a far-reaching influence
on our lives, at least for adventuresome, lively, active, and flexible people. It is
the modern trend in extreme sports and investing and adventure travel, and
that may be well and good, but risk too much and there will be a price to pay. This
may not be a bad thing, as long as you enjoy yourself in the process and it doesn’t
adversely affect you or others.
But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that this saying could be applied to
the aquarium hobby. It happened like this: a colleague told me that he had just bought
two Green Mandarinfishes, Synchiropus splendidus. His tank had been running—after
a fashion—for only about two months. I don’t like to appear to be a know-it-all, so I
gulped briefly and remarked, quite casually, that this purchase seemed a bit prema-
ture. His reply? See the title of this article. I became less gentle, pointing out that he
was dealing with living creatures. He repeated the saying and looked at me as if I had
said something totally unreasonable. Aquarists may well wonder whether he got any
enjoyment from watching his mandarins slowly starving to death.

Pair of
Green Mandarinfishes
(Synchiropus splendidus)
during courtship, male
with erect dorsal fins.
Opposite page:
A species-rich and
well-fed coral-fish
community, peacefully
grazing algae.

CORAL 65
 Pair of Chelmon rostratus, fighting with dorsal-fin spines spread;
in the picture on the opposite page, the two fishes are feeding
peacefully next to one another.

least two yellow, two red, and two blue fishes to make
the fishes happy (although when all is said and done,
even this tiny step seems to be too much for many peo-
ple). In 1997 I went into the basics of this problem in
an article, “Fischpolemik” (Fish Polemic), which made
me a lot of enemies (but perhaps also a few friends).
I thought that overall I had brought about something
positive, a new way of looking at things, but since then
I have become less sure.
The marine aquarium hobby is now heading down
a completely different path. Trifles such as the ques-
tion of whether one should keep one or two (or more)
specimens of a particular fish species are too seldom
considered, or when they are, it is among over-cautious
novices, stony-coral freaks worried about elevated phos-
phate levels, or old-timers who genuinely know all their
fishes as individual “personalities.” The current trend I
see in Europe is towards mega-aquaria, and for those
one buys at least a dozen of everything—otherwise there
won’t be enough color. For some, the fishes are only a
moving filler element—“ornamental fishes.” This term is
perhaps quite appropriate for a tank containing a gaudy
profusion of corals in a disorganized jumble. Because
most aquarists don’t know their fish personally (only
one or another over-priced coral), they think nothing
“ I M P O S S I B L E S P E C I E S” of thinning out to produce particular color nuances—
I love fishes—not just my own, but fishes in general. So for example, culling all but five out of an original 50
I took a deep breath and was about to let loose one of Yellow Tangs, or all but 10 of an original 200 Purple
my usual tirades. But when I thought about my Twin- Anthias—and immediately replacing them with 50–200
spot Gobies, my Orangespotted Filefishes, and my Sea of another species. No risk, no fun!
Moths, I swallowed my words. Anyone who knows me is For certain aquarists, profusion is the name of the
aware that my aquarium experiences haven’t been a bed game. At first glance these huge, modern aquariums
of roses, especially when it comes to the three groups appear to be brightly colored, completely intact, true-
mentioned, as there is still much to be learned about to-nature underwater landscapes. But if one is present
their behavior. But fishkeeping isn’t something I do just at feeding time, a rather different picture emerges—one
for pleasure and amusement; I do it out of scientific in- resembling the ritual feeding of the piranhas in a pub-
terest and with the knowledge that, given healthy wild lic aquarium. But that too can be excused as “nature,
stock and sufficient dedication, even these difficult or pure and simple”—including when a large fish makes
“impossible” species can generally be kept in an appro- a meal out of some insufficiently circumspect smaller
priate manner and for many years. Is that any justifica- individual.
tion for experimenting with them? Certainly, even for
me and my guilty conscience. Others, I openly acknowl- F I S HY A S S E R T I O N S
edge, see no justification for ever risking a fish life. I know that there are aquarists who are well informed
But, leaving aside this darker aspect of my involve- and capable of thinking for themselves. They don’t even
ment in the aquarium hobby, there is food for thought need to be as contrary-minded as I am. But perhaps it is
here, and quite a bit can be said on the topic of “Fish- time once again to roll out the so-called “fish polemic,”
es: no risk, no fun.” In 1995 I published a book, Fische as it seems to me that a lot of the basics are still be-
Beobachten (Fish Watching), on the subject of the aquar- ing ignored. I would like to put forward for discussion
ium hobby needing to be more than just a way to satisfy a number of assertions that continue to be made in the
our desire to stare at one yellow fish, one red fish, and literature and on the Internet, but usually starting here,
one blue fish conveniently located behind glass. I have on paper—which may not be as convenient as website
tried to encourage the idea that a tank should house at information, but is more permanent. And note that we

66 CORAL
are talking about coral reef fishes here, that is, inhabit- water quality. Nowadays there is plenty of state-of-the-
ants of tropical seas. art equipment to handle wastes. Fishes, as poikilother-
mic (cold-blooded) organisms, can survive relatively
THE ASSERTIONS: long periods of want before they die of starvation. This
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It is certainly common to read the argument that suffi-
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ible and some not. Such a diet will not satisfy even the
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Please allow me to deal with these misconceptions, even in a mega-aquarium, not even a pair of anthias
one by one. would get enough to eat in the long term, and they too
would starve. I regard as completely absurd the claims of
S H O R T R AT I O N S? one hobbyist who “feeds” his numerous (22) relatively
Should we really be underfeeding our fishes? No, not large fishes only on the spawns of two pairs of cleaner
under any circumstances. Coral fishes are inhabitants of shrimps. Given that the four Lysmata specimens, being
tropical seas with a more or less constantly high temper- hermaphrodites, release their larvae every 11 days, and
ature (78-86°F or 26–30°C) and hence have a metabol- at night when the fishes are sleeping, it is not very dif-
ic rate similar to that of warm-blooded animals. On the ficult to imagine how hard the latter will find it to get by.
reef they normally have a wide spectrum of foods avail- A further, particularly spicy gem is one author’s opinion
able, and they swim in a permanent plankton “soup.” that not feeding the fishes is a very important factor in
In addition to the periodic influence of the monsoon, the maintenance of a reef aquarium, though of course
the limiting factor is higher-rank predators that pre- initially this may seem somewhat risky. I hope you will
vent them from feeding without pause; access to food forgive me for not citing the sources of these and simi-
is regulated by the interplay of caution and hunger. Al- lar claims here, though I will be happy to provide the
lowance can be made for this in the
aquarium by feeding small portions
as often as possible (using an auto-
matic feeder). The concept of “short
rations” (intentionally feeding less
than recommended) conflicts with
the natural behavior of coral fishes,
especially because the majority (for
example herbivores and plankti-
vores) need to feed continuously.
Hungry fishes invariably exhibit
behavioral disturbances: they may
constantly hide in order to save en-
ergy, or exhibit atypical aggressive
behavior because they must con-
tinually do battle with competitors
for food (a situation that doesn’t
exist on the reef because so much
food is available). It is quite sim-
ply cruel to make fishes go hun-
gry in the interests of maintaining

CORAL 67
 appalling boredom. The monotonous

I
life that afflicts fishes in an aquarium
completely overgrown with corals,
which vastly reduces the swimming
think observing the same fish for years area available to them, will result in ev-
ery possible type of stereotyped behav-
ior, such as circling, swimming up and
is a tremendously rewarding experience. down the glass, etc.

G R O U P S O F DA M S E L S?
The misinformation on this point would
information to anyone who is interested. I have plenty be reason for a good laugh, were it not so tragic. We read
of them to choose from, and anyone who follows the and hear everywhere that members of the Pomacentri-
discussion on aquarium-hobby forums on the Internet dae—that is, a wide variety of yellow-tailed or yellow-
for any time can easily obtain the same sort of “infor- finned damselfishes, all Dascyllus species, and many
mation” for himself. others of these belligerent, predominantly blue jewels—
should be kept in groups to dilute aggression. The im-
SINGLES? pression that one gains through superficial observation
Among all the thousands of coral-fish species known to on the reef is deceptive, applying mainly to differently
us, there are only a very few that are truly solitary, and colored juvenile stages. Even where numerous individu-
the further our knowledge of their biology increases, the als congregate in a particularly favorable area of habitat,
smaller the number becomes. Almost all live in pairs, we are actually seeing pairs that spend the entire day
in family groups, or in schools of variable size, which defending a specific small territory. Aquarists who decide
in turn exhibit variable social structures. This is a topic to take the “group maintenance” path with these fishes
that I have been discussing with growing vehemence for apparently have a bit of a taste for gladiatorial combat!
some 20 years, and I will outline it only briefly here: dear These fishes will fight until only one pair is left, or even
aquarists, you can keep any fish in pairs, and even in a single fish, specifically when the level of aggression has
groups if you have a suitably sized aquarium and knowl- been raised to such new heights by the endless battles
edge of the biology of the species in question. The ma- that the fishes must first remember the need for a part-
jority of coral fishes are hermaphroditic in one way or ner, even before any pairing has taken place. The gleam-
another, so the laborious selection of a male and female ing blue mass displays in the dealer’s tanks give no hint
is unnecessary; we need only to pick two fishes of differ- of the fact that the largely deceptive peace results from
ent sizes. They will then sort it out for themselves. But the absence of anything on which to base territories. If a
keeping fish in pairs will work only if you feed sensibly large block of rock or coral was placed in such a tank, the
(and not just in terms of quantity but also of quality) picture would change at a stroke. Thus, with a few excep-
and if the food accords with the requirements of the spe- tions (some Chromis species, Amphiprion spp., Abudefduf
cies in question. A fish should not just be fed with any spp., Paraglyphidodon and Neoglyphidodon spp.), poma-
old type of flake or pellets (even if packed full of appe- centrids should be kept only in pairs. If they are well fed
tite stimulants and taste enhancers, colorants, vitamins, they will all exhibit interesting courtship and spawning
hormone substitutes, and all manner of unsaturated behavior, and aggression towards other aquarium occu-
fatty acids) but should be able to recognize its food, by pants will be contained within tolerable bounds (Thal-
its form, as something it would eat in the wild, or be- er 1998). Innumerable species of pomacentrids adorn
cause it resembles the prey animals that accord with its practically every intact underwater landscape, and hence
natural hunting behavior and encourage an appropriate pairs of these fishes should be included in the popula-
response. Dried foods can be given in addition, but a tion of any reef aquarium. To my mind, there are no
wide variety of top-quality frozen food is almost indis- better fishes, as long as they aren’t starving.
pensable. Our fishes are wild animals, and as such are And it is perhaps worth mentioning, as an after-
endowed with a highly evolved behavioral repertoire, in thought, that the same applies to all torpedo gobies
particular as regards their feeding strategies. On the reef (dartfishes) and all their relatives. Moreover these are
this behavior accounts for up to 80 percent of their dai- found exclusively in pairs on the reef as well.
ly activities. (Juveniles are always more aggressive than
older fishes: they need to grow, require more food, and S H O R T - L I V E D?
hence are also more active.) If we reduce this to a mere It is only in some reef aquaria that coral fishes don’t live
10 percent (or to zero), then it is not fishes that we have a long life, and in the wild they can be “as old as the
in the aquarium, but behaviorally distorted creatures hills,” as has been demonstrated by many a chance ob-
that attack one another when hungry or live a life of servation. There are a very few families of small gobies

68 CORAL
 I t is cruel to stuff tiny juveniles of large fish species into small tanks.

gelfishes) have a metabolic rate corresponding to their themselves suffer from lack of food unless their diet is
eventual size, as they have more body mass to build and supplemented.
for that they must eat more than small surgeonfishes Fishes that initially eat something that we regard as
and dwarf angels. Because of this they are more aggres- a nuisance, for example turbellarians, soon abandon
sive and violent in their competition for food, and right the practice because the “feedback” from the poisonous
from the start they are troublemakers because their re- worms eventually sets in and lets the fish know that it
quirements aren’t being met. Once again a basic exam- is eating an unhealthy diet. Underfeeding will make the
ple to make the point clear: a pair of Yellow or Brown situation worse; the best “workers” are fishes that are fed
Tangs (Zebrasoma flavescens or Z. scopas) will do very a varied diet of good quality. They will regard turbellar-
nicely in a 150-gallon (600-liter) tank. These species at- ians and (very occasionally) shell-less gastropods, glass
tain an eventual size of around 10 inches (25 cm). By anemones, and dwarf anemones as interesting supple-
contrast, the Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma veliferum), which ments to their diet. Phalaena gobies may dig away a red
can attain an eventual size of up to 24 inches (60 cm) coating of cyanobacteria, but they don’t eat it—they are
on the reef, will very soon become an aggressive bully after the microorganisms living beneath it. If the aquar-
and constantly disturb the peace. ium environment does not improve, the “slime algae”
simply form again in different places. Algae-eating blen-
FISHES VERSUS HARMFUL ORGANISMS? nies such as Salarias fasciatus will die when the microal-
This can be summed up immediately: it doesn’t work in gae they can metabolize have all gone, as they cannot
the long term. Even the most efficient glass-anemone- get by on thread algae alone; the same also applies, only
eating Chelmon will begin to waste away if it isn’t given less dramatically, to various algae-eating surgeonfishes.
adequate supplementary food after it clears away the Bristletooth surgeonfishes (for example, Ctenochaetus
Aiptasia. All the purported turbellarian-eating wrasses spp.), which assiduously scrape away at an algae-
will indeed take these flatworms now and then, as will covered rock, are in fact eating the bacterial coating on
some lyrefishes and puffers, but they do not always the algae; the algae are pulled away incidentally. No fish
have a lasting effect on these unwanted pests, and will can check a pre-existing, stubborn over-proliferation of
any particular organism. It may, however, be true that its
presence adds more variety to the aquarium, and has an
Salarias fasciatus overall favorable influence on the environment, at least
will starve to death as long as all goes well for the fish itself. Exponential
when the algae that proliferation of any particular opportunistic organism
they eat runs out. occurs as the result of a poorly balanced aquarium en-
vironment, and fishes are not suitable countermeasures
for dealing with such acute problems. At best they may
nibble away at the symptoms, but what is really needed
is prevention.

A N D F I N A L LY, A F I S H I S J U S T A F I S H?
When looking at one reef aquarium or another, I some-
times get the impression that in the owner’s eyes all fish-
es are the same—especially when no attention has been
paid to the requirements of the varied community of
fishes. They all swim around in an anonymous throng,
taking little notice of one another except to show ag-
gression, and in fact trying to avoid one another. To
the untrained eye, they are all just “fish” to be treated
equally. After all, we apply this philosophy to our own
children—why not to fishes as well? This standardized
approach is all the more painful given the fact that it is

CORAL 71
 among the fishes that we find the greatest diversity of er, either edible or unpleasant, useful for shelter or not.
life forms within the Class Vertebrata. They aren’t at all interested in how attractive it is. Some
Among closely related species (and even within the fishes do poorly under brilliant lighting that mimics a
same species where it occurs in a variety of habitats) shallow-water reef. Decorative caves must have at least
there are sometimes major differences, and this applies two entrances; tightly stacked live rock backgrounds are
not only to appearance but in particular to behavior. The of little use to the fishes as they cannot swim through
them. Room-divider aquaria should contain a
large number of different-sized caves that cannot
be seen into, as otherwise stress is inevitable in the
long term. Algae-coated corners in the aquarium,
deep substrate with the widest possible variation in
grain size and interspersed with fragments of coral,
even a bit of detritus in corners with little current—
all these will make it easier for the fishes to settle in
and ultimately feel at home. Of course, sufficient
food to suit every taste should be available.
When given the opportunity and the correct
conditions, different fish species will indeed be-
have differently. And then even the aquarist who
has no prior biological training, whose interest is
only in having something bright and colorful to
look at, will suddenly discover completely new as-
A well fed triggerfish will pects of his fishes: wrasses, for example, no longer
not eat cleaner shrimps! circle madly around and across the aquarium, but
drift around watching a goby digging in the sand.
Surgeonfishes go to work on previously uninterest-
ing bits of reef and no longer perform stereotypical
differences between different genera and different fami- patrols. Damselfishes begin to clean a spawning cave,
lies are unimaginably large, and much is still completely symbiotic gobies rest happily near their own tunnels,
unknown. Take wrasses, for example, which exhibit an and even the pistol shrimps appear at ease. And all at
immense, almost unimaginable repertoire of adapta- once there exists a very special kind of harmony that
tions to their individual habitats: they may be bottom- really does communicate itself to the observer—not just
oriented or live in mid-water, among corals or algae, in because of the blue, red, or yellow fishes, but also
coral rubble or on sand flats, and every single species has precisely because one fish isn’t the same as another.
a particular social behavior and different requirements
as regards habitat structure, food, etc. Or gobies, which REFERENCES
live on the sand or in it, as free-swimmers in the case of De Graaf, F. 1977: Tropische Zierfische im Meeresaquarium.
the dartfishes, or in symbiosis with pistol shrimps. Neumann-Verlag, Melsungen, Germany.
The anemonefishes are often host-specific, with dif- Delbeek, J. C. and J. Sprung.1996. Das Riffaquarium, Vol. 1.
ferent species selecting different symbiotic anemones. Dähne-Verlag, Ettlingen, Germany.
One can barely imagine the variety of the almost infi- Engelmann, W. E. 2005. Zootierhaltung Fische—Tiere in
nite numbers of damselfish species that exist, likewise in menschlicher Obhut. Harri-Deutsch-Verlag, Frankfurt, Germany.
the case of angels and butterflyfishes—there are so many,
Fosså, S. A. and A. J. Nilsen. 1993. Das Korallenriff-Aquarium,
and their modes of behavior are so different. Often we Vol. 3. Schmettkamp-Verlag, Bornheim, Germany.
can only guess when it comes to the refined specializa-
Gibson, R. N. 1996. Life in a fluctuating environment. In:
tions that we see in triggerfishes, pipefishes, and their Pitcher, T. J. (Ed.): Behaviour of Teleost Fishes, Elsevier Science
relatives, as our knowledge is limited. The stealth and Ltd., St. Louis, MO.
ambush predators, such as moray eels and frogfishes, Klausewitz, W. 1989. Über Schmerzempfinden und
are fascinating animals to feed, but require special care Leidensfähigkeit bei Fischen. Zeitschrift für Fischökologie
in stocking as they can ingest smaller fishes and produce 18:65–90.
large amounts of nitrogenous waste. Thaler, E. 1995. Fische beobachten—Verhaltensstudien an
Even in a small reef aquarium it is possible to ful- Meeresfischen und Wirbellosen im Aquarium und im Freiwasser.
fill the fundamental requirements of the resident fishes Ulmer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany.
properly. Make sure these requirements are not entirely Thaler, E. 1997. Fischpolemik. DATZ 50(3):164–172.
subordinated to human aesthetic desires: from the fish- Thaler, E. 1998. Riffbarsche ins Riff-Aquarium! DATZ 51(8):
es’ viewpoint, one stony coral is pretty much like anoth- 524–529.

72 CORAL
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CORAL 73
 aquarium portrait | RENÉ VACHOVEC

74 CORAL
 highs and lows

E
Successes and hard lessons learned over a dozen years of building an
outstanding reef dominated by stony corals and giant clams

ven as a small child, I was fascinated by the wonderful livestock I had never before seen. I could
underwater world in my parents’ freshwa- hardly tear myself away.
ter aquaria, where there was always some- I purchased the relevant literature and persuaded my
thing interesting to see—I never complained wife that we really must have a marine aquarium.
about being bored. It wasn’t long before I Without further ado, I ordered a 500-liter, 150 x
had my very own aquarium, which I loving- 60 x 60 cm (132-gallon, 60 x 24 x 24 inch) Panorama
ly maintained and of which I was very proud. Over the aquarium and reinforced the floor of the room with steel
years, my aquarium got bigger and my equipment more girders to avoid future worries about the load. A welded
sophisticated, and the growth of my aquatic plants was steel frame with an outer wooden cabinet served as the
almost explosive. I spent many happy hours and a lot of base and a compartment for filtration equipment.
effort on this eye-catcher in the living room. Rather naively, I started out with the minimum
amount of equipment: two 150-watt HQI lamps, some
M Y D R E A M O F A M A R I N E AQ UA R I U M blue fluorescent lights, a simple induction pump and
I first encountered a marine aquarium in the store of my trickle filter, the standard for marine systems at that
aquarium dealer in Chemnitz, Germany. It was, quite time, a small reverse osmosis unit to prepare water for
simply, fabulous: vibrant with color and populated by topping up, and a few powerheads to create current. It
numerous exotic corals, fishes, and other strange and was state of the art, I thought.
ALL PHOTOS: RENÉ VACHOVEC

As on the coral reef in the wild, the corals grow

packed closely together and compete for empty space to colonize.
Without regular “gardening” to thin them out, reciprocal stinging
would rapidly develop among the corals.

CORAL 75
 Left: A huge Tridacna derasa during spawning.
Below: The same aquarium—water is heavily
clouded by the oocytes from 20 giant clams,
and the protein skimmer is having difficulty
maintaining clear conditions.

further increased the population of the

aquarium. As soon as the water param-
eters permitted, I added my first stony
corals. At first I thought the aquarium
would never be “full,” but I would prove
to be wrong.

P R O B L E M S A N D S O LU T I O N S
With the introduction of additional
fishes and the heavier feeding that re-
quired—after all, nobody must go hun-
gry—I experienced the first problems
with my aquarium concept. The trickle
filter did its work and oxidized nitrog-
enous compounds to nitrate, which is
the purpose of this type of filter. But
the constantly increasing concentration
of nitrate couldn’t be countered, even
with regular partial water changes. I was
disappointed that the living rock didn’t
solve the problem as some of the litera-
ture suggested it would. And then algae
began to proliferate and the stony corals
exhibited increasing signs that they were
unhappy. So I learned my lesson the hard
way, and concluded that the trickle filter
wasn’t the right one for my purposes.
I replaced it with a homemade protein
skimmer augmented with a nitrate filter
to combat poor water quality. The wa-
ter parameters now rapidly attained an
ideal level. But the resulting immense
coral growth brought new problems in
its turn: my next lesson was that car-
bonate hardness and calcium content
do not remain in the optimal zone by
themselves—so I constructed devices
to monitor and add calcium carbonate
myself, which meant I could adapt them
precisely to the dimensions of the tank.
The lighting was also adjusted to provide
S U CC E S S ! better conditions for growth (see equipment summary).
With the addition of freshly made-up salt water and 110 My next acquisition was a cooling system to keep the
kg (242 lbs.) of living rock, the project became a real- water temperature in the penthouse apartment at a tol-
ity. The maturation phase went just as the books said it erable level for the corals, even in summer.
should. I was immensely pleased at the daily incremen-
tal progress. The first fish I acquired was a Zebrasoma H I G H S…
flavescens, which, 12 years later, still enjoys the best of After these changes in the equipment, things finally
health today and is the “boss” among my four surgeon- started to go right. It wasn’t long before the aquarium
fishes. Thereafter, whenever my wallet could stand it, I was densely packed with Acropora corals—a truly fan-

76 CORAL
AQUARIUM Details

SIZE, VOLUME, YEARS ESTABLISHED: 150 x 60 x 60 cm, sili-

cone-sealant construction, Panorama model, 600 liters
total volume (with sump), established for 12 years.
CORALS AND OTHER SESSILE INVERTEBRATES: Various stony
corals, including Trachyphyllia, Fungia, Euphyllia, Po-
cillopora, Acropora, Porites, Stylophora, Montipora, Se-
riatopora, Montastrea, Hydnophora, Platygyra; plus 20
Tridacna clams, encrusting anemones, sponges, 110 kg
of living rock.
NON-SESSILE INVERTEBRATES: Various hermit crabs, shrimps,
brittle stars, gastropods, worms, etc.
FISHES: Acanthurus leucosternon, Zebrasoma xanthurum,
Zebrasoma flavescens, Ctenochaetus strigosus, Cirrhitich-
thys falco, Gramma loreto, Pterosynchiropus splendidus,
various Pomacentrids.
LIGHTING: Two 250-watt HQI Megachrome Corals
(dimmable), four 54-watt T5s (one Pure Actinic, one
Daylight, two Blue), four 35-watt Halogens (dimmable
to zero), one 3-watt Moonlight precisely mirroring the
lunar cycle (switched with a homemade controller).
WATER MOVEMENT: Deltec HLP 8070 (circulatory pump),
four Tunze Streams with multi-controller (current).
WATER MANAGEMENT: Protein skimmer (homemade),
Deltec nitrate filter (two-stage with vodka as nutrient
solution), phosphate filter (homemade from a redun-
dant reverse osmosis unit), UV-C compact irradiator
for sterilization (9-watt), ozonizer (installed but not
yet used), calcium-carbonate monitor (homemade
from a Sander protein skimmer), lime-water doser
(homemade), automatic top-up device consisting of
a reverse-osmosis unit with purification filter and 30-
liter reserve tank, cooling via a Titan 1500, two-stage
blower with independent control for emergency cooling
(homemade).
CONTROL: IKS Aqua Computer for temperature, conduc-
tivity, lighting, etc., as well as two pHs (AQ + calcium
carbonate monitor), two Redoxes (AQ + nitrate filter).
SAFETY: IKS SMS Controller with water-leak sensors
with wiring (homemade).
WATER ADDITIVES: JBL trace elements.
PARTIAL WATER CHANGES: Every 14 days with Tropic Marin
sea salt, plus Bio-Calcium and Bio-Magnesium from
Tropic Marin when required.
OWNER: René Vachovec, Chemnitz, Germany.

A large percentage of the equipment used was made by René

Vachovec himself. As a result all the devices are custom-built
and the limited space in the under-tank cabinet can be used
optimally. Nothing is left to chance: the aquarium equipment is
monitored by an aquarium computer with a specially-designed
safety system (IKS SMS Controller).

CORAL 77
 After his populations of small fishes
and shrimps mysteriously dwindled,
the author designed this trap to catch
the culprit, a Debelius’ Reef Lobster.

tastic sight. I was now able to give

one coral or another to aquarist
friends or swap them for different
species. At this time there was
even a mass spawning of Tridacna
clams, with the larger individu-
als expelling oocytes, an interest-
ing spectacle that seriously tested
the protein skimmer but above all
demonstrated how well the aquar-
ium inhabitants were feeling. Visi-
tors eagerly pressed their faces to
the front glass of our aquarium.
Obviously, the preparation and
maintenance work on the aquar-
ium had long since exceeded the time and trouble I had with corals that are thriving to such an extent that
expended on my freshwater aquarium, but the results regular “gardening” is required to prevent them from
were worth it. The unique feature of a marine aquarium stinging or overshadowing each other. In addition to
is that it changes continuously, so there is always some- maintaining corals I have developed a liking for giant
thing new to see. clams. Because they are more difficult to acclimate to
aquarium conditions than corals, I have placed the
… A N D LOWS clams in the most favorable spots in the aquarium.
For a long time, my aquarium ran at a high level of
equilibrium. Then a defective electronic conductivity A TROUBLEMAKER
meter used to measure salinity destroyed practically ev- Unfortunately, in the course of time my fish and shrimp
erything. It had gone wrong three years previously, and populations have been decimated to some degree.
because of the expense I hadn’t replaced it immediately Around six years ago—with no idea at all of the potential
but instead relied on a simple hydrometer. After a few consequences—I acquired a dainty little Debelius’ Reef
months some of the corals began to suffer. Anyone who Lobster (Enoplometopus debelius), although it seemed to
knows his aquarium will immediately notice the small- disappear after its introduction. Initially, I still found the
est changes in the polyp landscape. But that was of little remains of its molted shell from time to time, but later
use to me, as the reason for the problem remained a I didn’t even see that and so assumed that the creature
mystery. Numerous corals died, and I was frustrated by was no more. About three months ago I found it again
this unpleasant turn of events. I performed and evalu- while investigating the reason for the nocturnal disap-
ated a huge variety of water tests, as advised, but in vain. pearance of my other livestock. I managed to capture
It was only by chance that I found the solution when I the now 10-cm-long lobster with a special trap (once
introduced new corals into the aquarium and noticed again, homemade). These fascinating creatures may be
the striking blurring effect that occurs when waters of well suited to a species aquarium or as tankmates for
different salinities are mixed. At first I assumed that the large fishes, but I would strongly advise against keep-
water from the tank where I had purchased the corals ing them in the reef aquarium with small fishes and
was of unsuitable salinity, but then I learned that the crustaceans.
density of my own aquarium water was far too high! My
problem was purely and simply the result of a defective S U M M A RY
hydrometer. It was an embarrassing mistake for me. Over the years I have experienced both highs and lows
with my marine aquarium, but my fascination with and
R E N E W E D S U CC E S S passion for this demanding hobby remain as great as
To my great delight, after the salinity had been slowly they were on the very first day. In conclusion I would
brought back to normal the aquarium recovered very like to advise all novices not to be downhearted at
quickly, and over the next two years things continued their failures and setbacks, but to determine the causes
to get better. Success was once again mine; that is true of their mistakes and eliminate them. It will be
to this day. The aquarium is once again densely packed worthwhile!

78 CORAL
 THE FIRST ANNUAL

MARINE AQUASCAPE CONTEST

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CORAL 79
 F
or many years, rather specific habits of illuminating coral reef displays have been firm-
ly entrenched in the reef aquarium hobby. What began as well-intended guidelines for
recommended wattages and types of lamps has turned into misguided lighting advice
from nearly every corner of the hobby. The misinformation is largely promulgated by
aquarists who simply pass along the unchallenged—albeit errant—advice that they’ve
read or been given. In short, in the application of light, the hobby has strayed toward
less useful lamp spectrums and the use of excessive amounts of light.
The very first mistake that most aquarists make is to seek information about the type
of lighting they need based on the size of their aquariums, rather than on the needs of their
animals. This error is epidemic in both scope and tragedy, since the majority of reef aquarists do not
assemble a specific list of compatible corals and reef creatures before reckoning lighting needs. To
me, the transgression is frankly staggering. The needs of the livestock must come first. Only after
the corals’ specific requirements are determined can the tank size be considered in decisions about
lamp style, reflector type, and total wattage.
Beginning with a list of compatible reef species with similar lighting needs is the only way
to set up a reef display responsibly. Creatures from a specific part of the reef will fare better in a

a new perspective on

reef lighting
by Anthony Calfo

PHOTOS: E. THALER

80 CORAL
 biotope grouping than they will with a “garden reef” or random hodgepodge of corals (species
from different biotopes, different reefs, or even different seas). For example, low-flow, deep-
water, colorful Montipora species will never fare well in the same aquarium with shallow-water,
colorful Acropora species, despite the fact that both of these lovely stony corals are generally
called SPS corals—these two popular genera simply have dramatically different husbandry needs.
One cannot standardize lighting (and water flow) for such disparate specimens, which are col-
lected from reef depths that may differ by as much as 66 feet (20 m). This is the problem that
so many aquarists run into after making the mistake of choosing lighting that fits the tank size.
For long-term success, it’s crucial to first select corals that will be compatible under the narrow
parameters of space, water flow, feeding, and light in a home aquarium.
The next, and perhaps simplest, aspect of lighting to ponder is the amount of power, or watt-
age. The tendency through the years has been to assume that more is better. Surpising as it may
sound, this is not true, and in fact it can be harmful to apply too much light. Corals do need to
reach a compensation point each day whereby they get enough nutrition to meet fundamental
needs, such as respiration. But beyond the saturation point, no amount of excess light will im-
prove zooxanthellate symbiosis. On the contrary, corals given excess illumination may suffer from
photoinhibition (observed as pale or
white specimens that have expelled
some or all of their zooxanthellae). SPS
coral enthusiasts often keep their cor-
als on the edge of this precipice—where
excess light causes them to become pale
or pastel—and nefariously market them
as “rare” specimens.
I also find it disappointing, when
reading message-board posts or chat-
ting with fellow hobbyists abroad, to
see 400- and 1000-watt lamps com-
monly recommended for particularly
small aquaria (< 25 gallon/100 liter).
These are usually examples of the afore-
mentioned well-intended hobbyists Sadly, the deeper-water,
giving new hobbyists advice on light- lower-flow corals such
ing without ever reckoning the coral as Montipora species get
species’ needs. But, with energy prices lumped into the generic
rising and economic issues becoming category of SPS corals
and must suffer higher
a greater concern, some reef keepers
water flow and higher
are now re-examining their lighting
lighting (intensity
schemes and considering proper lower- and spectrum) than
wattage alternatives. is natural. Such corals
Rules of thumb are not especially are collected at greater
useful in reef lighting discussions. depth and fare better in
aquaria with more blue-
weighted spectrums of
light, such as 14,000 or
20,000K lamps.
Inset: It is a mistake
to presume that all
Acropora are high-light
species. These lovely
corals come from a wide
range of depths on the
reef. Choose your lamps
PHOTOS: E. THALER

carefully!

CORAL 81
 Common household egg crate, found at your local
hardware store, is superb for focusing light into an
aquarium. It has tapered grid sides—one to focus light
downward and the other side to spread it. Notice the
difference over your aquarium.

Nonetheless, I will offer one here and then qualify

it a bit. For a typical “garden reef” (mixed species)
home aquarium, 5–10 watts per gallon of reef
quality lighting are required for a healthy coral dis-
play. Thus, a 100-gallon aquarium will generally require the number of lamps typically used, and the ongoing ex-
500–1,000 watts of light. There are presumptions with pense of running a lighting system. For example, a tra-
this rule of thumb, however, including the following: ditional 6 ft./~2 m long aquarium would normally have
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(every 6–10 months) bulbs need to be replaced, and the moving light source
Diversions from this recommendation may allow higher provides corals with a far more natural type of light, akin
wattage lamps mounted higher than usual above a reef to the sun, coming from radiating angles. It’s a small
display. This is a common example of what users of 400- wonder to me that more aquarists have not incorporated
and 1,000-watt halide lamps must do to prevent burn- the moving light source into their systems. The energy
ing or shocking corals. In this way, the intensity can be saving is tremendous and coral growth is superb.
tempered and a greater spread of light is gained. But, un- "OPUIFS
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less the reef display is wide enough to utilize the broader exceedingly blue-weighted spectrums. The preference of
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ing. But this is not always beneficial for coral health and
wattage lamp mounted closer to the water, with a still- growth. On the contrary, a very blue-weighted spectrum
adequate spread of light from a good reflector, would be is quite narrow in application for typical reef aquarium
much more efficient. corals—broader spectrum lamps with more daylight and
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sidering the niches on the reef where
given corals hail from. For example, a
warm daylight spectrum (say, 6,500–
10,000 K) of light is suitable for Pom
Pom Coral (Xenia umbellata), which
commonly occurs in ankle-deep water.
Other popular animals from the shal-
lows include many colorful Acropora,
Porites cylindrica, and Entacmaea quad-
ricolor
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opposite end of the spectrum are the
deeper water corals favoring the blue-
weighted lamps (ala 20,000 K), such
as the family Euphyllidae (Hammer,
Octopus, Torch, and Elegant Corals),
red Open Brain Corals (Trachyphyl-
lia), many of the Montipora species,
and quite a few large-polyped solitary
corals such as Fungia, Scolymia, and
PHOTOS: ANTHONY CALFO

Cynarina.
http://www.H2OLifeFoods.com
The reality, though, is that most
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82 CORAL
CORAL 83
 Moving light tracks save electricity and lamp replacement
costs—while delivering more natural light from radiating angles
via the moving lamp(s).
Too often, corals are exposed to excess wattage or intensities
and blue-weighted spectrums. Determine where your corals hail
from on the reef to reckon the optimal light for your display.

balance of light to get optimal and appropriate growth

and color for a gamut of coral species in a mixed garden
display. For single-lamp or single-bulb-type applications,
a 14,000 K lamp is likely the best solution. For multi-
lamp combinations, a blend of lamp colors can yield op-
timal results. It will, again, depend on the corals kept
and their specific needs. Each tank, however, invariably
favors one type or category of corals over others. Thus, if
your system has a hearty sampling of Acropora frags and
small-polyped Zoanthus, you will want to lean towards
warmer lighting: a 10,000 K lamp or two, supplemented
by flanking 14 K or 20 K bulbs, would likely be pleasing.
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is no easy answer for lighting coral reef displays—it is all
a matter of finesse. But do heed the warnings and expe-

ANTHONY CALFO
rience of practiced reefkeepers and coral farmers. Good
planning will insure many years of pleasure and suc-
cess with growing your personal reef garden.

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pH shouldn’t be a delicate subject, so we make it easy for you. Our new buffer for marine and reef
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Tel 305 623-7695 www.twolittlefishies.com

84 CORAL
 species spotlight | ROBERT M. FENNER

Two color morphs of Entacmaea quadricolor: the so-called Rose

Anemone, rear, and the more common greenish Bubble Tip at
the front in a display aquarium at Interzoo 2008.

the OT H E R S C I E N T I F I C N A M E S
and nudum nomen*:

Bubble Tip Cymbactis actinostoloides

Entacmea quadricolor
Entamacea quadricolor

Anemone Gyrostoma adherens (Ehrenberg, 1834)

Gyrostoma haddoni Lager, 1911
Gyrostoma heliant(h)us
a hardy species for all clownfishes Gyrostoma hertwigi Kwietniewski, 1897
Gyrostoma quadricolor (Leuckart & Rüppel, 1828)
Physobrachia douglasi
Entacmaea quadricolor Physobrachia ramsayi
(Ruppell & Leuckart, 1828) Radianthus gelam

TAXO N O M Y: * Nomen nudem is Latin for “naked name,”

Phylum Cnidaria, Hatschek 1888 something that appears to be a scientific name
—anemones, corals, and jellyfish but lacks the recognition that comes from
Class: Anthozoa publication of a full description of the species. A
Subclass: Hexacorallia nudem nomen can become the established name
Order: Actinaria of a species upon formal publication.
Suborder: Nyantheae, Carlgren 1899
ROBERT M. FENNER

Tribe: Thenaria, Carlgren 1899 CO M M O N N A M E S:

Subtribe: Endomyaria, Stephenson 1921 Bubble Tip Anemone, Rose Anemone, Bulb Tip
Family: Actiniidae, Rafinesque 1815 Anemone, Four-Colored Anemone, Maroon
Genus: Entacmaea, Ehrenberg 1834 Anemone, BTA.

CORAL 85
 Pair of Maroon Clownfish or
Spinecheek Anemonefish (Premnas
biaculeatus) with their large green
Bubble Tip Anemone in the wild
Right top: Color variant with
distinct striping and purple tips
Right: Extremely unusual pink
morph photographed by the
author in Palau Redang, Malaysia
in the 1990s

D I S T R I B U T I O N: Found in the Red Sea, along Africa’s

East coast, throughout the Indian Ocean to the West-
ern Pacific; Australia to most of Japan, out to Micronesia
and Melanesia.
D E S C R I P T I O N: Have long tentacles (up to 4 inches),
LARGE IMAGE AND STRIPED BUBBLE TIP, SCOTT W. MICHAEL; PINK MORPH, ROBERT M. FENNER.

typically with an expansion (bulb) at the end. Columns,

usually brown, reddish, or greenish, lack verrucae. Small
pedal disc, typically buried in amongst rock with only
tentacles showing. The smooth column and bulbous ten-
tacles are definitive for this clownfish-symbiotic species.
H A B I TAT: Found on reef tops in shallow water to deep-
er water on reef slopes. May be solitary or live in a field
of cloned individuals.
B E H AV I O R S: Bulbs at ends of tentacles can be enlarged
or rounded for reasons unknown. These bulbs are usual-
ly lacking in specimens that have no symbiotic anemon-
efish. If touched, the tentacles can collapse, change color
to grey-green. This is the most common host actinarian
in the wild, serving 13 species of anemonefishes (and
with training, all clownfishes in captivity).
D I E T: Should be fed once or twice weekly with small
pieces of cut-up meaty seafood items, offered via a feed-
ing stick to place scallop, fish flesh, shrimp, or whole
TK

CORAL 87
 Vivid red morph. Bubble Tips with clownfish often do not
display swollen tentacle tips.

small fish (e.g. silverside) directly against the tentacles. Some care should be taken in selecting suitable tank-
Some writers suggest that this species can subsist on mates. Large crustaceans (crabs, lobsters), the usual sus-
simple photosynthesis alone. This is not the case. If your pects (puffers, angels, triggerfishes) will likely chew on
specimen appears to be shrinking or losing vitality, im- your anemone. There are many instances, too, of allelo-
mediately start improving its nutrition by direct feeding. pathic incompatibility when this and other anemones
Remove uneaten foods. If your anemone has no feed- are crowded too near other classes of cnidarians. Simply
ing response, try another day. Care should be taken to re- put, anemones and corals can kill each other if placed
move egested wastes; these are encapsulated masses that too close together. You can alleviate this interspecies
are ejected a day or two after feeding. chemical and physical aggression by careful placement
AQ UA R I U M C A R E: Among the large symbiotic sea and by using chemical filtrants such as activated carbon
anemones that serve as hosts for clownfishes, Entac- or ozone. Above all, select a healthy anemone and care-
maea quadricolor is the easiest to care for, particularly fully acclimate and introduce it to your system.
aquarium-cloned specimens. One reason for the popularity of E. quadricolor is its
Provide reef-aquarium water quality conditions of reproductive proclivity. A healthy specimen will often
stable, near-seawater-strength specific gravity (1.025), asexually give rise to new individuals by simple fission of
an absence of ammonia, zero nitrite, reasonable nitrates the foot/pedicle or bilateral splitting through the body. Be
(under 5 ppm), very low phosphate (under 0.2 ppm), ready to share the wealth by trading or selling your excess
suitable calcium (300-400 ppm), about three times this stock, unless you are interested in seeing how anemones
in magnesium, and dKH 8–12. Lighting can be moderate. can dominate an entire tank. Captive-produced animals
Fluorescent bulbs will suffice, but illumination should be are far more facile at adapting to new aquarium condi-
boosted if the water is deeper. Metal halide or intense tions, and choosing cultured specimens reduces col-
LED lighting is advised for water over 24” in depth. lection pressures in the wild.
A good-sized Bubble Tip, which may be a foot across
in the wild (I have seen them up to 20 inches [50 cm] in REFERENCES
diameter), will need a spacious, well-established setting, Fautin, D. G. Hexacorallians of the World.
with rock suitable for attachment. If conditions are not http://hercules.kgs.ku.edu/Hexacoral/Anemone2/
to its liking, you may find your Bubble Tip wandering Fautin, D. G. and G. R. Allen. 1992. Anemone Fishes and Their
about. (Do keep all pump intakes, overflows, and heaters Host Sea Anemones. Western Australian Museum, Perth. 160 pp.
covered or screened if keeping one or more anemones.)
ANTHONY CALFO

Fenner, R. Anemones in captive systems. http://wetwebmedia.

Current can be brisk, though it should not be direct- com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm
ly aimed at the anemone itself. Aim for a tank volume Wikipedia: Bubble Tip Anemone.
turnover of 10 to 20 times per hour. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entacmaea_quadricolor

88 CORAL
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CORAL 89
 mar i n e- a q ua r i um b a s i c s f o r n e wc o m e rs —DA N IEL K NOP

What is ozone?
Does a coral-reef aquarium need ozone? What exactly is
ozone? Should the beginner go out and buy an ozonizer?

T
Under what circumstances is it wise to acquire one, and what
points should one always bear in mind when using ozone?

he same gas that most people know as the one that dehumidified before passing through the ozonizer (see
makes up the protective layer in the Earth’s atmo- opposite page).
sphere—or combines with nitric oxide to make up
the harmful layer of smog over big cities—can be H OW D O E S O ZO N E WO R K
used in the aquarium hobby to purify water. While I N T H E AQ UA R I U M?
an oxygen molecule consists of two atoms (hence The oxygen atom set free by the breakdown of ozone
the chemical symbol O2), the ozone molecule has is a powerful oxidizing agent and can a) kill bacteria
three atoms (O3). At room temperature and under and viruses; b) destroy many organic compounds; and
normal atmospheric pressure it is unstable, so the extra c) in higher concentrations, damage the living tissue of
atom is rapidly given off and the ozone becomes mo- animals and plants. While the properties listed under
lecular oxygen. But once free, the single oxygen atom is a) and b) can be used for water purification, that men-
highly reactive and can combine with other substances, tioned under c) is one of the factors limiting the use of
oxidizing them. This is the source of the huge oxida- ozone in the aquarium.
tion power of ozone, and ultimately also the basis of The advantages of using ozone in the aquarium are
the tissue-damaging and water-purifying effects of this that it removes germs from the water and destroys un-
gas. Ozone is 1.65 times as heavy as air, and hence sinks wanted organic compounds—and in the process also
downwards in the atmosphere. It has a typical odor, de- eliminates the so-called “yellowing” of the aquarium
tectable even at concentrations of 1:500,000, but as little water that noticeably increases over time. In addition,
1/20 of that concentration is harmful to humans and even a small amount of ozone can increase the efficien-
can cause headaches and nausea. cy of the protein skimmer, so that just a tiny concentra-
tion of skimmable substances will suffice to fill the cup.
W H E R E D O E S O ZO N E CO M E F R O M? Moreover, ozonization increases the oxygen content of
Ozone is formed from bivalent oxygen when the lat- the aquarium water.
ter is exposed to either ultraviolet radiation (242 nm Nitrite is rapidly oxidized and converted into less
wavelength) or a specific electrical field. In the case of toxic nitrate; consequently, careful ozonization can be a
water purification, air is normally passed through an sensible way to counter nitrite toxicity. The biotoxins that
ozonizer containing a source of high voltage (at least can accumulate in the water during the aquarium main-
3 kilovolts) where a silent discharge takes place, dur- tenance of corals and other stinging creatures can also be
ing which part of the atmospheric oxygen is converted reduced by ozonization, and ozone increases the oxidation
into ozone. However, humidity can significantly limit (redox) potential of the water.
this process, so if the air in the room is damp it must be Any ozone concentration in the aquarium water,

90 CORAL
 W H E N I S T H E U S E O F O ZO N E
R E CO M M E N D E D?
The germicidal effect of ozone is usually overestimated;
the ozone concentrations necessary for the effective
elimination of germs is virtually impossible to achieve
using the equipment available to aquarists (Krause
Left: An “ozone booster” for 1995). In cases of intensive fish maintenance, for ex-
pre-drying the air, filled with ample in the aquarium trade or where large fishes are
silica gel, with a color indicator maintained in public aquaria, the use of ozone may nev-
to show when the gel is ertheless be indispensable in order to avoid pollution
exhausted peaks that cause a rise in nitrite concentration. Howev-
er, even in such cases it should be used outside the tank
Below: Ozonizing equipment and the aquarium water must itself remain ozone-free,
for the aquarium as otherwise tissue damage in the animals is inevitable.
The use of ozone is not absolutely necessary in the
reef aquarium, as demonstrated by the numerous ozone-
free reef tanks in successful operation (Knop 2008). The
amounts of nitrite produced there are smaller because of
the lower fish density, and are usually removed by bac-
terial activity in the living rock. But protein-skimming
in the reef aquarium can be improved through the use
of ozone. The introduction of ozone at the rate of 3–5
mg/hour directly into the protein skimmer will not, as a
rule, have any negative effect on the aquarium biotope,
but can improve the water’s condition and help to rid it
of yellowing and dissolved toxins from corals.

W H AT P O I N TS A R E I M P O R TA N T
even if insufficient to be harmful to living tissue, can W H E N U S I N G O ZO N E?
have undesirable effects. The most significant of these t
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sufficiently high concentration, to transform minerals to the aquarium from the protein skimmer should be
such as manganese or iron—important trace elements passed over activated carbon; if this takes place suf-
for plants (and thus also for the symbiotic algae in the ficiently slowly, the residual ozone will be eliminated.
corals)—to a water-insoluble state, so that they are no Make sure that the protein skimmer you use is of a suit-
longer available to the organisms that require them. A able type; rotary skimmers, for example, are not (Brock-
further potential effect is the release of substances bound mann 2008).
up in chemical complexes. This can be dangerous—for t
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example, if organic iodine compounds (PVP-iodine, avoid using any substances bound up in complexes (for
Povidone-iodine) are added to the marine aquarium to example, trace element complexes)!
provide an iodine supply. Iodine is sometimes present in t
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aquarium water in high concentrations, but is harmless first be passed through a dehumidifier (dehumidifying
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done) and not readily measurable by the aquarist. But t
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ozone destroys such complexes, making the iodine im- room. If you want to be absolutely sure, detoxify the
mediately available and highly toxic: only a short time air vented from the protein skimmer using activated
after the ozonizer is switched on, the water begins to carbon designed for use in air, or pipe it outdoors.
smell noticeably of iodine and the invertebrates can be
harmed. REFERENCES
PHOTOS: WERKSFOTO AQUA MEDIC

If ozone is present in the water of a reef aquarium, re- Brockmann, D. 2008. Das Meerwasseraquarium—Von der
member that it may be damaging to the invertebrates, in Planung bis zur erfolgreichen Pflege. Natur und Tier-Verlag,
particular the corals, at lower concentrations than those Münster, Germany.
harmful to fishes. For this reason ozone should always Krause, H. J. 1995. Handbuch Aquarienwasser. Bede-Verlag,
be used outside the aquarium, usually in the skimmer or Ruhmannsfelden, Germany.
ozone reactor, and any escape of residual ozone into the Knop, D. 2008. Riffaquaristik für Einsteiger. Dähne-Verlag,
aquarium must be avoided at all costs. Ettlingen, Germany.

CORAL 91
 advanced aquatics | J. CHARLES DELBEEK

Designing a Dream System

O
when biology and architecture collide

ver the last 20 years I have been fortunate to what the building will ultimately contain is of lesser
visit private and public aquariums all over importance. For them the task is designing a building
the world, and as an aquarium design con- that they want to build, or that the client wants to have
sultant I have worked on projects for both built.
private homes and public aquariums. This On the opposite end of the scale you have the aquar-
J. CHARLES DELBEEK, JCDAQUARIUMDESIGN.COM

has allowed me to gain a very interesting ium designer. For us it’s all about the animals and those
perspective, not only on marine aquarium who will maintain those animals. Of course aesthetics
design and installation but also on the entire plays a role, but our primary goal is an exhibit that dis-
process of building/home design, tank design, plays the animals well and allows them to thrive.
and aquarium installation. This has been both a blessing We also want to design an exhibit, life support, and
and a curse: I have seen how little architects understand maintenance system that is easy to use and does not re-
about aquarium systems and the needs of the animals quire that the operator be related to Houdini. The surest
that inhabit them and the people who maintain them. way to have a system that looks dirty all the time and in
The first thing one must understand about architects which the animals do poorly is to make it inaccessible
is that, for many of them, it is all about the building; and headache to work with. I cannot tell you how many

92 CORAL
Left and at right: Pieter van Suijlekom’s magnificent, expertly
designed 1,532-gallon (5,800 L) reef aquarium, housed in
his Open Fireplace Centre, in Vlaardingen, Netherlands. With
connected seahorse tank, coral fragment tank, and sump, the
system tops out at 2,074 gallons (7,850 L). Space for lights and
access for cleaning are well thought out, with a front wall panel
above the tank that retracts to allow comfortable maintenance.
Wider than it is tall, the tank provides Pieter with excellent
aquascaping opportunities.

times I have been contacted by architecture firms who

want a tank installed (which they have already designed)
that may look wonderful architecturally, but would be a
disaster from biological and maintenance standpoints.
For example, a recent project called for an aquarium
that was 10 feet long, 5 feet tall, and 2 feet wide; at one
end, the tank tapered down to a 10-inch width. At that
height the acrylic would have to be at least 2.5 inches
thick, so the actual tank space would be only 5 inches
wide. On top of this, there was only 12 inches of clear-
ance above the tank, leaving very little space for lights
and access to clean the tank. Finally, nowhere on the
schematic was there any space allotted to life support.
In another case, a museum hired an architect to de-
sign several new exhibits for an aquarium expansion.
The architect insisted on a concave front window for the
reef tank. The problem with a concave window is that
cleaning in the corners is very difficult; also, it prevents
the placement of rockwork toward the front sides of the
aquarium, so aquascaping is problematic. To top it off,
the clearance above this 6-foot-deep tank was only 2
feet, making it impossible to get above the front window
to clean it with a cleaning pole and pad.
If you are fortunate enough to be able to build your
own home or addition, and you would like to include an design. Again, an aquarium design specialist should be
aquarium in the design, there are a few simple steps you brought in, either by the client or by the architect, be-
should consider before you even hire an architect. First, fore this happens, not after the aquarium has already
decide what you wish to keep in the tank. This should been designed. The architect should do what architects
be the main driving force behind the design of any do best—design a building to reflect your vision—and the
aquarium. Once you have decided what type of exhibit aquarium designer should be allowed to do what he or
you want, think about the size and shape. Thirdly, plan she does best: design a system that will work.
the life-support system and determine how much space Here are a few tips for potential aquarium owners
you will need for it. A rough guideline is a 1:1 ratio of and architects alike.
aquarium space to life-support system space. If you don’t t
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know enough about aquarium system design, bring in ing, do not work well for an aquarium. This shape ham-
someone who does. This person can then go about de- pers maintenance, restricts aquascaping, and has an un-
signing the system from top to bottom and work with favorable surface area to volume ratio, which is not good
the architect or builder to incorporate the aquarium into for the inhabitants.
the overall design. t
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Unfortunately, what I have just described is the ex- height) to access the aquarium from above, especially if
ception and not the rule. In most cases the architect ei- it is very high.
ther decides an aquarium would be a nice design element t
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to include, or gets a simple request from the client, such cated either near the tank or in a separate space.
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guests!” With very little to go on, the architect then de- cations. Consider fiberglass with an acrylic viewing
signs an aquarium that fits in with the overall building panel: it’s lighter and can be cheaper.

CORAL 93
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Our full-line aquarium store has everything you need to succeed with your marine We pack every inch of our store with the most oddball and cherry-picked stuff,
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 reef life | DENISE NIELSEN TACKET T

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96 CORAL
 Reaching for the best is Elementary.

The animals in your aquarium will only thrive when they have all of the elements they would
find in their natural sea water environment. Using Tropic Marin ensures that your aquarium has
a balanced supply of each one of the natural 70 sea water trace elements. Many salt companies
talk about having only the “essential” or “necessary” trace elements. The result of their approach
is your delicate coral polyps and invertebrates living on a diet of “bread and water.”

Give your reef everything it would get from Mother Nature, give it Tropic Marin.

Tropic Marin marine salt mixture contains

ALL 70 trace elements found in natural clean sea water.