Reef Classroom

There are many types of Angelfish out there to choose from. This particular Angelfish is the Fireball Angelfish not to be confused with the African Flameback Angelfish. Now I know that may sound funny but these two fish are very often mistaken for each other. This angel is considered a dwarf angelfish because it only gets a mere 3 inches at its maximum size. This egg laying fish is not the easiest to care for but also not the hardest either. With a moderate care level this fish was meant for the intermediate hobbyist.

While most fish you will find in the world are either herbivores or carnivores these guys are omnivores. Their diet consists of several things such as Spirulina, marine algae, and mysid shrimp. The Fireball Angelfish is considered to be semi-aggressive in its behavior and is known to nip at stony coral and soft coral. So be cautious when adding them into a reef tank because of this fact that they may possible nip at your coral.

Also make sure that they have many different hiding places in your tank and live rock on which to feed. Some of the other names you may possibly find them called are as follows…Flameback Pygmy Angelfish, Flameback Angelfish, or the Brazilian Flameback Angelfish. This is where they sometimes get confused with the African Flameback Angelfish.

They require high amounts of light. Their colors are quite brilliant as well. Lets start with the caudal (tail) fin in a beautiful dark blue. Their body is the same dark blue with a dorsal spot or swatch of a vibrant yellow-orange. This yellow-orange area begins at the nose and continues all the way to the end of the dorsal fin. So if you are really looking to get an angelfish for your tank this one just might be what you are looking for so check them out.

Well the idea of a stingray in my aquarium is a little more on the wild side than I would like to be but for those who have been doing this for awhile this might just be right up their alley. The Blue-spotted Stingray is one of many types of rays and one of many types of stingrays. Now before deciding to keep such a fish as this one you may want to consider your level of experience with this type of aquarium. These guys are only to be kept by the experts and no one else. Just think of it this way are you really willing to keep a minimum of 300 gallons of water sitting in an aqurium in your living room. Most won’t even entertain the idea. 300 gallons is the absolute smallest aquarium recommended for this stingray. So give it some serious thought and definitely consult your spouse before making the move to such a huge tank.

These creatures are not only graceful but beautiful as well with their blue spots and wavey disc shaped body. Their disc width is 40cm and total length is 70cm. Their maximum size is 28 inches. The colors on these stingrays may be simple but together look amazing. The body is grey or brown with light blue or black spots. The tail is just a little bit longer than the body and has a spine about halfway down its tail.

The blue-spotted stingray has also been referred to as the Blue-spotted ribbontail Ray. There is one warning I would like to issue to all who may come in contact with these wonderful creatures. Please be extremely careful while handling them. Their sting is super painful and can be severe. If you happen to get stung by one seek medical attention as soon as possible. The reason that I have contained the previous warning in this article is do to the fact and you need to be aware of the very real potential danger surrounding these stingrays. They are not all bad and if you think you have gained enough knowledge to attempt keeping one of these fish then heed my warning and be careful. Most of all have fun with your aquarium and keep these guys away from all reef tanks because they are not compatible with any reef. Other than that have fun and enjoy the fruits of your labor with your tank.

At first glance this fish may seem to be one of the ugliest fish you have ever seen. But before totally writing it off your list of fish you want for your tank consider some of its possibilities. First off take a closer look at its thin body. These guys are generally green or tan and white in a striped pattern. There are also blue or black spots adorning their head and they have beautiful feathery looking fins near the face. Not to mention the long dorsal fin that is the entire length of their body.

Most of these guys start out at around 2-3 inches in size and grow to be about 5 inches at their maximum size. While doing my research on these little fish I came across several different suggestions on the minimum tank size they can be housed in. One resource said 10 gallons another said 30 gallons. So my guess would be to go right in the middle and say no less than a 20 gallon tank will be plenty for just one of them.

The Lawnmower Blenny’s diet pretty much consists of algae and vegetation of the same type. They are also totally coral safe and will not harm any invertebrates in your tank. While they are generally peaceful in nature they have been known to bully and chase other fish in the tank when another fish gets to close to the blenny’s home. Also keep in mind not to mix them with seahorses or pipefish.

The name Lawnmower Blenny is just one of the many names you may have heard or may hear it called. You may also hear it called Rock Blenny, Jeweled Rockskipper, Leopard Rockskipper, or even Algae Blenny. No matter what you call them they are pretty cool to watch. For example, during the day you will likely find them out and about along the bottom of the tank or on the rocks. You may also find it staring at itself and/or fighting with its own reflection. At night, however, it is a totally different matter. They prefer to bury themselves in the sand so that only their eyes are still visible and they tend to like the same spot every night. So next time you are out looking for something new and exciting to add to your tank give them a good hard look and watch them for a while.

I must first start out by saying this is an awesome looking fish. The Pearly Jawfish or Yellowheaded Jawfish is pretty cool to look at and watch. This fish can grow to be 2-3 inches long at its maximum size and with its bluish body and pale yellow head this is definitely a good way to add color to any aquarium.

This is a community fish so don’t put it in with aggressive fish. If you do it may become frightened and that would be bad. When the Pearly Jawfish becomes frightened it can and most likely will jump out of an open tank. One way to avoid this problem is to keep it with other fish that are docile and if you can help it try not to keep it in an open tank. Also turning off the lights to your tank gradually will help this fish be less scared.

They can also be kept with their own kind as well as other types of jawfish. Their breeding habits consist of the male orally fertilizing the eggs. They typically live one fish per burrow but when they are breeding they will live together. They will generally spend most of the daylight hours working hard on their home. However, they may also be seen hovering near it.

The jawfish is very reef safe but beware of any small shrimp that may be in your tank because this fish will eat them. Otherwise they will not hurt any other invertebrates around it. Generally they are pretty low maintenance with a diet consisting of zooplankton. They don’t even require any special lighting and the water flow doesn’t have to be very high either. A low to medium flow will suit them just fine. Just be very cautious of any open tanks and your jawfish becoming scared and you will be fine.

There are many types of Butterfly fish and one of the smallest is the Pearlscale Butterfly. It averages a size of only 2-3″ and is well suited for the typical saltwater aquarium. When considering this fish keep in mind the fish that are already housed in the tank. The reason for this is that the Pearlscale does not do well with boisterous fish or bold feeders. It may cause it to feel threatened which can cause it not to eat at all.

They are very docile and have gotten their name based on the way they move through the reef. They have a fluttering motion do to their body shape. The body of this fish is generally fairly round and thin. The beautiful coloration of its body makes it stand out to anyone who sees it. Their white body with its black markings and large yellow-orange patch near or even on the tail fin not only adds color to your aquarium but makes it stand out from many of the other fish you may have. They also have a black bar that runs vertically on the eye and a spot slightly behind and above the eye. They may even have an extended snout to search for and dig up worms.

They do well with many other community fish and can be kept in groups. They have a good tendency to thrive in large aquariums as well. They are not picky eaters but they do like to eat clams, marine fish, and mysid shrimp. They have also been referred to as the Yellow Tail Butterfly and the Crowned Pearlscale Butterfly. Don’t let their beauty fool you they are safe to be kept with all types of reef. They can fairly safely be kept with coral such as leather coral and other more noxious soft corals. They can also be used to clean live rock.

The minimum aquarium size recommended for this fish is 55 gallons and the water quality of the tank needs to be almost perfect if not perfect in order for this fish to thrive. So if you are just starting out with you saltwater aquarium then maybe you should consider waiting until you have had a little more experience with the setup before getting one or more of these guys. It could be bad not only for the fish but for you too with the expense of the fish. If things aren’t perfect in your tank wait a little while until you get the bugs worked out and then give it a go just be careful.