Although related to the Clownfishes, these fishes have larger scales, and whereas the Clownfishes seek the relative safety of the Sea-anemone, the Damselfishes and Sergeant-Majors prefer to seek protection among the many coral branches of the reefs where they live. Some species have spawned in the aquarium. (more…)
Members of this family are deep-bodied and laterally compressed fishes. They are found mainly in the Indo-Pacific oceans, but one or two species occur in the Atlantic. They inhabit coral reefs, constantly pecking or scraping food from the surface and crevices of the coral heads. Their brilliant colours and startling patterns may be either a type of camouflage in the brightly lit world of the coral reef, or an aid in recognizing or communicating with fishes of the same species. The Angelfishes are distinguished from the Butterflyfishes by a spine at the bottom rear corner of the gill cover; many young Angelfishes have colours and markings that differ from those of the adult form. Angelfishes are territorial, and fishes of the same spebies will fight. (more…)
These brightly coloured, oval- bodied fishes have sharp, bony scalpels on the caudal peduncle which can cause painful wounds. Some species have fixed scalpels, others a protruding horn above the eyes.
Powder-blue Surgeon Acanthurus leucosternon 300 mm 12 in. Indo- Pacific oceans. The delicate blue of the body contrasts with the black face and yellow dorsal fin. The retracted scalpel on each side of the yellow caudal peduncle can be clearly seen. (more…)
The Wrasses are found in temperate and tropical seas. Like the Angelfishes, they display a wide difference in colour patterns between juvenile and adult fishes. Some Wrasses perform a cleaning service by removing skin parasites from other fishes. In nature, fishes often visit the Cleaner Wrasses‘ reef deliberately to avail themselves of this service. Wrasses often lie on the aquarium floor to rest at night, or bury themselves in the sand; others spin a mucous sleeping bag which is discarded each morning. (more…)
Gobiosoma oceanops 60 mm 22 in. Caribbean, Like their freshwater relations, the saltwater Gobies (Family Gobiidae) spend most of their time scurrying around the aquarium floor. The Neon Goby is similar in body shape and markings to the Cleaner Wrasse， and it performs a limited cleaning service for other fishes in the aquarium. Breeding: has been spawned in the aquarium. Adults guard the eggs and young. (more…)
Canthigaster margaritatus 150 mm 6 in. Indo- Pacific oceans. A member of the Sharp-nosed Puffer family (Canthigasteridae), which defend them‑selves by inflating their bodies into ball shapes with air or water. This species, which is also known as C. marginatus, C. papua and C. solandri, settles down well in the aquarium. But it may be aggressive towards its own species and also nip the long fins of other fishes. When taken from the water it may emit croaking noises. Breeding: no information available. (more…)
