Redfish Magazine Issue 21 Eu

7/27/2019 Redfish Magazine Issue 21 Eu

1/39

Tropical

Predator catfish - Ethics of

fishkeeping & Husbandry!

Marine

Kenneth Wingerter:Cnidaria for the Nonphoto-

synthetic Reef. Part 1/3

Aqua-art

ITFR: With Mo Devlin

RedfishIssue #21

In this issue:


2/39

Marine

Coral Reef


3/39

Redfish contents

Email: enquiries@redf ishmagazine.com.auWeb: redf ishmagazine.com.au

Facebook: facebook.com/redf ishmagazineTwitter: @redf ishmagazine

Redf ish Publishing. Pty Ltd.PO Box 109 Berowra Heights,

NSW, Australia, 2082.ACN: 151 463 759

Eye Candy Contents Page Photos courtesy:

(Top row. Left to Right)orange f ish by Joel Kramer

Tomini Tang by Nomore3xfive @ flickrFlame Hawkf ish by Nomore3xf ive @ f lickr

Iguana, Galapagos by Kathy (kthypryn @ flickr)Arowana by Cod _Gabriel @ flickr

(Bottom row. Left to Right)Ray by Cod_Gabriel @ flickr

mushrooms by Nomore3xfive @ flickrBarcelona aquarium by Alain Feulvarch

starfish by Ryan VaarsiOnline033 Aquarium by Neil McCrae

4 About

5 Off the Shelf

6 Readers Tanks

9 Today in the Fishroom with Mo Devlin

18 Ambush Predators

25 Non-photosynthetic cnidarians

31 Redtail Catf ish

37 A Reefkeepers Journal

38 Community listing

redfishmagazine.com.au

Photo by Craig Sunter


4/39

About RedfishRedfish is a free-to-read magazine

for fishkeeping enthusiasts.

At Redf ish we believe in the free exchange of information tofacilitate success by aquarium and pond hobbyists. Each monthRedfish Magazine will bring you dedicated sections on tropical,

coldwater, marine and ponds.

Redfish was founded in early 2011 by Jessica Drake,Nicole Sawyer, Julian Corlet and David Midgley.

We hope you enjoy this, the 21st issue of Redf ish.

Photo courtesy: (matt) About Redsh Magazine 2013:21 4

The Fine PrintRedfish Magazine

General Advice WarningThe advice contained in this publication isgeneral in nature and has been prepared

without understanding your personal situ-

ation, experience, setup, livestock and/orenvironmental conditions.

This general advice is not a substitute for,or equivalent of, advice from a professional

aquarist, aquarium retailer or veterinarian.

DistributionWe encourage you to share our website

address online, or with fr iends. Issues ofRedfish Magazine, however, may only bedistributed via download at our website:

redfishmagazine.com.au

Opinions & ViewsOpinions and views contained herein arethose of the authors of individual ar ticles

and are not necessarily thoseof Redf ish Publishing.

Ownership and copyrightRedfish Magazine is 2011Redf ish Publishing. Pty Ltd.

PO Box 109 Berowra Heights,NSW, Australia, 2082.

ACN: 151 463 759
http://www.flickr.com/people/imageme/http://www.flickr.com/people/imageme/


5/39

Off the Shelf

Aqua One MiniSkim Protein Skimmers are designed to eas-ily and effectively remove organic waste from aquarium water.The design allows the skimmer to be housed on small aquariumswhere no sump is used without occupying a large space withinthe aquarium. The NanoSkim Protein Skimmer is eff icient whilerequiring very little power to operate!

Limewood airstone creates a high density of small bubbles whichcreates a high surface area of interaction between air and water.

Aqua One products are widely available at most quality pet re-tailers. To f ind your nearest retailer, visit www.aquaone.com.au

Off the shelf Redsh Magazine 2013:21 5

Aqua One Snail Eliminator is formulated to destroy and control snails infreshwater aquariums. Many species of freshwater snails can be introducedinto aquariums with plants and can rapidly build up in numbers. Rinsing allnew plants in running water before addition to the aquarium is recommend-ed to prevent re-infestation.

Aqua One Algae Eliminator effectively controls many algae common to

freshwater aquariums and ornamental fish ponds. Kills growing algae andprevents algae from recurring.

Aqua One products are widely available at most quality pet retailers. To f indyour nearest retailer, visit www.aquaone.com.au

Aqua One Snail & Algae Eliminator Treatment

Aqua One NanoSkim Protein Skimmer


6/39

Readers Tanks Redsh Magazine 2013:21 6

redfish readers fish!

Beautiful Xanthistic Bristle Nose by Vicki Turner

Salamander Fish by ANGFA WA

by Chris Pierce

Yellow clown goby

by David Dunnett Snowflake the Eel! by Keith Khoo

Rhinogobius by Loius Anderson

Albino Longfin Bristlenose

by Michelle Osborne Nixon

Boxing Shrimp by David Dunnett

Male Congo Tetras

by Macaria TeatimeMandarin by Johnny Burdon


7/39


Parrot tank by Joe Campbell

Peppermint Bristlenoseby Michelle Osborne Nixon

Boxing Shrimp

by David Dunnett

Gymnogeophagus balzanii

by Carl T. Olszewski

Mark Shwartz

by David Miller

Male L397 Panaque sp.

by Michelle Osborne Nixon

Satanoperca daemon by Carl T. Olszewski


8/39


by Kelly Gregory

by Vicki Turmer

by Alison Langdon

by Susan A. Percy

by Bobby Wang

by Michael Bretch

Orange/blank Oranda by Ying HaoCheckerboard Cichlid

by Steve Fullers

by Will Evans

Apistogramma agassizii


9/39

Today In The Fishroomwith Mo Devlin

AQUAMOJO-ART

Text by Mo Devlin. All photos, unless otherwise stated, are by Mo Devlin.


10/39

Blog Redsh Magazine 2013:21 10

I cant remember my first fish tank. To be moreaccurate, my fathers fish tank, that I simply enjoyed.I do remember traveling through several local storeswith him, peering into tanks wondering at the vast as-

sortment of size, shapes and color.It was my dads ultimate love of the oddball fish,that ended with him buying me my first wet pet, anAlbino Tiger Oscar. An eating machine with gills. Thiskicked off my first passion, cichlid fish.My other passion, photography, grew from an interest as a boy, to a profession while in the militar y. Much of

what I do today I credit to the background I had with early f ilm cameras. Back then photos of my fish hadpredictable results; with an occasional winner and the majority just uninteresting.

The advent of digital cameras breathed new life into both of my hobbies. I was amazed at the difference inthe quality of aquatic images. More impor tantly, the format allowed me to make a lot of inexpensive mis-takes, learn and move on.


11/39


I started posting my photos on lineover f ifteen years ago. Since thebeginning I have used the same title,Today in the Fishroom, as an on-going visual blog (back before it wascalled a blog) of the fish that I keptin my collection. The title seemed

apt, since most often I would con-centrate the days photo shoot fo-cusing (no pun) on one tank of fish.I have had as many as 23 fish tanksin the fish room, so the modelsare always plentiful. The posts werepopular and my niche as an aquaticphotographer, the blending of mytwo hobbies was set.

Digital SLRs have come a long way,and continue to evolve. During thefilm days I had Nikon, so my digitalbrand remained the same. I dontknow when exactly it happened,but at some point I decided that Iwas growing bored with the sameside or head on shot of the fish. Iwanted to make a better photoof the fish. Getting a good qual-ity photo is one part technical, one

part creative and the other partjust being there at the right mo-ment to hit the trigger. The biggestjump in quality came when I s tar tedadding flash units to the mix. Theability to not only illuminate, but alsocontrol the amount and directionof the light helped tremendously increating the type of photo I wasseeking.

Legendary photographer AnselAdams once said, Dodging andburning are steps to take care ofmistakes God made in establishingtonal relationships. Photo editingprograms have replaced the dark-room as the new digital canvas. Mybrush happens to be Photoshop.Becoming proficient with the pro-gram helps put finishing touches onyour images.

Just recently I star ted to explore


12/39

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mo Devlin is the owner of Aquamojo.Com. He maintains three thousand gallons of fresh water tanks. Over his

thirty years in the hobby he has successfully bred many of the Central and South American cichlid fishes.His passion for New World cichlids is only rivaled by his love of photography. Over the years, he has posted imagesof his collection frequently in his Today in the Fishroom ser ies on line across many national and international f ishforums. Mo has spent two terms on the board of trustees for the American Cichlid Assn, was chairman of the orga-nization in 2010, and has been the Publicity chairman for the past decade.

the various options in the program to takemy photo to the next level. The goal wasto do digitally what I cant do technically...which is draw or paint. Utilizing the varioustools, plug ins, brushes layers and masksoffered in Photoshop, I star ted creating fishar t with my photo as the star ting point.

Its been very exhilarating to see that thereis one more step in how I can expressmyself through the photos. Many of thephotos I use are from past photo shoots...and I have years to go back through.

Over the years I have conversed with peoplefrom all over the world about tropical fish.One of the highest compliments paid happenswhen I am told that someone has purchased a par ticular species after seeing one of my Today in the Fishroomposts. My hope is that I can continue to grow ar tistically and share my images with fellow hobbyists.

For more photos, check out my AquaMoJo Facebook page or on my gallery at www.aquamojo.com.


13/39

Marine Redsh Magazine 2013:21 13

While most aquarists seek colourful, active sh that enhance the visual aesthetics of the aquarium, thereare a group of sh that provide a somewhat unique and interesting aspect for aquarists. Ambush predatorsare generally not particularly colourful and by denition, they are not particularly active, but they come ina wide variety of unusual shapes and have a wide array of intriguing physical and physiological adapta -tions. While ambush predators come in a wide variety of forms and belong to a huge range of families, thisarticle will focus on some of the more commonly encountered benthic ambush predators from the familiesAntennaridae (anglershes), Batrichoididae (frogshes), Scorpaenidae (scorpionshes) and Synanceiidae(stingshes).

Rhinopias frondosaPhoto by Steve Childs

Aaron Sewell presents:


14/39


Benthic ambush predators are opportunistic predators who will often sit motionless for days at a time,

waiting for prey to come within striking distance. While most ambush predators use camouage or mim-

icry to get close to their prey, the members of these 4 families have some of the most unusual adaptations inthe reef environment. These sh also need to remain inconspicuous in order to remain unseen by potentialpredators. While some have defence mechanisms in the form of venomous spines, many ambush predatorshave no defence if they are spotted by larger or more aggressive predators.

Scorpaenidae, the ScorpionfishesA number of members of the scorpaenid family are very familiar to aquarists, most notably the lionshes ofthe subfamily Pteroinae. The common and generic name of this collection of sh derives from the fact theypossess venomous spines on their dorsal, pectoral and pelvic ns. The bones in these ns are hollow and

act as a tube that passes venom from venom glands located at the base of the n to anything, or anyone,that makes contact. Even a seemingly innocuous brush against the pectoral ns of a lionsh is enough tocause a painful sting.

LionshPhoto by Elias Levy


15/39


While lionsh are unquestionably the most common and most popular scorpaenids kept in aquariums,there is a range of other species that are sought after by aquarists. Many of these species, however, are noteasily acquired. Species such as Rhinopias aphanes(Laced Scorpionsh), R. frondosa (Weedy Scorpionsh)and Taenianotus triacanthus(Leaf Scorpionsh) have brilliant colouration combined with unique andhighly convincing camouage.

Rhinopias eschmeyeriPhoto by Steve Childs

Taenianotus triacanthusPhoto by Amada44


16/39


Synanceiids are often listed as a subfamily of the Scor-paenidae family or even as genera within the scor-paenid family without being a separate subfamily. So,like scorpaenids, these sh are equipped with venomin the doral, pelvic and pectoral ns. In many cases,such as in the Reef Stonesh (Synanceia verrucosa), the

venom is even more potent than that found in scorpi-

onshes. Due to their potent venom as well as the factthey are so dicult to nd, they dont often appear inthe aquarium trade.

Ghoulsh of the genus Inimicus and true stoneshof the genus Synanceia are the only synanceiids thatappear with any remote degree of regularity and eventhese would be considered very rare in the trade. Theformer are particularly interesting given they havemodied pectoral ns which resemble claws which

they use to crawl around on the substrate. Although,like most sedentary ambush predators, ghoulsh arecapable of consuming relatively large prey, they tendto target smaller prey than other similar sized scorpi-onshes.

In an aquarium, where there is competition for food,these sh can become very active hunters, crawlingacross the substrate when live prey such as feedershrimp, are o ered. When preparing to sit and wait fortheir next meal, these sh will bury themselves up their

eyeballs in soft substrate which means that unless youknow they are present, they can remain completely out

Inimicus lamentosusPhoto by Silke Baron


17/39



18/39


of view. Like many sedentary ambush predators, theyhave a attened head with an upturned mouth so thatwhen buried, only the eyes and mouth are visible, justenough for the sh to see and eat its prey.

Stonesh tend to be avoided by most aquarists withgood reason. These sh deliver the most potent venomfound in any sh which causes extreme pain and hasthe potential to cause muscular and neural symptoms.On top of this, these sh are capable of consumingrelatively large prey including juvenile sharks andother predatory sh. On top of this, these sh canreach around 40cm in length and almost 25cm in girth

meaning they are capable of consuming most sh inthe average aquarium, even one lled with aggressivepredators.

Smallscale Scorpionsh, Scorpaenopsis oxycephalaPhoto by Derek Keats

False Stonesh - Scorpaenopsis diabolus.Photo by Steve Childs


19/39


Anglershes are not uncommon in the aquarium tradebut they tend to be avoided by many aquarists be-cause they can consume sh up to their own body sizeand they have no way of protecting themselves fromlarger predators such as triggershes or moray eels.This means they are somewhat restricted in what they

can be kept with. However, they do well in aquariumswith larger, non predatory sh such as angelshes,surgeonshes and similar types of sh. Because an-glershes are capable of eating sh up to their ownsize, it is not recommended that more than 1 be keptin any aquarium as they have been known to eat otheranglersh if the opportunity arises.

An interesting and unique adaptation that gives thesesh their name is the modication of the rst dorsalspine that is used as a lure to attract small sh which

become prey for the anglersh. In di erent species,the structure varies and resembles small invertebratessuch as a worm or a crustacean. The sh wiggles thislure while keeping the rest of its body motionless. Anunsuspecting sh comes close to investigate a possiblemeal and is consumed by the anglersh.

Many species of anglersh use mimicry as theirmethod of becoming inconspicuous, often mimicking

brightly coloured sponges. For this reason, they tendto be more attractive than other similar sh which

camouage themselves against rocks or sand givingthem more neutral colouration.

Antennarius striatusPhoto by Silke Baron

Histrio histrioand Antennarius commersonas seen by Andrew Garrett (1823 - 1887).


20/39

Marine Redsh Magazine 2012:17 16Tropical Redsh Magazine 2013:20 16Marine Redsh Magazine 2013:21 20

Photo by Jennu Huang


21/39


While not particularly common in the aquarium trade,batrachoidids do occasionally appear and can make inter-esting additions to a suitable aquarium. Like many similarambush predators, they are capable of consuming prey upto about half their own size. However, being opportunistic,they feed on a range of prey ranging from worms to crus-taceans and sh.

Batrachoidids have hard n rays on the rst dorsal n andspines on the operculum, both of which are used as a de-fense mechanism guarding against being engulfed by larg-er predators. The dorsal spines in some species are hollowand deliver a venom which causes a painful stong, thoughless serious than that encountered in scorpionsh or ston-esh. Given their usually drab colours, they are not oftenencountered by aquarists but there is certainly a nichemarket for those looking for something a bit more unusual.Some species can reach upwards of 30cm in length so it is

important to identify exactly which species you encounterin deciding whether it will be a suitable addition to youraquarium. Note that there is some naming ambiguity withthe families Batrachoididae and Antennariidae that canmake it dicult when searching for information on these 2families. In Australia, batrachoidids are known as frogshand antennariids are known as anglersh. In other partsof the world, batrachoidids are known as toadsh (a nameused in Australia to describe pu ersh from the genusTetractenos) while antennariids are known as frogsh.

Splendid Toadsh (Sanopus splendidus)Photo by : Laban712

Scarlet frogsh (Antennarius coccineus) is amember of family Antennariidae.

Photo by Robert Wielgrski


22/39

Marine Redsh Magazine 2012:17 16Tropical Redsh Magazine 2013:20 16Marine Redsh Magazine 2013:21 22

Photo by Noel Weathers


23/39


While the common thought regardingbenthic ambush predators is that theyshould be kept in dedicated predatortanks or even single species aquariums,they are generally well suited to largeaquariums with other sh that are too

large to be consumed whole. Surgeon-

sh, rabbitsh, angelsh among othersmake ideal tankmates for these kindsof sh. For aquarists looking for some-thing a little bit unusual, these kinds ofsh make excellent aquarium inhabit-ants not least of which is due to the facttheir almost motionless lifestyle makesthem quite conducive to the space re-strictions found in an aquarium. Behav-iours not seen in any other kind of sh,such as a stonesh shaking o 3 weeksworth of algal growth from its skin or aghoulsh creeping across the aquarium,stalking an unsuspecting shrimp, addto the allure of keeping these interestingthough unusual sh.

Pteroidichthys amboinensisPhoto by Steve Childs

Antennarius pictus- Painted Frogsh.Photo by Steve Childs.


24/39

Looking for more impact?

Contact Redfish for advertising that reaches your market.

Redfish Magazine

Email: [email protected]

Web: redfishmagazine.com.auFacebook: facebook.com/redfishmagazine

Twitter: @redfishmagazine

photo by Khantipol
http://www.redfishmagazine.com.au/http://www.redfishmagazine.com.au/


25/39

Reef Redsh Magazine 2013:21 25

life without lightnon-photosynthetic cnidarians

by Kenneth Wingerter

Photo by Laszlo Ilyes.


26/39


Serious attention hasbeen given to nonphoto-

synthetic (or NPS) reef aquaria

for some time now. Superbexamples of NPS coral-dominated

systems have been presented withinthe hobby; most of them have beenreceived with considerable admiration.

NPS biotopes are especially interestingin that they offer ample opportunity to

observe cnidarians engaging in one of theirmost fascinating behaviors--feeding.

The waters associated with shallow stony coralreefs are characteristically nutrient-poor andreceive relatively high levels of solar radiation.

Infaunal Cnidaria for theNonphotosynthetic Reef

Aquarium: Part One

It was not so long ago that biotope aquaria

were widely held to be little more than anexercise in obsessive compulsion for purists.However, as the reef aquarium hobby con-tinues to advance and grow, it is becomingincreasingly evident that the advantages ofmaintaining these specialized systems are notmerely didactic.

While biotope themes certainly can limitlivestock selection (that is indeed the point),they greatly increase livestock congruency.That is, animals in these systems can becared for at a holistic, as well as an indi-vidual, level. As such, biotope aquariacan effectively simulate distinctnatural habitats not only in ap-pearance, but also in function.Never theless, so-called mixedreefs, which contain a mish-

mash assortment of coralsand other reef animals,remain commonplace.

Most often, the con-flicting needs of eco-logically incompatibleanimals in thesesystems presentunnecessary

diff iculty andexpense fortheir keep-ers.


27/39


Hence, in these ecosystems, NPS cnidarians are largely displaced by their photosynthetic (that is,zooxanthellate) counterpar ts. Still, though they are unable to compete aggressively in these par ticu-lar habitats, epifaunal (or hard-bottom dwelling) NPS cnidarians can be found--often in rather closeproximity to their fast-growing neighbors--exploiting the shadowy walls of caves and overhangs.

Likewise, a handful of infaunal (or soft-bottom dwelling) NPS cnidarians inhabit muddy or sandysubstrates that may be situated quite near solid reef structures. Many of these animals occur onbeaches, outer reef slopes and even small, sandy patches between coral bommies. They are adaptedto subsist in an often unstable environment that differs markedly from the hard, comparatively staticsubstrates of the reef proper.

Provided with an appropriate substrate, a number of soft-bottom dwelling NPS cnidarians can besuccessfully maintained in the home aquarium. As these creatures face lit tle competitive pressurefrom their zooxanthellae-bearing, hard-bottom dwelling brethren, they can in certain cases be keptwith LPS and even SPS corals; however, on account of their exacting feeding requirements, they aremost easily kept in an NPS coral-dominated aquarium system.

A low-light refugium with moderate to strong water f low and a fine substrate (such as Miracle Mud) mayprovide an alternative placement for soft-bottom dwelling NPS cnidarians (such as this Cavernularia sp. sea

pen). Photo by Kenneth Wingerter.


28/39


This article discusses a number of infaunal cnidarians that can be maintained in NPS biotopes withdeep sand beds (DSBs) or deep mud beds (DMBs).

An overview of the captive care of animals from three orders will be presented here. This piecebegins with a discussion of a representative of Order Alcyonacea (or the soft corals), namely theChristmas tree coral Studeroitesspp. A second piece will continue with a discussion of the Pennatu-lacea (or the sea pens). A third piece will conclude with a discussion of the Ceriantharia (or the tubeanemones).

Studeroites spp.Studeroitesspp. typically occurs in shallow to mid-depth waters on loose sand or silt bottoms. Itseems to prefer moderate currents. The most commonly offered member of the genus, Studeroiteslongiramosa(Christmas tree coral, Medusa coral, or French tickler), is distributed throughout thetropical West Pacific Ocean, including Palau, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Anda-

man Islands, the South China Sea and North, West and East Australia.It is seldom reported in its natural habitat; this may be due not only because it often occurs in veryturbid waters, but also because it spends much of its time retracted into an inconspicuous little ball,

Though some NPS cnidarians (such as this Cerianthus sp. tube anemone) can f lourish in a zooxanthellatecoral-dominated system, they generally fare best in a heavily fed NPS biotope. Photo by Jimmy Hoehlein

(image reproduced with permission of copyright holder House of Fins).


29/39


and perhaps also because of its superficial resem-blance to Lemnalia, Litophyton, Nephthea andSpharella.

A closer look reveals a truly unusual coral. The basicform ofStuderoitesis consistent across the genus.Each colony is comprised of two distinct parts: anupper portion comprised of a soft, branching poly-pary, and a rigid lower portion comprised of a hol-low, vase-like base.

Small, monomorphic polyps are positioned in linesor clusters on finger-like lobes. Assemblages of largespindles form supporting bundles for each polypbody. Small spindles, usually arranged in eight dou-ble rows, support each polyp head. Spindles may

also be dispersed along the surface of the lobes.

The basal portion of the colony is a stiff-walled col-umn that can reach over 20 cm in height and 10 cmin diameter. It is capable of deflating (typically dur-ing the nighttime hours), completely withdrawinginto itself and closing shut with strong, sphincter-likemuscles. When closed, the colony resembles a small,oblong potato. The column ends in a taproot-likefoot. It anchors itself firmly in the sand or mud by

way of tendril-like processes that extend from thefoot.

These corals usually exhibit subdued pigmentation.In some cases, the base may be somewhat darkeror paler than the rest of the body. The base andlobes may be brown, tan, gray or white. Polyps areusually darker than the lobes. Polyps may be brown,orange or purple. Sclerites are without color.

Though Studeroitesis the only group in FamilyParagorgiidae that is found in the trade in appre-ciable numbers, its availability is somewhat sporadic(some authors have taken this to suggest that it isnot heavily harvested from its native waters). Still, itis avoided by many aquarists on account of its poorrecord of survivability as well as its rather intensivehusbandry requirements. Consequently, much infor-mation regarding the captive care of these animals

remains unknown. The highly variable levels of suc-cess reported for the genus may be attributable tothe wide range of captive conditions under which

Studeroitessp. in its natural habitat.Photo by Terry Gosliner.

Studeroites sp. showing uncovered foot and partial-ly retracted lobes. Photo by tropicalmarinecentre.

co.uk (image reproduced with permission of copy-right holder Tropical Marine Centre).


30/39


aquarists have attempted to keep it. In the mostgeneral terms, Studeroitesis best maintained in asystem that employs moderate illumination, deep,loose substrates, moderate to strong water move-ment, and frequent feedings of small-particle foods.

Though it is entirely azooxanthellate, it does requiresome light on a normal photoperiod, which seemsto act as a cue for the colony to open and ex tenditself for feeding. Some reports do, however, sug-gest that there is a certain degree of unpredict-ability regarding its diurnal pat terns. It is reportedlypossible (though probably not ideal) to keep thiscoral in brightly lit aquaria, if situated within a shad-owy area.

Its foot should always be firmly embedded in the substrate, with enough open space around it to freely

expand/contract without risk of coming into contact with the sweeper tentacles of a neighbor. Grain sizeof the substrate should be relatively small, from a gritty mud to a fine sand. The mud/sand bed should beloose and deep enough that the coral can be buried to the top of its foot. If the substrate is of an inap-propriate grade, or if it is of insufficient depth, the coral will be unable to stay anchored in the bottom; insuch cases, it may not expand/contract properly and can even fall out of the mud/sand bed, thusly de-prived of its ability to feed.

Water movement should be just strong enough to deliver maximal amounts of food and oxygen to thepolys without disrupting full extension of the lobes. While these corals do appear to survive in chaoticwater flow, they might benefit most from alternating laminar flows that simulate ingoing/outgoing tidalcurrents; such can be accomplished with the adroit use of pump timers. In many cases, fine tuning of bothflow velocity and flow dynamics is necessary to elicit the full expansion and proper feeding behavior ofthis coral.

As it is with any azooxanthellate coral, appropriate foods and feeding regimens are critical for successwith Studeroites. Past work with the genus suggests that these animals can capture and ingest a ratherwide variety of foods, including both phy toplankton (such as Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis, and Tetraselmis)and zooplankton (such as copepods and rotifers). However, the best food mixtures, food proportionsand food densities have yet to be conclusively identified. These corals are hence best kept in a system that

receives numerous types of microfoods. Feedings should be frequent, or even continuous (i.e., administeredby a doser), while the coral is in its feeding cycle. Feedings should be heavy, albeit with special care takento avoid fouling the aquarium water. Meticulously spot feeding the colony might (while being rather te-dious) help to ensure that a large amount of the food is captured by the minute polyps.

Sources1. Shimek, Ronald L. Marine Invertebrates. Neptune City, NY: T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 2004.2. Fabricius, Katharina and Philip Alderslade. Soft Corals and Sea Fans. Queensland, Australia: Australian Institute ofMarine Science, 2001.3. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/paralcyoniidae.htm

4. http://www.tf hmagazine.com/details/marine-invert/studeriotes-longiramosa.htm5. http://www.aquariumslife.com/soft-coral/christmas-tree-coral-studeriotes-coral/6. Michael P. Janes. 2008. Husbandry of azooxanthellate soft corals (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) in captivity: preliminaryresults. Advances in Coral Husbandry in Public Aquariums. Public Aquarium Husbandry Series, vol. 2. R.J. Leewis andM. Janse (eds.), pp. 61-73.

At present, many interesting infaunal animals (suchas this Ptilosarcus sp. sea pen) are virtually un-

known in the aquarium hobby.Photo by Ed Bierman.


31/39


32/39

Those barbels arent or show -they are or hunting! This goes

or most catsh, its a goodrule o thumb - the longer thebarbels the more likely they

are to be predators.

Tropical Redsh Magazine 2013:21 32


33/39


The scenario oten plays out with young,inexperienced sh keepers purchasing thespecies and placing the specimen into avastly undersized aquarium oten with in-appropriate tankmates. These tankmatesrequently are the rst meals o the newaddition. Oten this happens at night, with

the aquarist unsure what is happeningwithin their aquarium.

Eventually, the catsh, being the sole shremaining, is either discovered in the actor its rapid growth gives away its modusoperandi. Growth is rapid in this species -and small sh can easily reach 60cm (2)in a year. Eventually the species can growto the over 120cm (4) in length and canweigh in at more than 50kg.

At their adult size they need to either keptin huge tanks, which are extremely costly,or indoor ponds. The latter option is thebest outcome or most amateur shkeep-ers as one can provide large volumes owater without taking out a second mor-

Growing to over 120cm this is a serious sh - not suitable or most aquaristsPhoto by Maureen (amerune) rom Bufalo, USA.

gage! Complicating their care, RTC arevery sensitive to dissolved waste productsin their water.

This is conounded by their messy eed-ing habits and large meals (and subse-quent production o signicant quanti-

ties o waste). In reshwater sadly theresonly really one option or dealing withwaste - water changes. Sure, VERY strongltration is required and will convert thiswaste to nitrate, however, in the absenceo denitrication water removal and re-placement is the only way to get red othis accumulated nitrate.

Inevitably, our amateur, inexperiencedshkeeper cant cope with the demands

o the species and individuals are then ei-ther returned to sh stores, public aquari-ums or -- most alarmingly -- dumped intolocal waterways. In areas warm enough tosupport populations o the species (Flori-da, or example, eral populations can es-tablish).


34/39


Like Redtail Catsh, the gi-ant Arapaima isnt suited tothe home aquarium. Individ-uals are sometimes oferedor sale but should only be

considered by experts withheated ponds.


35/39


A side issue with the RTC is the eed-ing o other live animals to the sh.Redtails are unussy eeders, eedinglive sh is not only unnecesary, cruelits also dangerous or your RTC. Avoidit.

I you really have to keep tank (or pondmates) with a RTC they need to be thesame length as the RTC (i not a littlelarger) lest they become a meal or aailed attempt at one which kills boththe tankmate and the RTC!

RTC also have a tendancy to eat lterparts, small pebbles and other objectssmall enough to swallow. These tendto be reguritated - though eeding

should be avoided until the oreignbody is removed. In a pond setting,ne sand is probably a good substratewith rocks too large to eat.

I youve got experience with speciesthat grow to a metre - and have expe-rience with indoor ponds - the RTC is apersonable pet with great personality.For everyone else, the species is best

let in the store or in the Amazon!

Theyre attractive sh in a strange way. Most aquarists undestand it, even admire it.But please dont purchase unless youre a specialist. Photo by Jenni Douglas.

Theres a ew other species in the same boat as the RedtailCatsh. The top photo shows the huge size that some Al-ligator Gars (Atractosteus spatula) can reach. The equally

massive Wels Cash (Silurus glanis) is sometimes availablein some specialty shops. Avoid both species unless you have

the knowledge, experience and space. In most cases youregoing to need massive heated ponds. These arent or new

players in the aquarium hobby!


36/39


37/39

We have some exciting news from the Redf ish Reef - in ou r

next issue (#22) we ll be making the switch to LED lighting!

Here are some photos from the new insta ll to wet you r apetite!

a reef keeping jou rnalFirst Time at Sea



38/39

Community Redsh Magazine 2013:21 38

Community DirectoryInternationalAdvanced Aquarist http://www.advancedaquarist.comBritainAnglia Reef Club http://www.angliareefclub.org.uk/Bracknell Aquarist Society http://bracknellaquaris t.wordpress.com/Bristol Aquarists Society http://www.br istol-aquarists.org.uk/Bristol Tropical Fish Club http://www.br istoltropicalfishclub.org.uk/

British Cichlid Association http://www.br itishcichlid.org.uk/British Killifish Association http://www.bka.org.uk/British Koi Keeepers Society (BKKS)See website for UK sections http://www.bkks.co.uk/Catf ish Study Group http://www.catf ishstudygroup.org/Dunstable & District Aquarist Society http://www.ddas.co.uk/Federation of Northern Aquarium Societies (FNAS)See website for list of associated clubs http://www.fnas.org.uk/Greater Manchester Cichlid Society http://www.nekrosoft.co.uk/gmcs/Hounslow & District Aquarists Society http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/hounslowf ish/Ilford &Distr ict Aquarists & Pondkeepers Society http://www.ilfordaquarists.co.uk/Preston and District Aquatic Society http://www.nor thtrop.co.uk/preston.htmlReigate and Redhill Aquarist Society http://www.networkclub.co.uk/rras/Ryedale Aquarist Society http://www.ryedaleaquaristsociety.co.uk/

Southend Leigh and District Aquarist Society http://www.southendaquarist.co.uk/Strood and District Aquarist Society http://www.stroodaquarist.co.uk/ScotlandFederation of Scottish Aquarist Societies.See website for list of associated clubs http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/scottish_aquarium_society.htmAberdeen Fish Keepers Club http://sites.google.com/site/aberdeenfishkeepersclub/Greenock & District Aquarist Society http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/greenock&distric t_as.htmFair City Aquarist Society http://www.faircityaquaristsociety.co.uk/Union of Scottish Aquarists http://www.f ishwebusa.co.uk/Capital Aquarist Society, Edinbourgh http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/capital_aquarists_society.htmDundee & District Aquarist Society http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/dundee&distric t_aquarist_society.htmGlenrothes Aquarist Society http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/glenrothes_aquarist_society.htmGrangemouth Aquarist Society http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/grangemouth_aquaris t_society.htmLanarkshire Aquarist Society http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/lanarkshire_aquarist_society.htmMusselburgh & District Aquarist Society http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/musselburgh_a_s.htmPerth Aquarist Society http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/perth_aquaris t_society.htmPoecilia Aquarist Society http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/poecilia_scotia.htmWorkington & District Aquarist Society http://www.scottishaquaris t.co.uk/workington_as.htmWalesNewport & District Aquarist Society http://kimnp19.tripod.com/IrelandIrish Midlands Aquatic Society http://midlandsaquatic.weebly.com/index.html

Be par t of our community!Our current listing is primarily from Britain, if youre part ofa f ishkeeping club or society on the Continent wed love toadd you to our list!Email us at [email protected] get listed here.

Photo by Hobvias Sudoneighm


39/39

We hope you enjoyed this issue.

Please, tell a friend about Redfish.

www.redfishmagazine.com.au

Contact Details

email: [email protected]: www.redfishmagazine.com.au

fb: www.facebook.com/redfishmagazinetwitter: @redfishmagazine

Redfish Magazine Issue 21 Eu

Documents

Transcript of Redfish Magazine Issue 21 Eu