Author's posts
May 13
Nassarius Snail
The Nassarius Snail is one of the most entertaining and useful members of a saltwater aquarium cleanup crew. Most of the time, these small marine snails remain buried beneath the sand with little more than a long siphon protruding above the surface. The moment they detect food, however, they can suddenly erupt from the substrate …
May 12
Coral Beauty Angelfish
The Coral Beauty Angelfish is one of the most popular dwarf angelfish in the marine aquarium hobby. With its electric blue-purple body, glowing orange sides, vivid blue-edged fins, and active grazing behavior, it delivers much of the beauty and personality of a large marine angelfish in a considerably smaller package. Scientifically known as Centropyge bispinosa, …
May 11
Yellowtail Damselfish
The Yellowtail Damselfish is one of the most recognizable small marine fish in the aquarium hobby. Its brilliant electric-blue body and contrasting yellow tail create an intense splash of color, while its hardy nature makes it considerably easier to maintain than many delicate reef species. Scientifically known as Chrysiptera parasema, the Yellowtail Damselfish is also …
May 10
Midas Blenny
The Midas Blenny is one of the most colorful and charismatic blennies available to marine aquarists. Its elongated golden-yellow body, bright blue-rimmed eyes, expressive face, and unusual swimming motion give it a personality all its own. Scientifically known as Ecsenius midas, the Midas Blenny is also called the Golden Blenny, Persian Blenny, or Midas Coralblenny. …
May 09
Green Chromis
The Green Chromis is one of the most popular schooling fish in the marine aquarium hobby. Its shimmering blue-green body can appear turquoise, emerald, aqua, or almost silver depending on the lighting and viewing angle, creating a beautiful flash of color as the fish moves through the water. Scientifically known as Chromis viridis, the Green …
May 08
Pygmy Angelfish
The Pygmy Angelfish is one of the smallest true marine angelfish available to aquarium keepers, but its personality is anything but tiny. With an intense sapphire-blue to purple body, glowing orange-yellow face and chest, and electric-blue fin margins, this miniature angelfish can become one of the most colorful fish in a relatively modest reef aquarium. …
May 07
Lawnmower Blenny
The Lawnmower Blenny is one of the most recognizable algae-grazing fish in the marine aquarium hobby. With its mottled brown coloration, oversized eyes, bushy facial cirri, thick lips, and habit of hopping from rock to rock, this unusual little fish brings plenty of personality to a reef aquarium. Scientifically known as Salarias fasciatus, the Lawnmower …
May 06
Dottyback
Dottybacks are some of the most colorful, hardy, and personality-packed small fish available to marine aquarists. These compact reef fish can display astonishing shades of purple, magenta, yellow, blue, orange, and black, often rivaling much larger marine species for visual impact. The name Dottyback refers to fishes in the family Pseudochromidae, although the species most …
May 05
Flame Angelfish
The Flame Angelfish is one of the most striking dwarf angelfish in the marine aquarium hobby. Its brilliant orange-red body, vertical black bars, and electric-blue edging on the fins make it look almost illuminated under reef lighting. Scientifically known as Centropyge loricula, the Flame Angelfish is also called the Flame Angel or Flame Dwarf Angelfish. …
May 04
Lyretail Anthias
The Lyretail Anthias is one of the most spectacular open-water fish available to reef aquarists. Females glow in shades of orange, peach, and gold, while dominant males develop richer red, pink, or purple coloration along with an elongated dorsal spine and dramatic lyre-shaped tail. Scientifically known as Pseudanthias squamipinnis, the species is also called the …
