May 06
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
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
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 …
May 03
The Cleaner Wrasse is one of the most fascinating fish on a coral reef. Instead of simply hunting for food around rockwork, it operates something resembling a tiny underwater service station: larger fish deliberately approach, hold still, spread their fins, and sometimes even open their mouths and gill covers while the wrasse inspects them for …
May 02
The Scooter Blenny is a small, peaceful marine fish famous for “scooting” across sand and live rock while hunting tiny crustaceans. Its mottled brown-and-cream pattern, oversized eyes, unusual perching behavior, and spectacular sail-like dorsal fin in males give it considerably more personality than its subdued coloration might suggest. Despite the common name, the Scooter Blenny …
May 01
The Blackcap Basslet is a striking Caribbean reef fish known for its rich violet-purple body and dramatic black marking that sweeps across the top of its head and forward portion of its dorsal fin. Although closely related to the much more familiar Royal Gramma, the Blackcap Basslet has a personality and natural habitat distinctly its …
Apr 30
Blennies are some of the most entertaining small fish in the marine aquarium hobby. With their expressive faces, oversized eyes, comical perching behavior, and habit of watching everything happening outside the tank, these little reef fish often seem to have personalities far larger than their bodies. The word blenny can be used broadly for several …
Apr 29
The Green Wrasse is a colorful, active reef fish known for its vivid green coloration, constant movement, and habit of searching through sand and rockwork for small invertebrate prey. In the aquarium trade, the name Green Wrasse commonly refers to the Pastel Green Wrasse, Halichoeres chloropterus. This Indo-Pacific wrasse can look remarkably different depending on …
Apr 28
The Harlequin Tusk is one of the most spectacular wrasses available to marine aquarists. With its alternating blue, orange, white, and black bands, bright blue teeth, thick lips, and powerful body, it looks unlike almost any other commonly kept reef fish. Scientifically known as Choerodon fasciatus, the Harlequin Tusk is a member of the wrasse …
Apr 27
The Spotted Hawkfish is a compact, colorful marine predator with one of the most entertaining personalities among reef-associated fish. Instead of swimming continuously through open water, it spends much of its day perched on rocks, coral structures, sponges, and other elevated surfaces while watching everything around it. Scientifically known as Cirrhitichthys aprinus, the Spotted Hawkfish …
