Archive for November, 2009
Five Starter Fish Every Saltwater Hobbyist Should Avoid
Starting up a saltwater reef tank can be an intimidating venture. You may experience some sticker shock from the prices of the fish, and perhaps awe at the seemingly endless array of choices in front of you. There are many opinions about what makes an ideal starter marine fish, but this article is intended mostly to [...]
Lionfish Invade Reefs
The red lionfish, Pterois volitans, is wreaking havoc on Caribbean reefs, in what some are calling, one of the most deadly marine invasions in history. The red lionfish is a member of the venomous Scorpionfish subfamily, and is native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. However, reports of observation in the Atlantic Ocean have been [...]
Fish Grew Fingers First An Evolutionary Biology Story
Researchers at Uppsala University recently published evidence that fingers may have evolved first in fish. The previous consensus among evolutionary biologists was that fingers had evolved from the first 4-legged animals to walk on land, known as Tetrapods. Tetrapods are commonly considered to be the evolutionary link between fish and terrestrial vertebrates—the ancestors of modern [...]
Saltwater Fish Waste Is Actually A Buffer
A scientific discovery, published in the journal Science, suggests a major role that fish play in maintaining the pH of the world’s oceans. The discovery is focused on the marine carbon cycle—which incorporates the role of calcium carbonate as both a buffer and major component of the skeletal tissue of the reef-building corals. Prior to [...]
Clownfish Can Find Their Way Back to Their Reef Using Sense of Smell
This article was originally published in Aquarium Fish International, February 2009: page 18 After clownfish hatch from their eggs, they spend about 10-12 days floating freely in the ocean, as pelagic larvae. After that time, they often return to the reefs close to shore, where they were born. The mechanism through which the fish find [...]
Cleaner Fish Reduce Aggression in Captive Aquaria
This was my third published submission to Aquarium Fish International. Aggression among fish is a natural behavior. This behavior tends to get exacerbated in the confines of a community tank, where aquarists mix specimens in a confined space. Researchers from the University of Queensland may have found a solution to the problem. Their research demonstrates [...]
Fish Have the Ability to Count to 4
This is the second submission that was published in Aquarium Fish International. The article highlights the research findings of a study in Italy where scientists determined that mosquito fish are able to count up to four. That just still seems so awesome to me. Scientists in Italy published evidence that fish are capable of counting. [...]
Five Saltwater Starter Fish for Beginners
What makes a fish species good starter fish for newcomers to the saltwater aquarium hobby? It has to be hardy (tolerant of a range of tank conditions), have vibrant colors, be relatively non-aggressive and inexpensive. Two of the species listed here are actually aquacultured, which means they are born and raised in captivity–specifically ask for aquacultured fish [...]
Best Book for Anyone Who Wants to Breed Saltwater Fish
Interested in Breeding Saltwater Fish? Then get this book first, it’s the best book for anyone interested in breeding saltwater fish. This is by far my favorite book on my bookshelf. I have read through it, cover to cover at least 5 times, and I have referred to it probably fifty times. In The [...]
FISH ARE CAPABLE OF HUMAN-LIKE LOGIC
This is a copy of an article that was published in the Aquarium Fish International. I submitted it for publication in the Aquabits section of their magazine. It is the first article that I ever had published, and is based on an article/news item written by Robin Lloyd. Even though it’s a low sodium article [...]
