Quit Clowning Around

There comes a time when every budding aquarium artist gets to add some real movement to his tank. That time, for me, was Saturday.

I was so excited that I could barely sleep. I stood outside in the frigid weather for 20 minutes before the store opened. I chose wisely, asked a lot of questions, and parroted the responses to my girlfriend multiple times.

I brought them immediately to the tank and, using a drip acclimation method, I acclimated my purchases to my tanks conditions. To drip acclimate, one must slowly drip water from a hose to the livestock's temporary container. The rate should allow for the volume to triple in 45 minutes. My mom and stepdad were lucky enough to be here to witness the move to the new home.

I'm sure you are wondering, "What did you get?". Well here is my starting lineup:

Ocellaris Clownfish (2):

Amphiprion ocellaris

Care level:          Easy

Diet:                    Omnivore

Origin:                Fiji/Tonga 

Temperament:   Peaceful

Max Size:           3 ½”

Notes:                Should be kept either singularly, or in pairs – only if started before sexual maturity. Clownfish are sequential hermaphrodites – starting as males and then maturing into females. When a hierarchy is established, the most dominant fish becomes the female. Once decidedly female the fish cannot become male again. Clownfish in the wild have a symbiotic relationship with anemones. The same relationship is possible within the reef aquarium environment.

Eli and Peyton Swimming Across the Tank

Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (1):

Lysmata amboinensis

Care level:          Easy

Diet:                    Carnivore

Origin:                Sri Lanka

Temperament:   Peaceful

Max Size:           2”

Notes:                These creatures choose a location in the tank and set up “shop”. They are tank scavengers, but also have a beneficial relationship with fish in the aquarium. In this relationship the Skunk Shrimp will clean dead scales and parasites from the entire fish (including the inside of the mouth.)

Pierre Garçon Hanging Upside-down in his "shop"

Super Tonga Nassarius Snail (4):

Nassarius distortus

Care level:          Easy

Diet:                    Carnivore/Omnivore

Origin:                Tonga

Temperament:   Peaceful

Max Size:           1”

Notes:                These snails spend a lot of time buried in the sand. They use a siphon tube to breathe when the are buried. Their diet consists of shifting through the sand looking for detritus. This also helps in oxygenation of the sand bed. Some aquarium keepers liken them to zombies rising from the grave.

Astraea Turbo Snail (4):

Astraea tecta

Care level:          Easy

Diet:                    Herbivore

Origin:                Caribbean

Temperament:   Peaceful

Max Size:           1”

Notes:                These snails eat nuisance algae, including the difficult to control hair algae. If knocked over this snail has a difficult time righting itself, and can drown without intervention to be up-righted.

Mexican Turbo Snail (1):

Turbo fluctuosa

Care level:          Easy

Diet:                    Herbivore

Origin:                Mexico

Temperament:   Peaceful

Max Size:           2”

Notes:                Prefer large areas for grazing and lots of places to hide. They require calcium from the water to build their shells. Aquarium owners complain that they knock over rocks and coral due to their large size.

Green Metallic Mushroom Coral:

Actinodiscus malaccensis

Care level:          Easy/Moderate

Diet:                    Carnivore

Origin:                Dutch East Indies

Temperament:   Semi-aggressive

Notes:                The coral obtains its nutrition from symbiotic algae, zooxanthellae, that dwells within their tissues. They can be a aggressive and attack other corals in vicinity with toxins.

Neon Green Under the Moonlight

Red Metallic Mushroom Coral:

Actinodiscus cardinalis

Care level:          Easy/Moderate

Diet:                    Carnivore

Origin:                Dutch East Indies

Temperament:   Semi-aggressive

Notes:                The coral obtains its nutrition from symbiotic algae, zooxanthellae, that dwells within their tissues. They can be a aggressive and attack other corals in vicinity with toxins.

Nighttime at the Club!

Did you catch the theme?

My girlfriend suggested naming all of the fish after quarterbacks, and the supporting cast after utility players. We decided to name the Brittle Star Polamalu - currently looking for suggestions for the Serpent Star. Leave a name in the comments - who knows maybe you will be the one who gets to name him!

The tank is doing well - still stable after a few days. The original occupants are doing fine as well. This is an image of one of the Blue Leg Hermit switching homes. Thanks for noticing Mom!

Tried it on for fit, and decided to move in.