SaltwaterSense

Banggai Cardinalfish Notecards at Saltwaterfish.com Support Conservation

Those of you familiar with my writing know I care deeply about a small Indonesian fish known as the Banggai cardinalfish. Most saltwater aquarists are quite familiar with this aquarium favorite, but for those of you unfamiliar with the Banggai cardinalfish, you should know it is a fish whose conservation status may be in jeopardy as a direct result of the marine aquarium trade. In response, many in the marine aquarium trade have called for an all-out boycott of the species. While I have urged caution in regard to purchasing wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish until more information is available, I have also felt that the marine aquarium trade has not done enough to understand the actual situation on the ground in the Banggai Islands where the fish originates. Over the past year, I have therefore done my best to try to familiarize hobbyists with the state of affairs in the Banggai Islands based on numerous interviews with local individuals. I have published my findings here and in publications such as CORAL Magazine.

People frequently ask me what the harm is in an all-out boycott on the Banggai cardinalfish and why I have not supported such action. To me, a categorical boycott ignores the fact that a sustainable and robust marine aquarium trade can provide significant socio-economic benefit to developing island nations like the Banggai Islands. Now I am not suggesting that economics should trump conservation of a species, but I do believe strongly that the two are not mutually exclusive. Further, marine aquarists can and should be on the front line of reef conservation, and a fish like the Banggai cardinalfish can inspire aquarists here in North America to become strong advocates for threatened tropical marine ecosystems worldwide. Finally, while the Banggai cardinalfish issue has gotten the press time this past year, it is far from the most alarming conservation issue which faces our hobby.

As a writer, I believe that I can help the Banggai cardinalfish by educating hobbyists about the species, its conservation status and the role it can play in the socio-economics of the Banggai Islands. My wife, who is also a saltwater aquarist, has taken it upon herself to use her talents as an award-winning conservation artist to further raise awareness about the Banggai cardinalfish by directly supporting conservation and management initiatives in the Banggai Islands. To achieve this, she has created a Banggai cardinalfish notecard based on one of her original illustrations, and she is now selling the card to raise money for Yayasan Alam Indonesia Lestari (LINI), an Indonesian not-for-profit organization that has worked tirelessly in the Banggai Islands (and throughout Indonesia) to support the conservation and management of coastal marine resources. Karen and I are thrilled that Saltwaterfish.com, which has also worked closely with LINI, will now be selling Karen’s Banggai cardinalfish notecards with 100% of the proceeds going directly to LINI! Please join the effort to support LINI and the future of the Banggai cardinalfish by purchasing either a single notecard or a notecard set today.

Finally, I want to point out the fact that Saltwaterfish.com is starting off a month of festivities celebrating the company’s 10th anniversary. Look for outstanding promotions all month long beginning with $9.99 shipping on orders over $99.99!

Symbiosis in the Saltwater Aquarium

One of my favorite aspects of keeping a marine aquarium is the opportunity to observe symbiotic relationships up close. The reef is a highly competitive environment, and many reef animals develop relationships with other animals to increase their chances of survival. Some of these relationships benefit both animals, while others only benefit one of the two. Setting up the proper conditions to observe some of these relationships in the aquarium is, in my opinion, well worth the effort, and here are a few symbiotic relationships most aquarists with a stable, mature system can attempt to replicate in his or her system.

Clownfish-Anemone

The symbiotic relationship shared between a clownfish and an anemone is one of the most well-known and oft replicated symbiotic relationships within reach of most aquarist. To insure success, the aquarium must be able to support the anemone, which is, in general terms, a more difficult-to-keep animal than the fish. Most anemones require a stable tank that is at least six months old, and some anemones have even more specific requirements—so be sure to do your research. The bubble tip anemone (or BTA, Entacmaea quadricolor) is a good anemone with which to start, and many clownfishes will readily form a relationship with it. Having said this, not all clownfishes will host in an anemone, even if one is present in the aquarium.

Commensal Crab-Coral or Anemone

There are many crabs that will readily form a relationship with various invertebrates including both anemones and many coral species, especially from the genus Euphyllia (e.g., torch coral). The anemone or porcelain crab, for example, (Neopetrolisthes spp.) is a small, non-aggressive crab that will readily live within the tentacles of an anemone or coral species. Again, the conditions in the aquarium must be able to support the anemone or coral, and this usually means the tank will be mature (at least six months old) and stable. In addition, the salinity should be kept at near ocean levels, as most inverts will not do well in hypo-saline conditions.

Commensal Shrimp-Coral or Anemone

Like the commensal crab that lives in association with an anemone or coral, commensal shrimp will readily form a relationship with both coral species (especially from the genus Euphyllia) and anemones. One of the best commensal shrimps to keep is the so-called sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis). This is a small shrimp with gaudy colors and a unique movement that resembles a somewhat lurid dance (hence the name). While they will host in anemones, the sexy shrimp does particularly well when living in close association with Euphyllia spp.  

Goby-Shrimp

The relationship formed between a goby and a shrimp is wonderful to watch. While it is possible to observe this relationship in a large reef tank, the pairing of a goby with an appropriate shrimp can easily be the centerpiece of a nano tank. In general, the goby will dig a burrow, which it will then share with the shrimp. When the shrimp ventures out of the burrow, it relies on the goby to make sure the coast is clear. Consider gobies from the genera Amblyeleotris and Stonogobiops and pair them with shrimp from the genera Alpheus and Synalpheus.

Conclusion

There are many other symbiotic relationships which the aquarists can host in his or her aquarium, but these are some of my favorite. Remember to check compatibility charts and to do your research with any species BEFORE you acquire it. In the case of commensal shrimp and crabs, it is often wise to purchase several of these animals if you are planning to add them to a community reef tank, as you may lose one or more from natural predation. To increase your chances of success, add the animals at night directly adjacent to the intended host.

The Great Neon Goby (Elacatinus oceanops) - An Ideal Saltwater Aquarium Fish

Several fishes and a number of shrimp engage in symbiotic cleaning behavior, and keeping some of these so-called “cleaner” animals in a saltwater aquarium adds interest, diversity and benefit to the tank. Of all the commonly available cleaner species, perhaps the all-around best is the diminutive (in size but not in color or personality) neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops).

The neon goby is a small (to 5 cm), reef-associated marine fish that inhabits the western central Atlantic Ocean from south Florida to Texas and south to Central America. While it can be found at depths of over 45 meters, it is frequently associated with shallow reefs where it sets up cleaning stations on coral heads. Readily identifiable by way of the bold electric blue stripe that runs from in front of its eye to the end of caudal fin, the neon goby is believed to advertise its services, at least in part, by way of this pattern (note that the Pacific cleaner fishes from the genus Labroides are also longitudinally striped).

Taxonomic Confusion

The Gobiidae family is the largest family of marine fishes with more than 2000 species described. Many aquarists still include the neon goby in the genus Gobiosoma, but this is not valid. Gobiosoma has recently undergone a taxonomic restructuring, and the neon goby is now properly placed in the genus Elacatinus, which was elevated to genus status (Gobiosoma was previously divided into five subgenera including Elacatinus). Taxonomy aside it should be noted that not all gobies closely related to the neon goby are cleaner gobies, but those that are will boldly advertise their cleaning services in both the wild and in the aquarium.

Neon Goby Husbandry

The neon goby is a common aquarium species, and many of the specimens available commercially are now tank-raised. Since as early as the mid-seventies, this species has been successfully reared in captivity. A group of neon gobies kept in the same tank will readily pair off and spawn, although it is wise to keep seven or more in a large tank so as to avoid any one individual being the target of too much inter-species aggression (one neon goby per 25-30 gallons is a good rule of thumb in my experience). A confirmed pair of neon gobies may be kept in a much smaller aquarium.

Once acclimated to its new surroundings, a neon goby should instinctually set-up a cleaning station. Generally this cleaning station is on a coral head, but in the fish-only system, it may simply be on a protuberance of live rock. This behavior may at first seem bold to the aquarist, and it is certainly unusual for a fish of this size living in a reef tank with larger (and even predatory) fishes. While there is a great deal of debate on this point, it seems most fishes recognize the role of the neon goby as a cleaner and will not act aggressively toward it in the aquarium (this is not the case, however, for predatory invertebrates like larger crabs).

Cleaning Duties

What exactly does the neon goby clean? The neon goby cleans ectoparasites, dead skin and other detritus from this fishes in your system. In many cases, the fishes will “ask” for this service by swimming up to the cleaning station and waiting for the neon goby to move onto the fish’s body. The fish being cleaned will commonly extend its fins and open its gill flaps and its mouth to give the goby full access. When the fish has had enough, it resumes its normal activity and the neon goby returns to the cleaning station.

Not an Obligate Cleaner

The neon goby is not difficult to keep in the aquarium, and it will readily accept most foods offered to your other fishes. Unlike some other cleaners, the neon goby does not need to clean in order to survive. In other words, it is not an obligate cleaner, and this is one reason it is such a fantastic aquarium animal. Do be sure to offer it small bits of food, as the neon goby possesses a very small mouth.

A Stellar Saltwater Aquarium Fish

The neon goby makes an absolutely fantastic marine aquarium fish. It is hardy, colorful and frequently visible in even a large community reef tank. The fact that it helps to clean your fishes of parasites and is often available as captive-bred specimens only adds value to this already stellar animal.

Saltwater Aquarists, Artists and Anglers on the Frontline of Marine Conservation

My wife is an award-winning educator and artist, and during the summer, she shows her work at the Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach, California. This year she is focused on illustrations of fishes, especially some of those commonly kept in the marine aquarium. As such, she is surrounded daily by her illustrations of flasher wrasses, hawkfishes, gobies, Banggais and the like, and she spends much of her time describing the animals to the people looking at her work. Why am I sharing this with you? Because in listening to her yesterday explain the natural history of the Banggai cardinalfish to a tour group from Hurley, I realized that her tagline—“conservation through appreciation”—should really be the tagline of the marine aquarium hobby.

Karen believes that if her illustration of a fish is appreciated, and the viewer learns a little about the subject, it is not such a big leap for the viewer to come to appreciate the species itself. That appreciation of the species, combined with knowledge about the species, can then lead to a desire to conserve the species. It’s similar to when someone comes to our house for dinner and watches the animals in our 135-gallon reef tank in the dining room. Inevitably the animals become the topic of conversation, and conversations about threats to reef ecosystems are never far behind.

I’m not suggesting that looking at an aquarium should always lead to preaching environmental education from a soapbox. An aquarium, like a piece of Karen’s artwork hanging in a gallery, is something aesthetically pleasing and should be appreciated at face value. But Karen always also includes an “Artist’s Notes” sheet with every illustration she sells that explains a little more about the animal and some of the conservation issues it (or the ecosystem in which it lives) faces. She does this hoping that someone who appreciates her art enough to purchase it may also come to appreciate the subject of the artwork enough to conserve it.

Conservation is a big concept, and it may seem overwhelming at first, but in reality, conservation can begin at home. Protecting the world’s reefs, and the species which inhabit them, can begin with something as simple as lessening your carbon footprint. Even if you live in Iowa (why does Iowa always get picked on? I actually really like Iowa!), driving less, carpooling more, turning off the lights when you leave a room, and a million other small actions can have a cumulative conservation effect that helps save tropical reefs worldwide.

Here in Laguna Beach, California, we are undergoing a review to determine if the entire coastline should become a no-take marine protected area. This would mean that fishing may be prohibited along the entire seven mile swath of coastline I frequently travel with a fly rod in hand. While I support the concept of marine protected areas, I also worry that categorically prohibiting fishing along this coast will remove those individuals who are most in touch day-to-day with the ecosystem: the anglers. Call it job security if you like, but many anglers (myself included) care deeply about the resources because, at least in part, we want to continue recreating there. In other words, anglers, like reefers, can and should be on the front line of marine conservation.

I appreciate my wife’s ability to accurately render the colors of a Red Sea eightline flasher wrasse or the bone structure of a longnose hawkfish. I appreciate her illustrations, and, as a marine aquarist, I appreciate how her illustrations help me to understand the species better. This is why I love talking to people viewing Karen’s work at the Sawdust Art Festival because I see people come face-to-face with animals they never knew existed. While Karen donates 10% of all her proceeds to organizations that work to conserve aquatic ecosystems, I think the much larger impact of her work is to inspire curiosity, appreciation and, ultimately, conservation in anyone who views her illustrations.

So this week I challenge you to share your aquarium, and your knowledge about the animals that inhabit it, with someone new. Conservation through appreciation—it’s really that simple.

Avoiding Summer Algae Blooms in Your Tropical Saltwater Aquarium

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a blog entry about using a chiller to keep your tank’s temperature stable. Stability is, of course, absolutely essential to your system’s health. Even with a chiller, however, it is not uncommon for aquarists to see some additional algae growth during the summer months. Why is this? In many cases it has to do with a slight, but sustained, increase in system temperature throughout the summer months. It may also have to do with longer daylight hours or even direct sunlight hitting the tank (something that usually should be avoided). Of course summer vacations, additional yard work and days at the beach may also cut into some aquarists’ regular aquarium maintenance. Whatever the reason, if you have additional algae growth during the summer months, here are a few simple ways to address it.

Run Your Aquarium Chiller on a Controller

If you have an aquarium chiller, run it on a controller that also controls your heaters, fans and other system components. With a quality chiller, accurate temperature probes and a robust controller, you should be able to maintain less than one degree of temperature fluctuation in a 24-hour period. Using a controller, you can keep your tank at a consistent temperature year-round.

Condition the Air in Your Home

This is not my solution of choice, as I live in Southern California and have no air conditioning in my home, but many people can reduce summer algae blooms by controlling the ambient temperature in their houses (or at least in the room where the aquarium resides). If you live in a place that is very hot, this may be essential, unless you are prepared to run a very beefy and reliable (read expensive) chilling system. Keeping the room temperature stable can go a long way toward keeping the aquarium temperature stable during the summer months.

Protect Your Aquarium from Direct Sunlight

If direct sunlight is hitting your tank during the day, consider closing the curtains or shades at the time when the sun is at the right angle to reach the tank. Direct sunlight can cause algae blooms almost right before your eyes, and simply covering the window can make all the difference. In general, an aquarium should ideally be situated in a location where it is not exposed to direct sunlight, but if yours is, consider shielding it from the light.

Bolster Your Clean-Up Crew

While I am not a fan of “throwing animals at problems”, I do prefer to take care of issues in my aquarium with animals whenever possible. Summer algae blooms may remind you that it is time to bolster your clean-up crew. I am not suggesting you add a mess of algae-grazing animals to deal with a summer algae-bloom (you don’t want to have to feed them algae after the bloom is gone, now do you?), but strategically assessing your clean-up crew’s population is something all aquarists should do at least once a year. Perhaps a summer algae bloom will remind you that it’s time to add a few new algae-grazing snails or some reef-compatible hermit crabs.

Keep it Cool, But Keep it Stable

Following these simple suggestions should keep your tank stable and reduce summer algae blooms. Have a great summer!