April 23rd, 2008
Darts for defense The bodies of Coelenterates, particularly the tentacles, are covered with urticant (stinging) cells, equipped with a strand that is sensitive to contact with other organisms. When a Coelenterate is touched, thousands or even millions of cells open and eject a filament with a microscopic dart at the tip which injects venom; in this way, a prey is quickly paralyzed before being eaten. Care should be taken when handling, therefore. Introducing Coelenterates to an aquarium Coelenterates must of course present all the necessary signs of good health before being introduced to an aquarium: they should be unfurled, swollen, and full of water. If they are in a bad state, they look wilted and may not be viable. Anthozoa like clear and well-lit water, as it benefits both them and the Zooxanthellae to which they play host. They must be placed close to the surface of the aquarium. The water quality is, of course, very important, and in addition the calcium levels must be monitored with particularly close attention. The skeleton of corals is mainly composed of calcium carbonate, which is abundant in the natural habitat - up to 500 mg/liter - and so an aquarium that is to be inhabited by corals must also have the same level. The concentration in an aquarium can sometimes fall below 300 mg/liter, depending on how many organisms there are in the tank, and in these cases calcium must be added. Several relatively simple methods for raising the calcium level are detailed in the box on page 173.
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April 20th, 2008
When well acclimatized, the Coelenterates soon deploy their tentacles, which is a sign of good health. Vegetation Plants release substances that have a beneficial effect on invertebrates, although as yet we still know relatively little about the mechanism of this process. Use algae of the Caulerpa genus, but do not allow them to become too dense. In addition, remain on the lookout for the growth of certain filamentous algae, as there is a danger that they might smother some sponges and delicate Coelenterates. Acclimatizing invertebrates As the characteristics of invertebrates’ native waters are radically different from those of the tank in which they will be placed, great fish online care must be taken with respect to their acclimatization. The container in which the new arrival has been transported must be gradually filled with water from its future aquarium, to enable the invertebrate to slowly adapt before it is carefully transferred into its new habitat. The whole process takes about 1 hour. A quarantine period in an acclimatization tank is recommended. When handling invertebrates, be aware of the stinging capability of some species (such as anemones and madreporites). SPONGES Sponges enjoy shadows or darkness as they can only tolerate a small amount of light. They do not like water with a high content of nitrates or filamentous algae, which smother them. They reproduce, either sexually - rarely achieved in an aquarium - or through asexual division, with a detached piece of sponge evolving into a new specimen. A sponge is a kind of “sack” devoid of any specialized organs. Water penetrates the walls, circulates in the canals, as a result of the movements of thousands of strands protecting the cells, and leaves via the opening in the top. The water provides oxygen and the particles on which the sponge feeds, particularly the micro-algae of phytoplankton. Removing a sponge from water has fatal consequences, as air bubbles enter the canals where the water circulates and block them. The sponge, unable to eliminate the bubbles, eventually dies. Sponges are fed in the same way as Coelenterates, with a preparation based on mussels, or special liquids available commercially from specialist suppliers. COELENTERATES The Coelenterates constitute a complex group (see table, page 171). They include the Anthozoa, which are divided into hexacorals, where the number of tentacles is a multiple of 6, and octocorals, where the number of tentacles is a multiple of 8. The hexacorals are divided into: - Actiniaria (true anemones); - Ceriantharia; - Zoantharia (colonial anemones); - Corallimorpharia (discus anemones); - Scleractinia (madreporites or true corals). These invertebrates are characterized by tentacles attached to a foot, and the whole organism is called a polyp. Anemones and Ceriantharia are isolated polyps, while the other Anthozoa are colonial polyps, connected to each other at their base, which end up by spreading out over large areas like certain plants.
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April 13th, 2008
These are green micro-algae which live in the skin of Anthozoa and other organisms, such as sponges or giant clams, a type of bivalve mollusk. They exchange substances with the cells of their hosts. The carbon dioxide (CO2) resulting from the metabolism of the cells - i.e. the oxidation of the foodstuffs - is collected by the Zooxanthellae. These, in their turn, absorb nitrogenous and phosphorous substances, carry out photosynthesis, and produce organic substances that enhance both their own growth and that of their host. This type of mutually beneficial association taking place inside an animal is known as endosymbiosis. The Zooxanthellae contribute, to some extent, to the feeding process of Anthozoa, which therefore need only a very scanty external supply of nutrients: some organisms, such as the anemones, need to be fed only around once a week in an aquarium. The green coloring of this Anthozoa indicates the presence of a significant number of Zooxanthellae: this animal must therefore be placed under buying fish online fairly intense lighting. The decor This serves as a support for some animals. Create an aquascape in tiers or with steps, and place the species on it according to their need for light. This is easy to do with artificial materials, and the decor can be finished off with dead coral and rocks. Caulerpa prolifera is a common alga in marine invertebrate tanks.
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April 10th, 2008
INVERTEBRATES Easy-touse tests make it possible to control water quality, which must be perfect in an invertebrate tank. LOWERING THE PH IN A MARINE INVERTEBRATE TANK The pH in a coral tank sometimes undergoes slight but regular decreases. When it drops to under 8.3, it can be raised with sodium carbonate. Dissolve 5 g in 1 liter of water, and add 1 ml of this solution to each liter of clean water. This process is repeated every day until a pH of 8.3 is obtained. There are also some readyto- use solutions for this purpose available in the aquarium trade. Water This must be stirred vigorously: use a pump with an outflow equal to at least five times, and up to ten times, that of the volume of the aquarium. Do not forget that the water in an invertebrate tank will never be as agitated as in a natural setting. The water must be very clear, to facilitate the penetration of light. It is therefore vital to have good mechanical filtration, possibly in conjunction with an air pump. Invertebrates are extremely sensitive to nitrates (NO3-). A box filter is indispensable, and its volume must equal at least 10% that of the aquarium. It must be pointed out, however, that tanks containing true corals, or madreporites, which form reefs can sometimes buying fish online work well without this type of filter. In order to facilitate the operation and reduce the burden of the filter, thus increasing its efficacy, put the protein skimmer in its first section. As a complement to these techniques, you are strongly advised to perform partial water changes, at a rate of around 10% of the volume, once a week. It is advisable to change the water the day after the weekly feeding session, as this will help to reduce pollution. The specific gravity of the water must be around 1.024, although it can go up to 1.026. Light This is extremely important, both as regards quantity and quality. Apart from the aesthetic effect, lighting serves to enhance the development of Zooxanthellae, the micro-algae which live in the animals’ tissues and contribute to their equilibrium. If the water is less than 50 cm deep, use fluorescent tubes as day lighting, in conjunction with a blue tube. Deeper water requires powerful HQI lamps, again combined with a blue tube. The lighting must be strong (around 1 W per liter of water) and should be left on for about 13 hours every day. UV lamps are not recommended for invertebrates. More detailed information on lighting can be found in the chapter Equipment and Accessories (page 226). The substrate Fine-grained soils are to be avoided, a size of 2-5 mm being perfect. The bed must be calcareous and comprise sand made from corals and marine algae, which can be complemented by crushed oyster shells to guarantee a moderate supply of calcium carbonate. The substrate in marine tanks consists of coral elements in fairly large grains.
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April 6th, 2008
Marine invertebrates are sometimes more difficult to keep in an aquarium: on the one hand, they are very sensitive to the quality of the water, which must be as faultless as possible, and, on the other, feeding them is complicated, particularly in the case of sponges, Coelenterates, anemones, and corals. It is also important to consider the compatibility of invertebrates, not only with each other but also with fish as invertebrates are the favorite meal of some fish! For all these reasons, the best option is a specialist tank, which will provide a spectacle just as fascinating as that of a fish aquarium, although those fish which can cohabit with invertebrates represent a logical complement to this type of aquarium. The invertebrates which are most robust and easiest to acclimatize can reproduce in captivity (especially some species of anemones), but success in this area requires a solid background in marine aquariums on the part of the hobbyist. Nevertheless, some marine aquarists hesitate to cross the threshold from fish to invertebrates, on the grounds both of cost and risk. However, these days there is a craze for this type of aquarium, but you must not get carried away: it is not feasible to reconstitute a coral reef, although it is possible to achieve satisfying results, both in terms of ecological equilibrium and an engrossing spectacle.GENERAL MAINTENANCE CONDITIONS The aquarium The bigger it is, the easier it is to acclimatize the invertebrates. Do not consider a tank of under 300 liters for a medium-sized anemone, accompanied by its clown fish. A volume of 400-500 liters is the absolute minimum for buying fish onlineĀ a tank containing several species of invertebrates. A maximum height of 50 cm is recommended to allow the light to penetrate, as well as making it easier for the aquarist to intervene. It makes sense anyway to install as large a tank as possible, as your enthusiasm for these creatures is bound to grow. Mounting a tank almost entirely composed of invertebrates, with a few fish added, requires ample knowledge of these animals.
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April 2nd, 2008
FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES Although freshwater invertebrates play a significant ecological role in their natural habitat, they are not popular with aquarists, and this is a great shame. They are represented by two main groups: the mollusks and the crustaceans. Ampullaria sp., like this golden variety, are one of the most effective gastropods against algae. MOLLUSKS Bivalves commonly known as freshwater mussels can be found in some tropical waters. Although they differ as regards their anatomy, they are in fact distant cousins of the mussels on our coasts. They live buried, or partially buried, in the sediment. They eat by filtering micro-algae or vegetal plankton dissolved in the water. This can be a useful attribute in an aquarium, as it helps contain the proliferation buying fish onlin of this type of algae. On the other hand, if there is not enough food, they will eventually die - which is not always noticeable at first, and therefore entails a risk of pollution from their dead bodies lingering in the water. Bivalves therefore have a somewhat limited appeal to fishkeepers, especially as few tropical species are available in the aquarium trade. As regards the gastropods, some species are considered pests - physas, for instance - while others, such as the Planorbidae, Ampullaria, and Malaysian snails, play a positive ecological role, above all by feeding on unwanted algae. In good conditions, they proliferate rapidly; they can be removed by hand or by trapping them with a leaf of lettuce or boiled spinach: if you put one of these in a tank at night, the next morning it will be covered in snails. If a population of gastropods disappears from an aquarium, this is probably a sign of imbalance. CRUSTACEANS In freshwater tanks, these are mainly represented by several species of shrimps, although it is occasionally possible to find a tropical crawfish, and even small crabs. As crustaceans’ carapaces mainly consist of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), it is advisable to keep them in hard water, and some crabs can even live in brackish water. Carnivorous fish are obviously out of the question as roommates. Small species of fish are not normally at risk from crustaceans, but a weakened or sick fish may be captured and devoured. Crustaceans’ role in the wild as environmental regulators can be reproduced in captivity. Whatever species you may choose, all crustaceans feel more at home if they are pro- Shrimps from the Macrobrachium genus are becoming increasingly common in freshwater aquariums. vided with shelters, especially during the molt. If they are fed properly, this process will occur regularly, but the animal is vulnerable while it is forming a new carapace. It is during this critical period in their lifecycle that crustaceans usually attack each other.
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March 29th, 2008
Their limp body is protected by a shell, which has two parts - these are the bivalves - or a single part - as in the case of :he gastropods. The bivalves half-open their shell - formed, as their name suggests, by two valves - to filter water. In this way they absorb oxygen and capture food particles, particularly vegetal plankton. Keeping them in an aquarium does not, therefore, pose any problems. The gastropods, related to land snails, have a spiraled shell which buying fish online varies in shape, according to the species. An organ in the mouth in the form of a grater, the radula, allows them to graze micro-algae on the decor, glass sides, or plants. This cleaning function constitutes their main attraction for aquarists. Do not, however, expect them to gobble up all your unwanted algae, as they play a more preventive role to restrict their untimely growth. They can sometimes attack the leaves of plants or eat a surplus of the food intended for fish. Some species are carnivorous. CRUSTACEANS The crustaceans’ bodies are protected by an articulated carapace. The animal abandons its carapace when it becomes too small due to body growth; this phenomenon is called the molt. The crustacean is particularly vulnerable to attacks from predators during the formation of the new carapace. The crustaceans found in aquariums belong to the decapod group, which have five pairs of walking legs, the first of which are used as pincers, with varying degrees of strength. The two pairs of antennae, highly developed in shrimps, play a tactile and sensory role. Crustaceans are carnivorous, and can feed on live or dead prey - they are not difficult to feed in an aquarium. ECHINODERMS These possess a symmetry based on five, which is extremely rare in nature, as most animals have a binary symmetry, meaning that, if they are cut down the middle, two identical parts can be observed. This is not possible with echinoderms, because they have to be cut into five sections to obtain identical pieces. Echinoderm means spiny skin: this is highly appropriate in the case of sea urchins, less so in relation to the rough starfish. Generally speaking, echinoderms will not survive for long outside water. They are found only in sea water.
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March 25th, 2008
The invertebrates, as their name indicates, have no backbone. Their body is soft, but it is protected on the outside, by a carapace in the case of the crustaceans, or by a shell in mollusks, or it is supported by an internal calcareous skeleton, as in corals. Although they are considered less evolved animals than the vertebrates - the group to which fish belong - invertebrates sometimes adapt in surprising ways to ensure their survival. The crustaceans, for example, can walk or swim to look for food or flee an enemy, while corals and anemones unfurl to capture microparticles, such as plankton, in open water, or retract to escape their predators. SPONGES COELENTERATES These animals, slightly more evolved than sponges, were also classed as vegetables for many years; even now the term animal-flowers is used to describe them. The Coelenterates comprise medusas (”jellyfish”) - rarely seen in aquariums, apart from a few public ones - and the Anthozoa, which include anemones and corals, some of which are found in aquariums. Up until the 19th century, naturalists hesitated when classifying sponges: animal or vegetable? It must be admitted, however, that their field of research was extensive, as there are around 10,000 species of sponges. These very old animals were among the first to appear on earth or, more exactly, in the sea. Freshwater species are rare and are not found in aquariums, but some marine species can be kept in captivity. WORMS Worms are barely evolved soft-bodied animals. They are more common in aquariums as live food than as residents, but are never found in freshwater aquariums. A few specific species can be kept in captivity in sea water. They live in a tube and are often sedentary. The coloring of worms can vary enormously, but they are usually blue or purple, flecked with white, and almost always bicolor.
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March 22nd, 2008
Gobies live in coastal waters. When they are away from their shelters, they resist the movement of the water by clinging on to rocks with their pelvic fins, which are turned into suckers (although there are exceptions to this). They are easy to raise and feed on small, live prey. Lythrypnus dalli The Catalina goby, a small species native to California, can be distinguished by its vertical blue bands. It lives in harmony with invertebrates. Size: 4 cm. BLENNIIDAE (BLENNIES) Nemateleotris magnifica The fire goby, native to the Indo-Pacific region, more than lives up to its Latin name of magnifica. It adapts well to captivity but remains somewhat timid, and so it must be kept with placid species, or in an invertebrate tank. It accepts artificial food. Several species from the same genus, with similar vivid coloring, are sometimes found on the market. Size: 10 cm. Blennies live in rocky coastal spots, or in sheltered reef areas. These robust little fish, easy to raise, are well suited to a tank for marine invertebrates. They are characterized by their abundant mucus and their often bright coloring. Blennies are not common in the aquarium trade, although it is possible to find some species belonging to the Ecsenius genus. Ecsenius sp. The blennie defends its territory, so the presence of other fish from the same family is not advisable. It moves around, but often remains stationary to observe its surroundings, or hides among the decor. It feeds on algae taken from the decor and also accepts small animal foodstuffs. Size: 8-10 cm.
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March 18th, 2008
These are somewhat more pacific than the triggers, to which they are scientifically related. These rather timid fish feed on very small prey (brine shrimps, pieces of mussel). Oxymonacanthus longirostris The orange-spotted file fish likes nooks and crannies but is also an active swimmer. It can live in groups and is recommended for invertebrate aquariums. Size: 10 cm. Chaetoderma penicilligrum The tassled file fish stands out due to the protuberances on its skin. It relishes algae, even more than live prey. The adults are loners and can attack some invertebrates. Size: 11-25 cm. OPISTOGNATHIDAE CIRRHITIDAE This family digs vertical burrows in the sand, and barely venture out, hiding themselves completely if there is any danger. Their large mobile eyes enable them to detect their small prey. These generally live in shallow coastal waters. In captivity, they prefer to share with peaceful fish that do not penetrate into their strictly demarcated territory. Opistognathus aurifrons The pearly jawfish, an easy fish to keep, is recommended for invertebrate aquariums. It must have at least 15 cm of sediment. It feeds on mussels, shrimps, and fish flesh, but all its food must be broken up into small pieces. Reproduction is possible, but is best left to experienced fishkeepers. Size: 10-15 cm.
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