Invertebrates
Shrimp Profiles
by admin on Aug.27, 2009, under Invertebrates
Sexy Shrimp Anemone Shrimp Peppermint Shrimp Cleaner Shrimp Harlequin Shrimp Blood (Fire) Shrimp
Bubble-Tip Anemone
by admin on Jul.27, 2009, under Invertebrates
Bubble-Tip Anemone
Family: Actiniidae
Range: Indo-Pacifc
Color Form: Tan, Brown, Green, Orange
Ideal Supplements: Iodine, Trace elements
Tank Set-up: Marine: Live rock or coral rock, sand
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Medium
Light: High
Dominance: Semi-aggressive
Care Level: Moderate
The Bubble Tip Anemone is often referred to as the Four-colored, Bulb Tentacle, Bulb Tip, or Bulb Anemone. Red variations may be referred to as Rose Anemones. The appearance of the Bubble Tip Anemone can vary greatly from one individual to the next. At rest, the tentacles have enlarged tips.
The Bubble Tip Anemone is usually found in coral rubble, or in solid reefs. Its pedal disc is usually attached deep within dead coral. It stretches its tentacles to become sweeper tentacles when hungry. That is, the tentacles become elongated to capture a meal, then the tentacles shorten and the bubble tips return.
Handle this invertebrate, and all Anemones, with care. They can sting other Anemones, as well as Corals.
The Bubble Tip Anemone needs strong illumination with live rock full of deep holes and crevices, or branchy corals placed in sand. Larger specimens tend to be from deeper water, but may tolerate a strong lighting set-up. It is generally a hardy reef animal, although, it is prone to infections just after shipping. It should be kept with a Clownfish such as Premnas biaculeatus, Amphiprion frenatus, or Amphiprion chrysopterus for best results. At times, the tentacles may appear stringy; this may be due to insufficient light or the need for food.
aquariablog’s take: I had one of these guys briefly. As with all anemone you should be sure to put a sock or something around things like Koralia PH’s or they’ll get sucked it and chopped up..fowling your tank. I learned the hard way.
Its diet should include chopped fish, shrimp, or worms if a clownfish is not present.
Crocea Clam
by admin on Jun.21, 2009, under Invertebrates
Tridacna crocea
Family: Tridacnidae
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: High
Waterflow: Medium
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Max. Size: 6″
Color Form: Blue, Green
Supplements: Calcium, Trace Elements
Origin: Indo-Pacific
The mantle of the Crocea Clam, also called the Boring Clam or Crocus Clam, is a mixture of colors. Super colored clams are a vibrant metallic blue, green, or blue/green coloratin with unusual patterns on the mantle. The Crocea Clam penetrates through limestone substrates by releasing an acid to break down the carbonate in the stone. It uses the ridges of its thick shell to dig into the rock by opening and closing quickly through the use of its bysal muscles. It is the smallest of the “giant” clams, so this burrowing behavior helps to protect it from predators such as starfish and butterflyfish.
Being the smallest of the giant clams, this species reaches a maximum size of about 6 inches. In the wild, the Crocea Clams often live together in great congregations. In the home aquarium, the Crocea Clam needs bright lighting to live, grow, and keep its intense colors. It requires calcium levels of at least 280 mg/L, preferably 400-480 mg/L to grow. Proper levels of strontium and iodine are also needed.
aquariablog’s take: My 1st clam was a crocea. Not sure went wrong with this guy but I started him off on the sand bed and he quickly died and was consumed by my nassarius snails. They are absolutely beautiful.
Tridachia crispata
by admin on Jun.20, 2009, under Tridachia crispata
Lettuce Nudibranch
Family: Elysiidae
Range: Atlantic Ocean
Size: 1-2 in.
Diet: Herbivore
Tank Set-up: Marine: Coral, live rock, sand.
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 75° F (23.89° C); sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4; dKH 8-12
Temperament: Peaceful
Venomous: No
Care Level: Moderate-Difficult
The Lettuce Nudibranch, a.k.a The Lettuce Leaf Nudibranch, is bright green in color with ruffles across its back. It is excellent at destroying algae by foraging on live rock and aquarium glass. It is non-venomous and a hardy species.
Sea Slugs are part of a Class of Mollusks known as Gastropods. These snail-like creatures do not use a shell for protection. Most Sea Slugs are a shade of green and have an elongated oval shaped body. These creatures usually have ruffled backs which uses increased surface area in order to absorb oxygen for respiration. At the head are tentacles that appear to be “rolled”. Sea Slugs are algae eaters.
Turbo castanea
by admin on May.25, 2009, under Invertebrates, Turbinidae
Turbo Snail
Family: Turbinidae
Range: Gulf of Mexico; Western Atlantic Ocean
Size: 1.25 cm (0.49 in.)
Diet: Omnivore, Detritus
Tank Set-up: Marine: Coral, live rock, deep sand. May disturb loose rock and coral
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 75° F (23.89° C); sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4; dKH 8-12
Temperament: Peaceful
Venomous: No
Care Level: Easy
The Turban Snail is a powerhouse that helps keep live rock and aquarium glass free of algae. This peaceful snail boasts an interesting shell and is a smart addition to your existing aquarium cleanup crew. The Turban Snail, is also known as the Top Snail, False Trochus Snail, or Pyramid Snail, and is found in holes and crevices of the reef in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It has a bumpy shell shaped like a top or turban generally in varying earth tone colors including white, tan or even brown. The foot of the snail is white with fine black dots.
This hardy snail does well in an established aquarium with ample places to hide. The aquarium should ideally have a large area for grazing and live rock. Since the Turban Snail uses calcium to build its shell, an adequate calcium level must be maintained. It is very sensitive to any level of copper-based medications and prefers a low nitrate level.
The Turban Snail can spawn in captivity, normally in mature reef aquariums. The Turban Snail will expel their gametes, temporarily making the water cloudy. In a few months tiny Turban Snails will be visible on the glass and substrate when the lights have gone off. As they grow the Turban Snails will venture out into bright light during the day.
If sufficient algae are not present, the Turban Snail’s diet should be supplemented with dried seaweed.
Sexy Shrimp
by admin on Mar.02, 2009, under Invertebrates
Thor amboinensis
Family: Thor amboinensis
Range: Atlantic, Caribbean
Size: Up to 2 inches
Diet: Carnivore
Tank Set-up: Marine
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Venomous: No
Care Level: Easy
This tiny shrimp enjoys a diet of plankton and other tiny meaty foods, but flake food will suffice. It is a small shrimp and requires only a few gallons of water to survive. It can be kept in groups and will do best in groups. The sexy shrimp is not hostile towards its own species or other aquarium dwellers.
The Sexy Shrimp is named for its tendency to wiggle its abdomen while walking. It is a brave little critter and will fearlessly crawl among the tentacles of anemones or coral. This species is considerably hardy, but requires proper iodine levels to facilitate molting.
aquariablog’s take: I always have a few of these guys running around the tank and currently they are hosting my anemone. Very entertaining.
Ophiocomidae
by admin on Mar.02, 2009, under Ophiocomidae
brittle starfish
Family: Ophiocomidae
Range: Circumtropical
Size: Up to 5 inches
Diet: Omnivore
Tank Set-up: Marine: Coral or rock, coarse sand
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Temperament: Peaceful
Venomous: No
Care Level: Moderate
The Brittle Starfish, or Brittle Sea Star, of the Ophiocoma genera has multiple spines on each side of its five arms. Colors may vary from black to red to yellow depending upon species and locale. It generally becomes darker with age.
It can be found either singly or in large aggregations in the wild, in crevices of coral or among algae. The aquarium should mimic that environment, including live rock. It prefers oxygen-rich moving water and an environment with multiple hiding places in which it can live during the day.
It scavenges on detritus, small organisms, and uneaten food, but the diet can be supplemented with prepared plankton foods, small crustaceans and pieces of tablet food.
Nassariidae
by admin on Mar.02, 2009, under Nassariidae
nassarius snail
Family: Nassariidae
Range: Coastal areas
Size: Up to 1 inch, depending upon species
Diet: Omnivore, Detritus
Tank Set-up: Marine: Coral, live rock, deep sand
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78°F; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4; dKH 8-12
Temperament: Peaceful
Venomous: No
Care Level: Easy
Nassarius snails, which are commonly found in the coastal zones of most oceans, are one of the most ideal scavengers and detritus eaters for a reef aquarium. They have oval, spiral shells that resemble olive pits, and vary in size depending upon species. The Super Tongan Nassarius Snail (Nassarius distortus), for example, can reach a length of up to 1 inch, and is larger, easier to see, and very helpful in larger aquariums. Smaller Nassarius snails, such as Nassarius vibex, are often around 1/2 inch in length, and are useful in smaller aquariums, refugiums, and aquariums with less sand surface area.
Nassarius snails have a long tube-like siphon that protrudes from the end of the shell. They spend most of their time buried in the sand, with only their siphon extending above the substrate. Because these snails have an incredible sense of smell, they quickly detect any food introduced into the aquarium, and cause the substrate to “boil” as they emerge in search of food. They quickly consume detritus, uneaten food, decaying organics, and fish waste before they can be broken down by bacteria and release excess nutrients in the system. In addition, while burying themselves they aerate the sand bed/substrate, which helps maintain adequate oxygen levels in the substrate.
The Super Nassarius Snail does best in an established aquarium with live rock and a deep sand bed. These snails are sensitive to high nitrate levels and copper-based medications.
The Super Nassarius Snail is extremely difficult to breed in captivity.
Supplemental feeding for the Nassarius snails is not required in a marine aquarium with an established sand bed. However, if insufficient food is present, supplement their diet with frozen meaty foods such as brine or mysis shrimp and pieces of fish or scallop.
Anemone Shrimp
by admin on Mar.02, 2009, under Invertebrates
Palaemonidae
Family: Palaemonidae
Range: Indo-Pacific, Australia
Size: Up to 1 inch
Diet: Omnivore
Tank Set-up: Marine: Coral or rock, plants
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Temperament: Peaceful
Venomous: No
Care Level: Easy
The Pacific Clown Anemone Shrimp, also known as the White-patched Anemone Shrimp, or Glass Anemone Shrimp, was first described in 1902. While it is sometimes difficult to see within its host anemone, it is the most common of all the imported anemone shrimps. Its transparent body has several white spots irregularly spread over its carapace and tail, which helps it to blend in with the tentacles of the anemone. Another distinctive marking of its species are the five black-edged orange spots on its caudal fin.
The Pacific Clown Anemone Shrimp will do best in a tank with anemones or sea cucumbers that can serve as a host. The shrimp will generally stay close to its host anemone or sea cucumber. If it does not see any larger fish nearby, it will sometimes venture out and forage for food. Otherwise, it shares its food with the anemone. It is protected from the stinging cells of the anemone by the mucus secreted by the anemone, which coats the shrimp’s body. Every time the shrimp molts to grow, it has to hide from the anemone since it loses its mucus-covered shell. It then has to slowly approach the anemone and re-cover its body with the mucus. If there are several Pacific Clown Anemone Shrimp in the aquarium, the males will tend to have more white spots and be larger than the females.
In addition to what it obtains from scavenging, it will eat most meat or fish-based diets.
Palaemonidae
aquariablog’s take: Really cool looking shrimp but mine disappeared one day never to be seen again.
Peppermint Shrimp
by admin on Mar.02, 2009, under Invertebrates
Hippolytidae
Family: Hippolytidae
Range: Caribbean
Size: Up to 1¾ inches
Diet: Carnivore
Tank Set-up: Marine: Coral or rock, plants
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Temperament: Peaceful
Venomous: No
Care Level: Easy
The Peppermint Shrimp, also known as the Veined Shrimp, or Caribbean Cleaner Shrimp, is part of the “cleaner” shrimp family, but is considered to be more of a scavenger. Its yellowish white body has several distinctive longitudinal red stripes. The Peppermint Shrimp is sometimes confused with its Pacific cousin, Rhynchocinetes durbanensis, which has a pointed nose and inter-spaced white stripes over its body.
First described in 1850, the Peppermint Shrimp is usually found living in the vertical shafts of the reef, sometimes in the core of the pipe sponges. It is very sociable and will live peacefully with almost all reef inhabitants. On occasion, it has been known to eat the Aiptasia anemone (glass anemone) that are found in the live rock of reef aquariums and on the glass. It will not tolerate copper or high levels of nitrates in the aquarium. It will also require iodine for proper molting of its carapace.
The Peppermint Shrimp species has been successfully bred by commercial fish farms, but it will rarely breed in the average home aquarium.
In addition to what it obtains from scavenging, its diet can consist of most types of prepared foods, and possible pieces of fresh fish.
aquariablog’s take: I think just about everyone has at least one of these guys running around in their tank. Very private creatures so you won’t see them much. They reportedly will help you with some pests.
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