Pink Amazonian River Dolphin
Also known as Boto, the Amazon River Dolphin is the largest river dolphin species in the world. It can get around 8 ft in length, with females typically being larger than males.Their neck vertebrae is actually unfused allowing for them to turn their heads 180 degrees. This is an important adaptation, since their habitat is flooded forests and it allows for improved flexibility around the underwater trunks of trees. There is interesting Amazonian folklore behind them, where they are named encantados, in which they transform into beautiful people when the night comes. In this form, they seduce humans at parties and produce illegitimate children with them. And even though it is widely considered bad luck to kill them, they are listed as threatened on the conservation list.
Gurnard
The gurnard, also known as the sea robin, is like a chimera of the sea (not the chimera fish, that is for another time). I managed to identify one for a customer, going only on the words “it was like a crab bird fish….my grandma said I was crazy…am I?”. Very strange creatures, they are bottom dwellers living at depths up to 200 m (660 ft). They are have a very strong structure with their plated armor for defense. They earned their name because when they are caught they make a very odd croaking noise. The creepy little ‘crabby legs’ are used for stirring up food on the seabed. Gurnards have sharp spines on their gills and back fins that inject a very mild poison which can cause minor pain that normally lasts two to three days.
Thanks for the info, what I meant to ask is which one would I have more luck with? I really love the Achilles but I heard no one has luck with them, I've seen three at my lfs that look like they're doing well though
Honestly you just have to look at the fish and see if it is healthy. I had a solar wrasse and a flasher wrasse, fish that people seem to never be able to keep. And they were the fattest and healthiest in my whole tank. Although the powder brown is more shy and likely to stress, and they don’t do well in transport. The powder blue is less disease resistant (they are famous for getting ich, which normally develops when they are stressed). Before you buy any fish, inspect it. If its color isn’t bright or is off in any way, it is breathing heavy, hiding, dashing around the tank, or has any marks or injuries (especially around the mouth) DON’T BUY. Never order online because there is no way to asses the fish before purchase. Make sure it eats before you take it home. And drip acclimate as slow as humanly possible. When you put any new fish in, turn the lights off on your tank to reduce stress level and your current fish bullying the new guy. If they keep picking on him, move around the rocks a bit to shake up their territory. Don’t hang around the tank. If a tang isn’t eating, offer them some dried seaweed. Or live brine. And always have a cleaner shrimp to clean them up of any ich. :)! Hope this helped!
Hey thanks for the post, I just got a frogspawn, a torch and a Duncan. I wanted to get a hammer and an elegance but I keep hearing it's difficult to find healthy elegances, any input? Thanks again. Also any info on powder brown vs powder blue?
An elegance tend to be more touchy than the other ones mentioned. But I have found that all of them are hit or miss. Look at the base, make sure a good portion of it is still alive and that the dead doesn’t reach too far. A little bit is fine though. If its tentacles are wimpy, don’t buy it. And as for the powder brown and powder blue? Don’t do it! They will fight to the DEATH. But you might have a chance of success if you introduce them in at the same exact time. A good rule is to not mix tangs that have the same body shape. They are just too territorial. So just pick one from each body shape beforehand. I personally love the powder blue over the brown, but they are both pretty feisty.
Hammer & Torch Coral
Both are classified as Large Polyp Stony (LPS) Corals! At night their sweeper tentacles extend out, reaching several inches from its base. These tentacles are stingers which attack and kill other corals, to better insure its growing space. Stony corals like these love calcium and a good lighting system! Using actinic lights make any coral glow more florescent and neon, much like a black light. But their colors on both the tip and the tentacle can range greatly. These two corals in particular have gorgeous long and flowing tentacles that stem from a branching skeleton. Very graceful corals!
(Source: cherrycorals.com)
Hey newcomers!
Just so you know, if you ever has a mysterious creature of aquatic origin I can easily identify it for you! And do a nice little info post. Or if you just have something you want to suggest for me to post? Or if you need any help taking care of a fish tank, I have worked in a saltwater reef store for four years. And I have had a 250g reef tank since I was 8 years of age ouo. Always here if you need help!
Vlamingi Tang
These tangs are a gorgeous example of the Naso family. They are great reef fish and readily available at fish stores. But beware! These babies grow to over two feet! Unlike most other tangs, those in the Naso family aren’t aggressive towards other tangs. As the Vlamingi grows, its colors become brighter and more pronounced. As well as growing a lump on its nose, which is typical of ‘unicorn tangs’, it also acquires streamers! They really are very sweet and personable, the one I had loved to get pats and side rubs! He got most of his food by hand feeding c:
Dragon Eel
An aggressive albeit shy individual, gets up to 3 feet in length (roughly). It makes up for its snippy attitude with its striking and colorful appearance. With the dragon eel’s horns and striped mouth there is no way to mistake it for any other eel. There are two distinct types in the aquarium trade, the japanese and the hawaiian. It is said the japanese kind, specific to a certain region, has more intense coloration than the average specimen. Dragon eels often reach the price range of $1000 or more. Even with such a high price range, the dragon moray is a highly sought after in the aquarium hobby.
A mola mola!!! Also known as an ocean sunfish. Mola is latin for ‘millstone’ which they resemble being as they are round, gray, and roughly textured. As you can tell, they are pretty big. And are the heaviest known bony fish in the world (weighing in at over 2,200 lbs)! Their favorite food is jellyfish. These poor babies have a horrible time with skin parasites. Which is why they bask sideways at the surface, to allow seabirds to peck the wretched creatures off. Sunfish are very docile with human divers, and pose no threat. Just really big sweet-hearts basically.
