My Fish Page
These are the fish living in my reef aquarium. Wherever possible the photographs are of my fish in the aquarium. There are also links to other sites with further information about the individual species.
Big decisions to be made here are the type of fish to be kept and how many. This is a really complex issue with lots of different guidelines and types of advice available from simple inch per gallon type guidelines to much more complex ideas based on fish behaviour and diet. I read what I thought was a very good little article and have used this as a basis for my thinking... roughly. I would say only one error to date, a Lemonpeel Angel. Beautiful fish and perfect in the tank for three months before she started to eat my corals. My tomato clowns are brilliant characters but are rather aggressive. They even attack me if I put my hands in the tank.
Difficulty with the article is judging which are Type A or Type B fish. No Type C for me!! I have lots of rockwork and have included the sump in my water calculations, so around 75 gallons. This would suggest 10 fish from Type A and 5 from type B which sounds quite a lot using other ways of thinking but I will go with it, slowly. Another interesting article worth a read is based on swimming space a fish needs.
I think it is really useful to try and become familiar with the scientific names of the fish so research becomes easier. Common names can be very confusing as the same name can be used for different fish. I think fish retailers should be aware of these names and label fish accordingly.
Over the nearly 10 year life of my reef I have a few fish losses, a couple of kamikaze jumpers, some bullying and one or two unexplained losses.
I have put my thoughts on buying fish Into My guide on buying fish.
Big decisions to be made here are the type of fish to be kept and how many. This is a really complex issue with lots of different guidelines and types of advice available from simple inch per gallon type guidelines to much more complex ideas based on fish behaviour and diet. I read what I thought was a very good little article and have used this as a basis for my thinking... roughly. I would say only one error to date, a Lemonpeel Angel. Beautiful fish and perfect in the tank for three months before she started to eat my corals. My tomato clowns are brilliant characters but are rather aggressive. They even attack me if I put my hands in the tank.
Difficulty with the article is judging which are Type A or Type B fish. No Type C for me!! I have lots of rockwork and have included the sump in my water calculations, so around 75 gallons. This would suggest 10 fish from Type A and 5 from type B which sounds quite a lot using other ways of thinking but I will go with it, slowly. Another interesting article worth a read is based on swimming space a fish needs.
I think it is really useful to try and become familiar with the scientific names of the fish so research becomes easier. Common names can be very confusing as the same name can be used for different fish. I think fish retailers should be aware of these names and label fish accordingly.
Over the nearly 10 year life of my reef I have a few fish losses, a couple of kamikaze jumpers, some bullying and one or two unexplained losses.
I have put my thoughts on buying fish Into My guide on buying fish.
Jewel wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus)
Another of my favourite wrasse. A female jewel wrasse, some authorities name her as a Blue Star Leopard wrasse. This is definitely one of those fish were knowing the scientific name is useful as there appears to be a variety of common names.
As with my other wrasse she dives into the sand bed at night or when frightened but has settled well and is all over the reef searching out food on the live rock and sand bed. Mixes well with my other leopard wrasse.
Adult size: 12cms
As with my other wrasse she dives into the sand bed at night or when frightened but has settled well and is all over the reef searching out food on the live rock and sand bed. Mixes well with my other leopard wrasse.
Adult size: 12cms
Black Spotted Wrasse (Macropharyngadon meleagris)
A new species for me and one that has added a great deal of interest and beauty to my little reef. In common with other leopard wrasse she is a 'sand sleeper' and loves to forage amongst the rocks, sand and corals in my little reef. She is a peaceful fish and gets along with the rest of my little wrasse collection.
Adult size: 15cms
Adult size: 15cms
Kuiter's Leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon kuiteri)
A brand new species for me. I have seen one once before but when I had the opportunity to add this beauty to me collection I couldn't resist. I have not been able to find a great deal of information on this wrasse but am assuming her care requirements will be similar to my other leaopards. In the wild she lives in similar conditions to the others of her genus so my little reef should provide for her needs.
Adult size: 10cms (I think)
Adult size: 10cms (I think)
Ornate Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon ornatus)
My first wrasse. She was a real beauty and lived in my little reef for over 6 years.
When I saw a beautiful juvenile in one of my LFS I decided to bring her home. She looked healthy and was feeding and I knew I could provide the right environment for her to flourish.
My original fish was an ideal reef inhabitant, not bothering the corals and other fish and no real danger to my cuc. She was constantly on the move, looking for small worms and pods in the rock and rubble.
My new fish has taken all of the different foods I have provided and has settle beautifully into my little wrasse community.
Adult size: 12cms
When I saw a beautiful juvenile in one of my LFS I decided to bring her home. She looked healthy and was feeding and I knew I could provide the right environment for her to flourish.
My original fish was an ideal reef inhabitant, not bothering the corals and other fish and no real danger to my cuc. She was constantly on the move, looking for small worms and pods in the rock and rubble.
My new fish has taken all of the different foods I have provided and has settle beautifully into my little wrasse community.
Adult size: 12cms
Timor wrasse (Halichoeres timorensis)
A beautiful fish that I have only ever seen on one occasion. This prompted me to dash home and do some research after asking the LFS to hang onto it for a couple of days. I'm pretty sure mine is a female due to her colouration but she is still not fully grown.
Some of the sources say that these fish are more aggressive than other wrasse and may be a danger to shrimps, feather duster worms and small crabs. I have decided to take a risk as I think their behaviour will be similar to the Yellow wrasse, Halichoeres chrysus.
There doesn't seem to be a great deal of information on this fish which is a bit of a wonder as it seems to be an excellent member of my reef community.
Adult size: 12cms
Some of the sources say that these fish are more aggressive than other wrasse and may be a danger to shrimps, feather duster worms and small crabs. I have decided to take a risk as I think their behaviour will be similar to the Yellow wrasse, Halichoeres chrysus.
There doesn't seem to be a great deal of information on this fish which is a bit of a wonder as it seems to be an excellent member of my reef community.
Adult size: 12cms
Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)
Another stunning fish with a variety of common names. As with all other Halichoeres wrasse she is in need of a good sandbed and lots of mature live rock in which she can forage. As with other fish of this genus she is constantly picking away at the rock and sand looking for small inverts and worms but is readily eating anything I put into the aquarium.
In the time She has been in my little reef she has matured nicely to the point were I think she is in fact a he! An all round stunning fish. One of the best Halichoeres for the smaller reef tank I think.
Adult size 12 cms
In the time She has been in my little reef she has matured nicely to the point were I think she is in fact a he! An all round stunning fish. One of the best Halichoeres for the smaller reef tank I think.
Adult size 12 cms
Red eyed fairy wrasse(Cirrhilabrus solorensis)
By far my favourite fairy wrasse, or is that dwarf parrot wrasse nowadays. Fantastic colour and generally peaceful nature make this a lovely fish to have in my relatively small reef. He is a good companion for my other wrasse and is always visible in the water column.
An active swimmer feeding from open water so he does not compete with my other wrasse feeding from the rocks.
Adult size 12cms
An active swimmer feeding from open water so he does not compete with my other wrasse feeding from the rocks.
Adult size 12cms
Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus)
This is a completely new fish for me. I have always like blennies, they often have great characters and are different to any other fish in my little reef set up. I decided to go for one of the combtooth blennies to aid with my algae control. The decision was which one? There are several to choose from and my lfs had four lovely candidates but this one caught my eye. Partly because of the colouring and also because he just sat and looked at me! Had to bring him home!
Its great how a 10cms long basically dark coloured fish can just vanish in my little reef. So far he seems to be doing a good job grazing on available algae as well as adding great interest to the tank.
Adult size 14cms
Its great how a 10cms long basically dark coloured fish can just vanish in my little reef. So far he seems to be doing a good job grazing on available algae as well as adding great interest to the tank.
Adult size 14cms
Updated 2.11.20