ISSN 1045-3520FREE

Volume 22 Issue 1, 2005

Premnas biaculeatus - A beautiful but ornery clownfish

©2005 Aquarium Systems, Inc., Mentor, OH - Printed in U.S.A.

Continued on page 2

Premnas biaculeatus - TheMaroon ClownfishBob Fenner

Maroon clownfish have got to be one of themost striking of marine tropicals... with apologiesto the “Nemo” lovers of the world. With theiroverall bold salmon red body and fin coloring,demarcated with white to yellow barring. As faras personalities go, Premnas are just as “comical”as other clowns when young. However, veryoften they can and do become belligerentsometimes to the extreme as they age and grow.

Keeping this species is relatively easy;particularly tank bred and reared stock asopposed to wild-caught. Though thisAmphiprionine will gladly host with a number ofanemones and other stinging-celled life, it canhappily and often less belligerently get alongwithout such symbionts. Captive producedspecimens can be easily acclimated to aquariumconditions but wild-caught individuals should becarefully selected, dipped/bathed in freshwaterand quarantined for at least two weeks beforeintroduction to a main display tank. Importedspecimens are quite susceptible to Cryptocaryon(marine ich), Amyloodinium (velvet) andBrooklynellosis (“clownfish disease”). And theseprotozoan parasites are WAY better “treated”by exclusion during quarantine, then trying tofight them in your principal system.

ClassificationAll other clownfish species (subfamily

Amphiprionae of the Damselfish familyPomacentridae) are classed in the genusAmphiprion. The Maroon is monotypic... the onlymember of its genus; Premnas. The rest of itsname, biaculeatus, gives the most substantialreason or explanation for its separation: thepresence of two (look closely Photo 2) spines onthis fish’s gill covers. Another common name forthe species is “Spine-Cheek Clownfish”. Inphotograph 2 you can clearly see the barb on thepreoperculum.

What about the “yellow stripe” versus“white stripe” Maroons? These are the samespecies... and in fact, though they tend to stay oneor the other color; they can and do change in thecolor of their banding on the basis of nutrition.

Behavior (Territoriality)Maroon Clownfishes can be, or become

outright MEAN particularly if crowded, andespecially, if placed with other fishes, clownfishspecies included, that will not “back down”recognizing the obvious superiority of Premnas.Some folks try to diminish this tendency to “ruleall” in their Maroon tanks with the addition ofanemones, more décor but this almost NEVERworks.

Sea hares in theAquariumJulie Van Horn

Most aquarists regard sea slugs with one idea inmind: algae eaters. It is true that they do eat largequantities of algae, but sea slugs are singularcreatures in their own right. First it is important todistinguish among the types of sea slugs. The seaslugs most commonly appearing at an aquariumstore near you are likely either nudibranchs or seahares. Nudibranchs are generally less than a fewinches in length, brightly colored and have highlyspecific dietary requirements. Sea hares aresignificantly larger, less brightly colored and havemore general diet preferences. Responsibleaquarium keepers know what they are buying and itsproper care. Many people have heard ofnudibranchs, but sea hares are a different story.

A sea hare in an aquarium store is likely to be ofthe genus Aplysia (Photo 1). A sea hare from thespecies Bursatella is shown in Photo2. The largestAplysia is the California sea hare (Aplysia californica),which can grow to 3 three feet in length! Not toworry though, this kind of growth is unlikely in ahome aquarium. Sea hare growth is limited by thequality and quantity of food they receive. Aplysia arenot overly fond of hair algae, but if that is all that isthere, they will reluctantly try to eat it, even thoughit is not their natural food. To really make a seahare happy, feed it freshly collected seaweeds likesea lettuce (Ulva). Terrestrial plants (romainelettuce or zucchini) will suffice, as will dried seaweed(nori). A young healthy sea hare will literally eat asmuch as is put in the tank, but beware, it passesthrough the sea hare’s digestive tract almost asquickly.

In the best of circumstances, a sea hare’s lifeexpectancy is just over a year. With so little time,reproduction is paramount. Sea hares arehemaphrodites, but this doesn’t mean they canreproduce without a partner. Because of the waythe plumbing is laid out, they cannot self fertilize.Instead, a second sea hare will act as either a male,

Sea hare of the genus Aplysia.

Phot

o by

Bob

Fen

ner

Continued on page 4

Phot

o by

Julie

Van

Hor

n

About Cnidarian Symbionts &Tankmates

Maroons will take on a number of otherorganisms (and inanimate objects) as symbiotichosts. Most naturally the Bubble Tip Anemone,Entacmaea quadricolor, is well matched withthem... and the matching of captive produced fishwith captive produced anemone is especiallysweet.

Of all Clownfish species, Maroons are likelythe very most changeable, flexible in theirbehavior, but also the downright orneriest aswell. They can easily take on even largertriggerfishes, puffers, basses... and tear uphexacorallian tankmates... corals and anemonesespecially. The key descriptor in their intelligentcare is “keen observation”. You must keep youreye on them, lest they “go ballistic”. It is highlyrecommended that you intentionally place yourMaroon/s last or close to last as fish livestockAND that they be what you want as the “alpha”fish. Even in tanks of a few hundred gallons. “Oh,I’m going to have a few anemones so I can keepdifferent clowns together” Think again... oftenPremnas will “hog” any and all such symbionts.

Yes, Premnas will accept “strange bedfellows”like Trachyphyllia (Brain Coral), Flower Pot Coral(Goniopora), Plate Corals (Fungiids), all sorts ofsoft corals, even faux corals, rocks, powerheadsand the like, but they do NOT need theseorganisms to live healthy, long lives. Tank bredspecimens have very likely never been exposedto cnidarians period and may not take to them inyour system.

SystemsThis fish gets big, nearly seven inches long in

the wild, just slightly smaller in captivity. And canbe, to put it mildly, feisty with its own kind andother livestock. I would not place a singleindividual in any aquarium smaller than a fortygallon, or two fish in a minimum of sixty gallons.If mixing a new individual with an established one,it is strongly suggested to separate them for asolid week, with a partition or my favorite, afloating plastic colander (spaghetti strainer). Put

the “old” one in the colander, allowing the newone to become familiar with the system, ANDclosely observe them the day of actual fin-to-finintroduction.

Premnas do best in “reef” type settings,irrespective of their tenacious personalities andthe possibility of their tearing up sedentaryinvertebrates. They may dig in the substrate,particularly around a host organism/item, but thisis nothing to be alarmed about. They greatlyprefer a mix of rocky decoration to cruise aboutin, and your other agile livestock will appreciatethis as well... to get out of sight of the Maroons.

Continued from page 1

Premnas biaculeatus - The MaroonClownfish Reproduction

This fish has been spawned many timescommercially over the last few decades. Timeswere that tank bred/reared Maroons were clearlyinferior to wild-caught, with less color, somebehavioral anomalies and at times, shortenedlifespans. Nowadays, this is far from the case, andexcept for folks who don’t want to wait to bringup their own small individuals to pair and perhapsreproduce, captive produced individuals are farsuperior in quality, disease resistance, overalladaptation to aquarium conditions.

Pairs of this species, males are much morered, diminutive in size by comparison, can bepurchased as such or if one of yours shouldperish, another of the approximate size of thelost one may be introduced (within a few weeksto discount aggression). Raising your ownbroodstock is not hard to do, with the usualapproach of acquiring a handful of smallindividuals and having them “grow-up together”.This requires either a good-sized system orvigilant observation on your part, to noticepairing behavior and likely removing these toother quarters.

Foods/Feeding/Nutrition Small to large Maroons will accept all foods

with gusto. In the wild, the species principallyfeeds on zooplankton and macroalgae, but incaptivity they will gladly take flakes, pellets,

A wild-caught “pair” in a wholesaler’s cubicle. Themaile is the smaller, lighter colored individual in theforground.

Phot

o by

Bob

Fen

ner

For SALTWATER

that

MEASURESUP.

ACCURATE

TO ±0.001!ACCURATE

TO ±0.001!

• Full-Range, Easy-Read Scalewith Safe Zone

• Durable Outer Casing and Needle• Extra-Wide Stabilizer Base• Easy-Fill Design

H Y D R O M E T E R

®

Aquarium Systems, Inc. • Mentor, OH • www.marineland.com • ©2005 Marineland

Two spines on the gill cover give this fish its speciesname “biaculeatus”.

Phot

o by

Bob

Fen

ner

Continued on page 3

PUBLICATION INFORMATION

SeaScope® was created to present short,informative articles of interest to marineaquarists. Topics may include water chemistry,nutrition, mariculture, system design, ecology,behavior, and fish health. Article contributionsare welcomed. They should deal with pertinenttopics and are subject to editorial reviews thatin our opinion are necessary. Payments will bemade at existing rates and will cover all author'srights to the material submitted.SeaScope® is published quarterly for freedistribution through local aquarium dealers.Dealers not receiving copies of SeaScope® fordistribution to their customers should callAquarium Systems, Inc. to be added to themailing list. Telephone: 1-800-822-1100. TheSeaScope® newsletter is now available on-line atwww.marineland.com under the News tab. Goto the “What’s New” section and chooseSeaScope® newsletter for the most recentissue.Address comments, questions, and suggestionsto Dr. Timothy A. Hovanec, Editor. Marineland, 6100 Condor Dr., Moorpark, CA93021or E-Mail: seascope@marineland.com

Aquarium Systems is a Marineland Company

A Premnas with Brooklynellosis.

Phot

o by

Bob

Fen

ner

frozen/defrosted. The species does best beingafforded regular spontaneous feeding through theuse of a live sump (refugium) but will also farewell being offered foods twice daily.

Diseases of All SortsAs clean and easy to keep biologically

disease-free as captive produced stock of thisspecies is, the wild-caught is VERY often funkyand gunky. Almost all imports are hosts to agoodly amount of parasite fauna, and coupledwith the stress of captivity, handling, shipping,starving, are a recipe for disaster IF not given

respite from their journey. Lots of T.L.C. inquarantine for a few weeks to rest up... and foryou to observe, possibly treat them for problemsis the best approach.

Crypt/Ich and Amyloodinium can be treatedwith copper based medications and/orenvironmental manipulation. Brooklynellosis almostnever responds to any treatment not containingformalin/formaldehyde. Beware of “reef safe” and“herbal” voodoo and other ingredients label-lesstreatments - they do NOT work. And do makesure and NOT attempt treatment in your mainsystem... this must remain fish-less (free of hosts)for a good month, while you’re treating your fishlivestock (all of them) elsewhere. The logic ofquarantine becomes immensely clear to any/allwho have suffered these experiences.

ClozeSo... you can read this off like a checklist: Do

you have a large enough tank (forty gallon for one,sixty for two minimum), which can use a “boss” fish?Where its hexacorallian organisms might end-upshredded? Lots of time to wait on a beautiful fish ortwo? Well, you just might be a candidate for Maroonkeeping. Most problems with this fish are self-generated... people trying to keep them in too smalla system, not as the alpha fish, buying large wild-caught specimens and not properly quarantiningthem... Avoid these common mistakes.

Bibliography/Further Reading:

Allen, Gerald R. 1974. The Anemonefishes. Their Classificationand Biology, 2nd Ed. TFH Publications, NJ.

For more than 40 years, InstantOcean® and Reef Crystals® Sea Saltshave set the industry standard forquality, consistency, convenience,and value in aquarium sea salts.They are the #1 choice of hobbyists,

public aquariums and scientificresearch facilities everywhere – the perfect solutions for the idealmarine environment.

For more than 40 years, InstantOcean® and Reef Crystals® Sea Saltshave set the industry standard forquality, consistency, convenience,and value in aquarium sea salts.They are the #1 choice of hobbyists,

public aquariums and scientificresearch facilities everywhere – the perfect solutions for the idealmarine environment.

Aquarium Systems, Inc. • Mentor, OH(800) 822-1100 • www.marineland.com

©2005 Marineland

Allen, Gerald R. 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. TFHPublications, Neptune City, NJ.

Allen, Gerald R. 1979. The Anemonefishes of the World: Species,Care & Breeding; Handbook for Aquarists, Divers and Scientists.Aquarium Systems, Mentor Ohio.

Fenner, Bob. 1989. Popular marines: the Anemonefishes. PetsSupplies Marketing 2/89.

Frank, Stanislav. 1996. Zum geschlechtsdimorphismus einigereriffbarsche. Das Aquarium Nr. 323, Mai 1996.

Goldstein, Robert J. 1972. Anemone Fishes. Marine Aquarist3(3):72.

Goldstein, R. J., 1982. Breeding Anemonefishes; Aquarist &Pondkeeper, part 1 vol46(11), part 2 vol47(1).

Henningsen, Alan D. 1989. An introduction to breedingClownfishes. TFH Jan 1989.

Hoff, F., 1984. Pairing Clownfish, FAMA Sept 1984.

Juhl, Torben. 1992. Commercial breeding of Anemonefishes.SeaScope vol. 9 winter 92.

O’Malley, John. 1989. Potential problems with clownfish; despitetheir peaceful dispositions, clownfish prefer to be alone. AFM Feb1989.

Stratton, Richard F.1989. The tomato clownfish. TFH Feb 1989.

Stratton, Richard F. 1994. The maroon clownfish. TFH Nov 1994.

Wilkerson, Joyce D. 1997 Clownfish; a guide to their captive care,breeding & natural history. Microcosm, VT. 216 pp.

Wilkerson, Joyce D. 1993. Clowning around; simple clownfishspawning and rearing facility. FAMA Jun 1993.

Young, F.A. & Guerrant, C. 1984. Raising Clownfish for theHobbyist. FAMA Sept 1984.

Continued from page 2

Premnas biaculeatus - The MaroonClownfish

Future Events and Conferences

IMAC 2005 June 24-26, 2005, Chicago IL.

More information at www.theimac.org

MACNA XVII September 16-18, 2005Washington D. C.

More information atwww.macnaxvii.com

Close-up of an Aplysia radula.

transferring sperm to the first via an eversible penislocated on the right side of the head, or as a female,receiving sperm from the first through a gonoporelocated in the middle of a sea hare’s back. Groupsof mating sea hares form loops or chains that can bequite extravagant. Obviously, it’s much more fun forthe aquarist and the sea hares if more than one arekept.

The end result of all this activity is eggs. Seahares stick their eggs, which resemble greenspaghetti, onto the walls of aquariums. In about aweek the eggs will hatch and the egg masses willdisappear, releasing microscopic larvae called

A sea hare from the species Bursatella.

veligers. Most veligers are removed by the filtrationsystem in fairly short order. Survival in a homeaquarium is not likely, as the veligers requirephytoplankton food and specific types of algae uponwhich to metamorphose into adults.

Sea hares are low-key creatures. They don’tbother other animals and other animals don’t botherthem. On the rare occasion that a sea hare isgenuinely annoyed however, it is capable of ejectingpurple ink. The color is derived from pigments inthe diet. Starved or old sea hares release blue ink.

Nearly blind, sea hares depend on their sensesof touch and “smell”. When food is put into the

Phot

o by

Julie

Van

Hor

n

aquarium, they immediately stop what they aredoing and begin casting about with their heads tozero in on the source. The two “ears” on top of asea hare’s head are called rhinophores. Therhinophores, along with the “mustache” or oraltentacles around a sea hare’s mouth receivechemical cues from objects in the water of interestto them, namely food or other sea hares. The oraltentacles, combined with the anterior part of thefoot are used to grasp and manipulate food.

Sea hares do not have teeth. They grasp theirfood by means of a rough tongue like structurecalled the radula. Photos 3 and 4 contrast the radulaof the sea hares in the species Aplysia and Bursatella,respectively. Different kinds of sea hares havedistinct looking radulas, which are adapted to thetype of food they prefer. The radula is lined withrows of radula teeth. Aplysia radula teeth are shortand fairly blunt while those of another sea hare,Bursatella, has radula teeth that are long and hooked.Between the mouth and the gizzard is a crop thatstores food on its way to a muscular organ calledthe gizzard. The gizzard is endowed with gizzardteeth made of chitin that serve to further grind upfood. Then it’s just a short trip through the intestineand out through a siphon in the center of the seahare’s back, posterior to the shell. Because a lot ofwhat they eat is not digestible, the majority passesright through. Frequent bottom siphoning is a must ifyou insist on a neat aquarium with sea hares.

Some sea hares can swim. They have large wing-like extensions, or parapodia, on either side of theirbodies that they beat against the water, lifting themup. Other sea hares cannot swim, and must becontent with slow sluglike movement along the seafloor with the aid of the muscular foot.

Although the term slug implies that sea haresare without a shell, in fact, Aplysia does have a shell(Photo 5). It is much reduced and internal, but canbe felt in the middle of its back. The sea hare larva,or veliger, always has a shell, but some species lose itas they mature.

Sea hares are not a solution to hair algae.Forcing them to eat it is no fun and they willnot thrive. Instead, if you decide to keep seahares, feed them well and enjoy their slowmotion antics as a contrast to the energeticswimming of tropical fish.

Sea hares in the AquariumContinued from page 1

Close-up of a Bursatella radula. The shell of an Aplysia.

Phot

o by

Julie

Van

Hor

n

Phot

o by

Julie

Van

Hor

nPh

oto

by Ju

lie V

an H

orn

MANUFACTURER OF INSTANT OCEAN * i

Volume 22 Issue 2,2005

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of new reef aquarium hobbyists in )he post few years. This increase has lead to a welling in ftie number of local '"frag swaps" being held in communities ocross the counlry , Frog swaps are events typically sponsored by a local aquarium society during which hobbyists will buy, 4, and (rode captive grown fragments (frogs) of corals, as well as new and used equipment. This article will tell you all you need to know if you will be going to your first swap.

Prepar ingmu Attendingyourfirst conbean

intimidating hy b orrange frodes or purchases in advance of the swap. You can usually find a thread in one of Ae online bwrds or on the sportionhg clubs website in which advance I d e s and s a k are arranged. Scan these frequently in the days M i uptotheswop.Youcondsoposton k ? r d wiha s g c i k s p z k y w me looking to buy or e Remember to arrange a time and/or a place to meet the seller at the swap, as usually it is someone you don't know. Most issue name tags h e dm,butlh-hXkbhhdk know itiol I11 be wearing a bit red shirt, or some other way to disiinguish myself to make locating each crfher easier.

PossibtePÑ There is us+ a small fee to a d

swaps, and anoftier small fee if want to set up an aqwrium to sell or trade I? ags from. You

not hove anything to trade if you probably are new to hobby, which means should bri cash wih you. 90% of Epeople who ore J i n g things will wily accept cash, although there will uswily be some vendors there taking credit cards. Check with the sponsoring ctub ahead of lime to find out which, if any, wndors will be crttendirg and what forms of payment will be accepted. Usuo , these events are held in veni~es ihot are o k, ittle too smli for the numbers of crttendaas, which will mean m e waiting around while the crowd goes from table to table examining the offerings. You should attempt to see all of the offerings before

Continued on page 4

Bob Fmnw WaiWobiModia

Almost constan* soaring about like their avion counterparts the brilliarrtly colored bird wrasses are amusi ly shaped, and are on a

look-outfor items, predators, and oquarists.

Bird Wrasse? so named for their prominent beaks as much as wr flitting

swimming behavior. These are fad movi moderate sized (males to o h a f e d 6% that do w r y wall in mixed fish species

Theream two species in thegenus depending on the aq~xarist here is Ii rophic awareness ~ocation of the other of the by

es. Europeans ere readily fimilior with TheTndiin Ocean and Red Sea species Gornphosus c m h which is almost exclusively traded in European markets. But Americans wit) only know G. &s which is found from Hawaii to the tropical western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean.

Both tfwss spades attain about the same size, hove similar habits and care reot~iremenk. Bird Wrasses are neither small, nor greatly easygoing, and are best kept with

other mid-sized fishes of an outgoing nature, Small fishes, or ones that are too shy to compete for food, and "bite-sized" invertebrates like small shrimps cannot be easily kept with Gomphosus spp.

The Two Species Gomphosus coen/teuS [Locepede 1801),

the Blue, or Red Sea Bird Wrasse (Ptrcto 1) is found in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Moles are dark azure blue, and females white to yellow below and dark greenish blue above. They reach about one toot 30 an) in length.

Gomphosus wius (Locepede 1 80 1 ), is ¥th much more common Bird Wrasse in the west, The moles are lighter over-all, and females tranwersety Eta w h t ti back, with an oragiih u "beak*'. The i n Bird Wrasse i s E n d in Hawaii to the tropical western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean.

Continued on page 2 Woo5 Aqwmm Systems, Inc., Mentor, OH . Prinled in U.S.A.

ConHnued from page 1

3.) Size moUersI Unless you hove a very

I b Z (>100*gaWwtà little present

* f w d b f ~ s b ~ w*.~ i ldesh i iandodo~tb rb i~ rhan lmpnck... whibri ustothepertinent tad thot tfwse fishes likeotfier wrasses ore

mobs. So, uying a k h h y (emale, you oem expect In time to have a mole.

-H&w Ewn d l specimens of Bird Wrasses

need room to move. Thesespeciesore coooblftofir>credib!abuntsofspeed,andcan and do easily dumago ihemselves at limes by running into the walk of their aquariums, A minimum sized 'um lor them if a two-foot d & b y h ~ ~ ~ ; k m " m I d i d make that a six foot long aquarium.

Akintotheir 'ty for rapid mwemeni,theirtanEELtok covered.MANYandupassomuch ¡"e

Ftlfratroft/oeratiori/urculotion need to be

wonunderthesubstrate.

be fitted with this sand, a gfwn bfew inches)oreashouldbasetaside

T- Hardy donuelfishei, medium to larger

b We hove dreody men-lioned the incidental

damoga and mortalities due to capture trauma and habitat limitation; Bird wrasses are

majorityofmarinefishes. Given a few weeks careful quarantine,

and/or a Hudjusted freshwater bath between snipping and placeman*, il is rare that theywitcarrypathogensintoanewsystem.

marine angels, batfishes, SoUierfishes, bassos ofgoodsize, thesearesuitablefishesintonns d compatibility. M i a s , buflerflyfishes, most cot& ndfcihet... win rxri gat enough lo eat in a tank with Gomphosus.

Bird Wrasses do not consume stinging- celled mimds, prefeiring mollusks, d l fishes, achinodanns d wnro mcndy in he wild, so stridfy weoking Ihey ore "reel sofeu fishes, though lhay will consume smaller shrimpsgiven Ihechance,

Birdwrassesdofinekeptonebatank, and con be kept as "pairs" {me f d , one mole),orif >y3temisverytaiga,a dlemale$,C&rnaintain +tone system- -

Bird wrasses are far from fin+ feeders and willgluttonously consumedtonnateof foods in greet In fad, (here is typtai~yv~tylrtSemokefhot no training time required acquainting Gofrwhosw wflh novel ioodstuffs.Asaprochcatmeasure, youmay wefl horn to toed Bird Wrasse in one comerwhilesimultaneously hyingtogetfood toprotherlivestock,

Continued on page 3

^ '^ for more than 40 years, In51 They trk the f fT dit~ceor nobhyists, Ocean-' and Reef crystals$ Sea Salts public aquariums and scientific have set the industry standard for research facilities everywhere - quality, consistency, convenience, the perfect solutions for the ideal wad value in aquarium sea salts.

h s c h Hans & Helmut Debelius. 1994; Marina ha, v. I . MERGUS, Germany, Burgess, Wonen E. Herbert R. Axelrod & Raymond E. ~unz^er Ill. 1990. A h of Aquarium Fishes Reference Book, v. 1 Marine Fishes. T.F.H. Publications, NJ. 768pp. Emmens, Cliff W. 1985, Wraaws. TFH 7/85. Nelson loia h S. 1994. Fishes of the ~olfd. '3rd ~ c f WHçy MOpp. Roncbtl, John E. 1983. Red Sea Reef Fishes. hmet Publishing, London. 192pp. Randail, John E. 1996 Shore F' h*t of HcTOai'i. N-al Worid Prw, QR.Afipp.

is published quortdy tor free m r q h h~ aquarium hbs. DdChfSnotracMVfngcopiesof

lor distribution to itwu customers fhould call Aquarium Systems, Inc.tobeaddedtothemoilinglirt. +

Ttlephofto; 1-800822-1 100. The nawshk is now mkbb

or wit: sea&copa hia BiiffiJcaid.~~~i 2

Aquarium Systems is a -on of Spectrum Brands