| Once all the research, planning and
| |
| | ocellaris)
|
| waiting is complete and the aquarium is
| |
| | * Percula clown (Amphiprion percula)
|
| full of water and has finally finished
| |
| | Clownfish can be purchased tank bred and
|
| cycling you will finally be ready to
| |
| | if this is an available option it is
|
| introduce your first fish.
| |
| | recommended that you follow this option.
|
| It is important to ensure that you make
| |
| | Orchid Dottyback
|
| the right choice though as there are some
| |
| | The orchid dottyback (Fridmani
|
| fish which are suitable to be added at
| |
| | pseudochromis) is a relatively peaceful
|
| this stage and there are fish which are
| |
| | fish which grows to around 3-4 inches in
|
| not.
| |
| | length. The good thing about the orchid
|
| Do you know what you are looking for in
| |
| | dottyback is that they can be purchased
|
| the selection of your first fish?
| |
| | tank bred.
|
| Firstly and foremost the fish you choose
| |
| | One thing to be noted is that you should
|
| must be relatively hardy. The reason for
| |
| | not mix this fish with other fish of the
|
| this is that the saltwater aquarium is
| |
| | same shape (ie the royal gramma below) or
|
| new and the water will not be completely
| |
| | with other dottybacks.
|
| stable. Another reason is that as
| |
| | Once the fish has become accustomed to
|
| aquarists we all make mistakes at one
| |
| | life in your aquarium it will become
|
| time or another and with having a hardy
| |
| | quite bold and swim happily around the
|
| fish they are more forgiving to these
| |
| | aquarium.
|
| mistakes.
| |
| | Royal Gramma
|
| You will probably have an idea as to the
| |
| | Royal grammas (Gramma Loreto) are a
|
| type of fish you would like to keep in
| |
| | peaceful fish with the exception of their
|
| your aquarium therefore it is imperative
| |
| | own kind and are very colourful fish with
|
| that this fish you choose now will be
| |
| | the colours changing from purple to
|
| compatible with future tank mates. If you
| |
| | yellow along the fishs body.
|
| added an aggressive fish for example at
| |
| | There are other fish which can easily be
|
| the start then whenever you decided to
| |
| | confused with the Royal Gramma as they
|
| add a new fish there would be fighting in
| |
| | look very similar so ensure that it
|
| the aquarium. Not what you want at this
| |
| | actually is a Royal Gramma prior to
|
| stage really is it.
| |
| | purchasing it.
|
| Which fish are good fish to start with?
| |
| | Blenny
|
| Below is a list of what I believe to be
| |
| | There are a couple of blennies which in
|
| good starter fish for a saltwater
| |
| | my opinion make good additions to the
|
| aquarium. They are all relatively hardy,
| |
| | aquarium as starter fish and there are
|
| peaceful and none of them have special
| |
| | the Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas) and the
|
| feeding requirements.
| |
| | Bicolour Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor).
|
| * Clownfish
| |
| | These are both fantastic to watch. They
|
| * Orchid Dottyback
| |
| | both like to either rest on a ledge or
|
| * Royal Gramma
| |
| | find a hole and simply watch the world go
|
| * Blenny
| |
| | by.
|
| * Chromis
| |
| | Chromis
|
| * Firefish
| |
| | Chromis (Chromis viridis) are great to
|
| Lets have a look at each of these in a
| |
| | add to an aquarium. They are relatively
|
| little more detail :
| |
| | hardy and if you have a larger aquarium
|
| Clownfish
| |
| | then you can add a small group. They
|
| The clownfish to me is a fantastic little
| |
| | normally come in two colours (blue and
|
| fish. The way it swims, the way it lives
| |
| | green).
|
| in corals etc and especially the colours
| |
| | One of the good things about chromis is
|
| - a great addition to any aquarium. They
| |
| | that they do not grow to be that large.
|
| are also one of the most popular starter
| |
| | They normally do not grow larger than 2
|
| fish. They are quite hardy and are very
| |
| | inches in length.
|
| well suited to captive life in an
| |
| | Firefish
|
| aquarium.
| |
| | The normal firefish (Nemateleotris
|
| You can keep these singularly or you can
| |
| | magnifica) and then purple firefish
|
| keep them in pairs. When kept in pairs
| |
| | (Nemateleotris decora) are great starter
|
| the most dominant fish sometimes will
| |
| | fish to add to the aquarium. Both of
|
| turn into a female and the two may even
| |
| | these are very colourful fish which grow
|
| end up breeding.
| |
| | to a maximum size of about 4 inches.
|
| There is a mis-belief that clown fish
| |
| | The firefish has a large dorsal fin which
|
| must be kept with an anemone. This simply
| |
| | it uses to lock itself into a hole in the
|
| is not the case. Clownfish will be more
| |
| | rocks which is normally down at the
|
| than happy in an aquarium without one.
| |
| | bottom. This hole is where the fish
|
| Anenomes are quite hard to keep and at
| |
| | retires to when the lights go out but it
|
| this stage of the aquariums life the
| |
| | also uses it when it becomes startled.
|
| aquarium is not yet ready for one,
| |
| | These fish are prone to jumping when
|
| possibly neither are you.
| |
| | startled therefore you need to take care
|
| There are various species of clownfish,
| |
| | to prevent this.
|
| however the best ones to start with are :
| |
| | Unless you can locate an established pair
|
| * Common clown (Amphiprion ocellaris)
| |
| | I would recommend that these are kept
|
| * Black and white clown (Amphiprion
| |
| | singularly.
|
