_ AQUARIUM FISHKEEPING >» FRESHWATER * MARINE + & MORE! \ | «i iS) alee ] Lee ee By ie oles (eu ea MAZON / ie FORIVOUR COMMUNITY TANK 3 A PROTEIN SKIMMERS e v Ee STN ¥ FANCY PLATIESeee EL Cm maim eee H H ECMO OLA NY l (] | | Yo U r aN oy SSD CoO CaN COU PIR co Pelee lao Cae CIRO aR oe ECR Rene ee TEU RUC lau Sees AMAT Cue ES Po Leto)oF am ele ee cam Ceca with Probiotics in the form of Bascillus sp. bacteria Rieaet ere mca ee U SN mL we've got you covered. ESI ACLU CL Doel Teco el Le eL ‘the best choice for your CY MA Ye m a 7 - A.hat DON Ms TE) 7 (0). eenerepeeeee ee C0) OLE er cee Super Concensued Tap Water Conioner For Freshwater & Salwar Pe in ee Rees ce pepe) ee eer oe ee ee ee a ee ene a SON oc ae E Bee eee oo £ Surface Oil Skimmer } Po eg eee Seta cto kaueaed ees ed { pHINSTRUMENT} —- & EXTERNAL FILTER } ee ECD ‘320 Gallon/Hr BreyOT. MC) @Sst.. { AUTO FEEDER } _ 3 different colors r Yer eet os Piette Peek) ees VER Cease foo holga wm Rood t ne { King of Aqua Gardens } Oe a a Oi 7 Ty Olle Ponte a FWOSAURUS: AQUARIUM LIGHTING — & @ Designed for Fith & Aquatic plans @) For use with Freshwater or Sawater@) Water Resistant Construction IAB BLACK ree) AI Light Boibe Inclled eae a . PPLE LU Te Deora ood c= Ea ww STintemations!.com » Sales Contact: info@sTintemational. ae ie CO eer)One of the cornerstones ofreef keeping is proper nutritionfebruary?7014 Our 62nd Year - Volume LXll- Number 6 «#695, features 48 An Attractive Layout with Healthy Aquatic Life Fah and micioorganas are crtical components of the Nate ‘Aquarium ond. ashe oquoscopng master exaiars. the ayout must be eppropriaa 1o Mer needs. Takashi Amano. 54 The South American Freshwater Puffer Tho only American freshwater puterfish i rorely soon, bul mais for fun aquarum resent witht good looks and peccetl personaly. Roland Schreiber 60 Preventing Ich Ich’s one of ha mos! common fih teases but is fit preventable {rc treatable. A scent fs the bes! methods fo reduce the eof ch xs rea! outereoksin he aguorium. De-Hal Xu, PhD 64 Gouramis for the Community Tank, Part 2: Medium and Large Gouramis In he second pat of her sores on gouremes a profesional oquart| Ccideses the gourais hat exe better site forlger tories but sil invwith © communty of fonarates. Lea Maddocks 70 Monsters Among Us ‘Altnough they may appear smal a the store, some krge-grewing species require mach more foom than you might expect. An expert hobby reviows some of tho biggest offenders ond cutines ther specitic (not impossible) core requrements. Arthur Mastoski 76 Marine Aquarium Basics, Part 7: Protein Skimming col umns (One of the biggest ferences botwaon fresiwator and satwotor torts he later’ need or a protein sre, srnenh« pro 20 Ask Jack ‘eofkeopor exis what protein serming the pes of srymors vse ay Cevoiaole, en what Yo oak er when you pues one. Pil Hunt 22 Cichlid World 82 Still Tanked, and Spreading the Love canara [Animal Panes hi sow Tankedte Bock fx enter sacxon. TS cub 7 ‘epeer catches up wih the populr enls and some of he tanks Brot cnc Wayde have ciealed fo the clone, ricicng some web known sans Praned Tank Ccojtiice. Matt Haviland 30 Life with Livebearers (hates Gonos 34 Import Report 38 Going Nono 42 The Salt Mix Jos Fate, Se‘moron ond nave mau posenaies departments 8 Editor's Note/Reader's Forum 10 Feature Photo 12 Freshwater Q&A 16 Saltwater Q&A 86 Meeting Place 90 Classifieds 92 Product Spotlight 94 Advertiser Index 96 Parting Shot TROPCLEISH smagazine.com TFH Magazine Edilorial & Design contouring ctor: Jomes etme, Advertising Subscriptions FH. Publications, Inc,editors note ypcally wien people think of sh they thnk of er Beaty and grace buthotnecesrly thet personales Wis an unforonate conception that ish only have a limited memory or capaci for lamin, tut anyone who Keeps tank knows that simply not ive. Fe Wile the questa examples of ineigen and precodous fish ae chk Twould argue that there ae many other groups thc exibi ciatg knercive behaviors Among personal Fores and a group that begs rey poople ito the obhyy—ee the gouramis. With their modifi pectoral fins that look lke inverted antennae constantly sweeping though thei environment, gouramis have ‘an almost comical appearance to them. Combine that eharacerstie with thearray of colors they come in and their charismatic behavior, and i no surprise that gouramis are often the stars oftheir setup, Last month, we looked at the dwarf gouramis—ones that will fi into small community tank—and this month we are looking at the medium and large gouramis. Nothing against theit smaller brethre but the lager gouramis really steal the show: If you are looking for ‘a medium to large goutami, Lea Maddocks profiles everything from regular comntumity denizens to a show-stopping pond species (p. 64). Palfers are another undeniably personable group of fish, With theie almost puppy-like eyes, begging behaviors, and remarkable intelligence, pafferish stand out in any tank they are putin. A rarely scen species, the Amazon puffer, is a true freshwater fish that 1s surprisingly and refreshingly peaceful with members of its own kind. If you are ‘wondering what to do with a large display tank, a group of these comical pufferish is bound to keep you entertained (p. 54). ‘While fish can be entertaining, their invertebrate counterparts have ‘a charm all their own. Iyou have only a small space and want to have f personality-packed tank, you might consider some of the matine shrimp species Bob Fenner discusses in this months “Going Nano” column. From cleaners that will ride ther ish friends, to sexy shrimp that will dance right in front of you, to symbiotie shrimp that never take their antennae off their goby partners, marine shrimp can make for an inuriguing setup and amuse you for hours (p. 38) Ofcourse, someti rest not just the fish that ae entertaining, but the tank itself, In our exclusive follow-up with the stars of Animal Planets now renowned TV show Tanked, we take a look at a tank worthy of Houdini himself a setup for Betty White, and much more (p. 82). ‘No mater what kind of animals you keep, consider watching them closely ancl appreciating them for more than just their good looks. Many will surprise you with their dynamic behaviors and distinct attitudes, and even put on a show for you, Afler all, you should never judge a book by its cover, or a fish by its sales. Shari Horowitz Managing Editor Tropical Fish Hobbyist, reader's forum Dear Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Te ike wo star his eter by saying that Ilove your magazine. 1 received ry first issue last night, ancl was abolutely estate! [am an aspiring marine biologist. My dream es in studying octopuses in New Zealand. {aso wish to contribute to marine conservation. Although [Lam studying mate life and oceanography, 1 have not yet had chance tw study taxonomy. So currently, when reading antics in your magazine, I have a dificult ime understanding the binomial name of the organism that isbeing discussed Th siting this leer to you with regares to aeding a monthly section on taxonomy to help radets gin a deeper understanding ofthe binomial names ‘of aquatic ongnisns. As, fT may suggest one more thing, afer mentioning, 1 binomial name, it woul he hepfl and greatly beneficial to the reader to follow it with a pronunciation guide. If that snot possible, maybe you can give the a suggestion on a reputable source of aquatic axonem: tis my personal opinion that your magazine is amazing aswell as all of ‘your contnbuting writers. You havea new life-long fllwer. Matthew Shaw Dear Matthew, Thank you so much for your kind namarks and welcome 4 the Tropical ih Hobbyist family! Were drilled tht you get so much jay fom reading our »magaeine, and we hope youl contin to fn its content hep end inpiratonal «as you presi che hobby aon ueagh yous fascinating sts marine bole. We also appreciate your recommendation of adding a txonomy based section 1 the magazine. While tha might not be something we can do every month, tasomamy i certainly a worthy topic fora foatre acl or bi series of nicles—so heep tuning in! Perhaps well beable persuade one of our egert ‘onoribucrs totale up this topic in he notoo-distant fe To give you a very brief explanation of binomial nomenclanue, each selec name assigned toa living thing consists of parts (anal sometimes ‘other elements, but wel ep it simple here). The firs is the genus of the “organism, anu he secon i its species. The genus (or gencric name) f always capitalized, andthe species (or secfc name) is aways lowercase, Both names ‘ane talezed (or set in Roman fot if, as here, they appear within taliczed tex). For example, the valid scenic name forthe popular yellow tang i Zebrasoma favescens—the genus being Zebrasoma and the species bring avescens. We very dhe valid’ of each scenic name that appears in TFH tothe best of our ability through various reputable dazabeses, sich asthe Inmeational Taxonomic Iformation System (is.gon) ane FishBase or. Wath respect to adding a pronunciation guide afer each binomial name in the magacine, cht presen a much bigger callenge—and not jus fro the standpoint of space on the page. You see, while scientific names are univers, there isnt aways agreement on how dy should be pronounce. n fat, prmunciations can vary considerably from one region or country tothe next— ‘or even from one hobbyist tothe next. Fortuna, shat matters most is that weal do oer Des co ensue siete names appear accurately in writing, * Be sure to follow IFH Magazine on Facebook! wwwacebook.com/ithmagazine 8 vornefhmagazine com February 2014DREAMS COME TRUE! MR. AQUA FRAMELESS QUARIUMS/& ELM Woop STANDS. FEATURI 2ETINA | LED LiGHT. lest WWW.-MRAQUA.NET Dinwibuies By SevenPorteJellyfish It yourte looking for’an uncommon setup, a jellyfish tank teally tits the bill. These jlatinous creatures create a serene air os float effortlessly through the water— no aggression ot competition to be had However, with their unique looks come some unique requirements. Jellyfish connot tolerate air bubbles anywhere in theit setup, 60 you need to eliminate the possibility of air getting into the aquarium. Most people use o kreisel tank to do this—it is a eylindrical aquarium that is basically empty of décor and equipment and provides a very slow but continuous flow around the circle, This enables the jellyfish fo remain in suspension, where you can enjoy their delightful displays.mils Q&A tresrwater 2 gota question? Send your questions about the freshwater side_of the aquarium hobby to "Q&A," FH, Publications PO. Box 427, Neptune. NJ 07754 & submit ig ema to ectoretn senslive questions, opinions on your setup, oF just fo Converse with tke minded members of the aquarium community, please visit the TH Forum at forums tihmagazine.com, What's the Hardiest Livebearer? Which of the common livebearers, guppies, mollies, platies, or swordtails, are the hardiest? Can they coexist in an aquarium, say a 46-gallon? Douglas Davis via Twitter First, 1 need to emphasize that there are diferent wild species of each of these groups and. iybridization among. the livebearers is rampant. Thus, any answer to your question would be « sweeping _generalization a best That said, I would probably choose plates as the handiest of the bunch with swords coming in a close second. Modern ancy guppy strains seem to he particularly “agile. Molles can be very handy when their requirements are mc, but they seem to Be tess ‘adaptable than platies and swordails when 4x comes to water parameters. All of these livebearers prefer har, basic wate, but these éonations are prety much non-negotiable for mollies In fact, moles tend todo Best when Iept in brackish conditions in aquariums. Combining all four aypes together in the same 46-gallon tank may create some problems. For example, mais can be major bullies and could make life miserable forthe salle, more peaceful plas and guppies. Male sworduils cam be prety obnoxious in this regard oo. Not all livebearers ave an the same page when it comes to water temperature either Plaies, for instance, prefer temperature somevshere inthe range Of the low to mid-70s Falvenket, while wonaflmagaine.com rmolties lke ie warmer, between che upper 706 and low-80s. The bottom line i, it wont be easy to provide conditions that make everybody happy. Airline Tubing Water Leak Uhave a 15-gallon freshwater aquarium with an airstone to provide oxygenation, This morning, 1 noticed that the airstone wasnt bubbling, and when I checked the air pump, which have hidden inside the cabinet stand, 1 discovered there was about a half inch of water in the base of the stand. Somehow, water managed to work its way from the tank down through the tubing and down, into the stand. Do you have any idea how this happened and what I can do to prevent i from happening again? Mandy Stephens via email What likely occurred is that your ‘air pump or 4s power source failed. The consequent loss. of ‘air pressure chen allowed water to rise upward chrough the airline tubing via capillary action. Once the water reached the highest point (ihe top edge ofthe tank) and began to flow dovnwani, i then created a siphon pulling more and more water out of te tank and flooding the base of your stand. This situation can be prevented in the fuure by simply inserting a check valve in your airline tube. Ths type of valve, which is very inespensve (costing only a few dollars), devailable at virtually any aquarium store, and very easy 10 install, will allow ale to ass through with minimal resistance when February 2014the pump is functioning normally, but will prevent water from backyloving an 4 flood in the event of a pump failure. Hillstream Loach Habitat My local fish store is selling some really neat bottom dwelling fish labeled as hillstream loaches, Ive been contemplating setting up @ new tank dedicated 10 an interesting. species, and I think these loaches might just fit the Bill. What sort of habitat should 1 set up for them? Also, are you able to provide the species name for these fish so I can do more research on them? Angela Gomez Waterbury, Connecticut Talking your second question frst, Tm afraid T couldn’ haxard a guess as tothe exact species your local fish store is selling. The term “hillstream loach” is loosely applied to the various—and very numerous—members ofthe family Balitoridae. In Jct, this family ‘consists of 30 genera and 246 species. As far as habitat is concerned, there is sure to be variability from one species to the nex, bu these Eurasian loaches generally inhabit shallow, fast-moving, highly oxygenated, cool streams with rocky botioms, very low dissolved pollutants, and water chemistry tending toward hard and alkaline. To succeed with hillsiream loaches, youll ned to make every effort to replicate these conditions in your system. First off, a longer shallower tank is a better choice than a taller, narrower one for creating the desired stream. luke conditions. A powerhead can be wilized to create a brisk current running the length of the tank, and the substrate should consist of _gravel and smooth stones and rocks of various sizes. A good target temperature is somewhere inthe upper-60s to mid-70s Fahrenheit. Prior Aquarium Success Without Cyeli When Iwas a kid, kept a few freshwater fish tanks, | didn really know what T was doing, but T was reasonably successful. Over time, I drifted away from the hobby, but now Td like to get back at it, Wanting to make sure Tim doing everything right, I've begun reading. all kinds of literature on the subject, and in so doing, 've learned about eyeling. Now that L know how important this process is, 1 Tioplcal Fish Hobbyist Moles are one of the more challenging livebearers fo keep due fo their need for hard ‘lkaline water ie E H B ream loaches typically inhablt cool, flowing water that is hard andl alkaline can’t gure out how Twas able to keep fish alive before without eycling the tank first Was it just beginner’ luck? Perry Carnegie Shreveport, Louisiana 1 suppose, to a certain degree, you could credit beginners luck Jor your prior aquarium success without eyeling, but ts probably more accurate to say that you unwittingly ‘managed to stock the tan in such a manner that the cycle became established without filling the fish in the process happen if you start wih jus afew very hardy fish and then gradually introduce additional specimens. The first hardy arrivals produce enough ammonia to get the cycle started and ‘are rugged enough to endure being exposed ‘ammonia until nitrifying. bacteria This can wwnefhmagazine.com ihmagact convert itt less harm compounds nitrite and then nitrate). In fact, this was «widely practiced method of cycling new aquariums for many years. Nowadays, this practice has largely fallen by the wayside in favor of “fishless” cycling techniques—Jor example, putting fish food in the tank and allowing i to decompose, thereby producing ammonia, Thats all for the better because. let’ face it. just because «avery hardy fish mig survive exposure to od or its health Pearl Danios or Neon Tetras for Beginner's Tank? Tin T2 yeas ol and just got Isegallon aquarium for my bia. Now 1 reed to gute out what fish t putin i. My mot says that pearl danios would be @ good idea, since Tm begin eon letras because they have preter colors The pet store has both kinds. Is my mom right thatthe danios would be beter fora beginner? Jack Stout via email but I really want Moms usually now best, Jack, and this situation is no exception Pearl danios, which scientists call Danio albolineatus, have been popular beginner fish for a very tong time, The reasons are: they are very peaceful cat just about any aquarium foods that you ‘offer them, and aren’ very fussy about the ‘ype of water you keep them in (as long as its «lean, of course). ‘Neon cetvas are certainly prety, but they dare much more delicate and much piekier ‘about their water conditions, They also like Bir tropical aquariums, All in a just much more difficult 10 h than pearl danios, especially for bei who often have a ard cime keeping water conditions stable While pearl danios may not seem very colorful when you see them In a tank at local fish store, they can be really prety they calm dovn and ge setded into their new home. 1 think they're omething special z to look at when they're in a group—iwhich is the way they should be kept in aquariums. Beene + Live Corals & il Ng Pra Felco aalesed nice Meme Ettecsositi wreueeteceait]t eA Ce elsie okey 41 5 ol -1113; Wiho: to} 7389-F Baltimore? ee Cm hae Mariner Aes) a er & PREDATORY SINE SN Hae 4 ww ngfhmagazine.com Tm starting my very first freshwater aquarium, and Tm sort of dismayed by the cost of a lot of the equipment and supplies for the hobby: As a lot of disposable Income t throw around. Can 4 preschool teacher, I don't you recommend the best way to cut setp costs while still providing the best possible environment for the fish? Kara Miller Eau Claire, Wisconsin This is probably going to sound counterintuitive, but xe has highlighted for and time again that joney in this hobby is to buy the very best tank, lighting system, filtration system, heater, and other ‘equipment that you can reasonably afford right atthe outset Tim not saying that you have to buy the most expensive model every time (the of a piece of equipment isnt always, or th age of a good when it presents itself What Tam say however, is that you shouldn't sexe for ay equipment tha of qu af inferior products or t iswt rated for the buy just to Whenever Ive tried to ¢\ way, [ve invariably had to replace the equipment prematurely after it breaks down of underperforms, which ultimately cost me more money than 1 would have pent on the higher-quality product in the first pl | would recommend chatting with some experienced hobbyists (pethaps online or comers this at your local aquarium club) to find ou the-road products and supplies they've had success with, and then serimp and save if neces: you can afford to buy them this will save you countless di which midal headaches! Would you say that most aquarium hobbyists consider artical decorations tly? 1 Kind of like some that Ive seen, but every other hobbyist tlk to seems to look down on ther Mary Beth Stainbrook via email February 2014As far as Tim concerned, tacky is in the eye of the beholder. As long as any décor you choose is ‘aquarium-safe and. doesnt stress ‘or pose a hasard to your fish, theres no reason you should add it to your tank if it makes you happy Tm generally « proponent of more nacuralistic aaquascaping, but there are « lot of relly neat decorations on the market these days that 1 thinle would complement such systems very nicely. Think in terms of a terrestrial Japanese garden, In addition sttch meticulously maintained andscapes very often stone lanterns, statuary, bridges, and other manm plantings, incorpora de elements, ana thes items by no means detract from the garden's natural beauty if used judiciously. In fact, they tend to enhance it dont see any reason this same concept cant be applic to « planted aquarium using various decorative accents, And if bubbling treasure chests, artificial shipwrecks, and swashbuckling skeleton pirates are more + your liking, T say more power to you! Tm somewhat obsessive about doing weekly wa aquarium, and my manager at work just informed me that [have to leave the day after tomorrow for a two-week business trip. The Fast waver change I did was a litle under a + changesin my freshwater week ago, so that means almost three weeks will pass before I can do another one. Ihave Tioplcal Fish Hobbyist 4 non-hobbyist friend coming in to feed my fish every clay, but I think it might be asking too much to have her do a water change while fm gone. Do you think my fish will be okay going that long in the same water, of should I try to give my friend a crash course in water changes? Josephine Mason via email Without some informat your aquarium setup che type of fish you have, che stocking nate, {your curren water parameters, ct, it’s pretty hard to give you a very good recommendation in this situation, However generally speaking, I would advise against having a non-hobbyist perform a water change. From my experience the possibilty of something going wrong during the process that the individual doesn't know how to deal with tends to outweigh the benefit of the water change gest asking your friend to feed your fish every other day instead of daily ‘and io feed them sparingly. Pre- vartion the foods $0 no guesswork is involved. Your fish should be jus fine for afew weeks on reduced rations, and limiting feeding in this manner will greatly help to slow the buildup of dissolved pollutants, giving you more leeway on the timing of the next water change, Also, if time allows as you get ready for your trip, you might want to do one more quick water change before you depart. That will reduce the interval between water changes toa very reasonable two weeks instead of three. "@ www neh eae Ma eS gs0la¢ SCOR eg SU sa (ey By Se et ceeaeerer bactrsproven to start eta ied ae Psa yBs Q&Asaltwater 16 gota question? Send your questions about the saltwater side of the aquarium hobby fo “Q&A,” FH. Publications PO. Box 427, Neptune, NJ 0754, (or submit vio e-mail to editor@tth, com, For answers to more time- senstiive questions, opinions on your setup, oF just 10 converse with lke minded members of the couorium community, please vist the TPH Forum ot forums. tmagozine.com, Skimmer Down! Thave a 55-gallon vee tank and fan in-sump protein. skimmer. My problem is, the water pump that feeds the skimmer just died and 1 won't have the budget to replace it for another (wo months (when my car will finally be paid ‘off). How much of a problem will it be for my corals if| ry to operate the system for that long without a skimmer? ‘Tom Beier Duluth, innesota Your livestock should make it through the next few months Without a protein skimmer Just fine ifthe tank isn 100 heavily stocked (in that cas, the toss of the skimmer might prove to be the proverbial straw that Droke the camels back with respect to water quality) and you're willing to step up the volume and frequency of water changes. This second point 1s especially critical because your protein skimmer isone of your aquarium system primary means of exporting dissolved ‘organle compounds. If allowed to bull up in the water, these dissolved pollutants will not only harm your corals directly, but they! also harm them indivecly by causing yellowing of the water that interferes with Droper light penctration. Chemical filtration with activated carbon will also help to keep hharmfl dissolved organic compounds and the yellowing they cause (0a minimum, How Hardy Is the Blue Linckia Starfish? How would you rate the hardiness of the blue linckia starfish? I'm considering geting one for my ree tank, ‘but 1m getting very mixed messages about this starfish online and from local dealers, Phil Cruz via email wosnurfhmagazine com 1 definitely would not describe the blue linckia stanfish (Linckia Inevigata) as a hardy aquarium Imhabiuant. In capuivity, this species, though regularly available in the ‘aquarium trade, snotorious forsuccumbingto the rigors of shipping, improper acclimacion, for gradual starvation. Specimens most likely hough not guaranteed) to thrive are those that receive very careful handling at every stage in the chain of custody, are acclimated to different water conditions very gradually, ancl ave kept in lange, well-established systems with inoffensive tankmates and plenty of detritus and micrfloraffauna to feed upon, Some of these factors are in the hobbyist’ control, but others are not. Given this species? ‘generally poor survival record, my usual advice isto avoid it No Quarantine for Mandarinfish? ve heard that mandarinfish dont get diseases and, therefore, don't need to be quarantined. 1s, that statement true? Cara Waddell via email No, Ws mot true that rmandavinfishes (Synchiropus spp.) dont get diseases. Owing to their heavy mucus production, they cane said to be resistant to ectoparasites, such as marine ich (Cryptocaryor but “resistant” is not the same a infectcd.” Thus, 1 would still encourage you to quarantine « mandarin if you intend to acquire one. Also, keep in mind that monitoring for disease isnt the sole purpose of quarantine. Us also a good opportunity to ensure specimens ‘are eating properly before introducing them to the more competitive environment of a display tank. In the case of mandarins, quarantine February 2014offers @ more controled setting in which to At least attempt to train specimens to accept non-living items, such as mysis shrimp. You'd need to start by regularly feeding appropriate- dlive foods, such as amphipods, and then gradually introduce the non-living foods 0 See if the specimen will take to them (which {snot always successful Ho { yu < Marine Ich been reading how to treat marine ich, and one of the recommended treatments 1 keep coming across is hyposalinity: understand that this involves lowering the salinity of the water, bbut how does this kill the ich parasite? Phunong Nguyen via email Tve about Hyposalinity ills marine ich parasites via osmotic shock As you may recall from high A School biology class, during the process of osmosis, water flowing through 4 semipermeable membrane will move from the side with a lower solute concentration to the side with a higher solute concentration, Therefore, if you significantly lower the level of dissolved salts in your aquarium (hopefully 4 separate hospital tank) in order to treat Tioplcal Fish Hobbyist ld be «case of ich, the fluid inside the parasites’ bodies will then be at a higher solute level than the water surrounding them. As a result, water will flow into their tissues (the semipermeable membrane in this case) and actually cause the parasites to swell up and burst. Many fish, on the other hand, are able to adape to this’ changing salinity, provided the decrease and eventual increase in salinity facewrs very slovly, so they usually make it through the process unscathed. s Tail? a 1 ‘a Niger triggerfish thats about 8 inches long in 2 180-gallon fish-only-with-live-rock aquarium, and hing keeps nipping off the long extensions on ts ail, Both extensions are cleanly cut off at almost the same point. Its tankmates right now include a foxface rabbitfish, Spanish hogfish, zebra moray, maroon clownfish, bird wrasse, and freckled hawklish, | haven’ seen any of the other fish nipping at its tail, but thar’ the only conclusion I can draw. Can you offer any other explanation? Jackson Kreighbaum Via email Certainly you have species in your tank that could easily. nip the delicate caudal fin filaments off a Niger trigger (Odonus niger) during a squabble. Sometimes these hostile encounters are very brief (blink and youll miss them) and accu between specimens that actually seem to get several ww wufmagazine.com along fine most of the ime, For example, on more than one occasion I've observed sudden flare-ups between two othervise friendly fish trying to accupy the same choice resting spot ‘after lights out Based on your description of the tail damage, there are a few other possibilities ‘you might want fo explore as well. One i the Drospect that a crab has hitchhiked its way Inco your tank in a chunk of live rock, Nig triggers eat small erustaceans, but a bigger ‘rab could easily turn the tables on a sleeping triggerfish. Oftentimes, its necessary to check the tank with a flashlight well after dark to spot stowavvay crabs out in the open. Another possibility, given the clean, even damage you describe, is that the trigger’ tail was mechanically injured, eg, by a submersible pump. Though by no means a ‘common occurrence, this can happen when {fish with long, flowing fins meet propeller- ‘ype powerheads with slotted housings Ifyou have this type of pump and suspect it might be the cause—in other words, you frequently ‘observe the trigger hanging out inthe vicinity “of the powerhead—a simple fix ist wrap the housing ofthe unit with a small sheet of vinyl window screening so the fish til cant pass through the slots but water sill can Less than a month ago, Ladded a 1 colony of Discesoma mushroom polyps to my re ud they now appear to be sort of shriveling up and shrinking, All of my water parameters are excellent, so 1 tank ddonit understand why they would be doing this, Do you think my lighting coull be too 7bright for them? Ihave a LED fist Randy Farrell Spokane, Washington Well, overly intense lighting is one possible explanation, as Discosoma spp. polyps tend 0 prefer low- to medium-light levels. However, LED lamps are available in many different ourput levels, so 1 can't confirm that what causing your problem Another factor to consider is the level ‘of water movement in your tank. These mushrooms favor very gentle circulation ‘and will not tolerate being blasted with ‘current, If its possible to move the colony to a calmer, more dimly lie region of the tank, you might want to try that to see how om polyps F fight levels and 3 the polyps react. Also keep in mind that neighboring invertebrates could be causing this reaction tn your mushrooms. either directly through stinging or indirectly by ‘exuding allelopathic. chemicals into the water, o you'll have to evaluate/research ‘your livestock to rule out that possibility ‘as well Why Are Damsels so Diabolical? nity Checker HI755 “The Checker features an accuracy of 25 ppm ng/L s5t and uses the colonmene methae ‘ne senctega fa state-of the lighting system wth wireless ‘Conta capabities near imitess ‘Slr posebites and india =D Sequencing Vertex Libra Dosing Pump Lior Dosing Stele System 3 Pumps wf Touen Saeen Controle ‘Steppe Motor MP-4OWES Vortech “The MP4Ow ES provides witless ‘opsration on tanks beeen 50st ‘00 gallos, reducing 10000 3200, gallons prhouret few. Phosphate Pros ahigh Definition {002epr) anelycal comparator test Kibo testa tne professional ‘Sorimetse comparator, SkIMZsM 202 > ‘The Sz E-Series S202 roten Skins the perfect soluton to eaters ‘th space constraints, yt wanting an Uhrachah performance shimmee wovnurfhmagazine com Can you explain why damsels are so aggressive compared to other marine fish? Is it just a way to overcompensate for their small size? ‘Trent Fargas Phoenix, Arizona 1 suppose one could argue Gwvith tongue in cheek, of course) that damsels have a bit of a "Napoleon complex, ‘as some will attack species much larger than themselves—including two-legged, bubble-blowing mammals exploring. the coral reefs, However, not all damsels fave equally aggressive, Species that feed predominately or substantially ‘on zooplankion in the water column, for example various Chromis and Chrysiptera spp, are usually less territorial and can actually be quite peaceful. The real troublemakers tend to be more herbivorous species that lay claim to a patch of reef and any algae It contains. These more site-aitached species, such as the various Stegastes spp., can be explosively aggressive toward perceived “claim jumpers,” and they often stake territories that are larger than the average home aquarium, making it very difficult to house them with tankmates that they won't savage." 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Thave both discus as well as angelfish in a fairly large room, and I can control all temperatures during our coldest months. T dont have a need for a reverse-osmosis, unit, and L can replace as much water, from. the tap and from a shallow well, as needed, Jerry Tillman Wilmington, North Carolina Dear Jerry, 1 don’ believe that I've ever stated an exact quantity of aquarium water to be changed ‘a given time, There are always too many variables (consider: how many fish are in the aquarium, the sizes ofthe tanks, the fish themselves, the type of filtration, and what {ype of fod you are offering your fish fall is im place, howeves, Ive always suggested a 35 to 40 percent water change three oF four times a week. Ifthe fish have ‘een conditioned to such water changes, then 1 suggest 50 percent changes three or four times wee. Furthermore, if you have the time, how about making even larger water changes? Remember that in Southeast Asia, many commercial discus breeders make daily water changes of nearly 100 percent! These lange water changes pay vapid dividends. The discus put on weight quickly, their immune systems thus being stronger, and they are less subject to diseases. These 100 percent water changes are especially done in Bangkok Change 30 percent of the water tice a vweek—or how about 60 percent just once a week? The 60 percent change once weekly vill subjet the discus t0 more of shock or iscomsfort than the twice-weekly water change. “Anu of couse sree water changes of 30 percent ‘ave considerably better than two changes You mentioned having access to a shallow vel. just how deep is your “shallow” ell? Most any well thats 65 fee deep (20 meters) worwafhmagazine.com or less would be questionable with respect o producing quality water for discus fish However, I have heard from a fair number of tropical fish breeders who use well water in their tanks when making their water changes ‘on a regular basis, Discus breeders in areas with very soft water cam use small amounts of well water to get necessary hardness back into their tropical fish water A late friend of ‘mine, a discus breedey, had a very acceptable ‘well, producing water that allowed his young discus to grow at a better rate than usual. He used 100 percent well water in making his daily water changes. ‘My friend continued with the well water throughout nearly all of the young discus’ ‘growing period, and after they reached approximately 9 to 10 months of age, he reverted back to conditioned municipal waver His well water was drawn at a temperature of 73°F Your pit reading should be made afr the water has been subjected to both oxygen and heat. You can be certain that because of ‘your location, you will have to make several ‘adjustments, one, of course, being that all of ‘your well water would require heating before being used in the discus tanks. However, ‘making certain that your well water pH is suitable for maincaining discus successfully, and that the well water temperature is adequate, includes ensuring the presence of «an adequate amount of minerals in the water: calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, sodium, chlorides, and sulfates. Without going further, simply make certain that any well water that ‘you use will be suitable for your fish. ‘Spring water certainly: merits a few lines here, Lwas in touch with an angeljish breeder rear Gainesville, Florida who had a very exciting and well-operated system of water control in all of his tanks. Having plenty of space, he was able to keep most of his angetish in 50-gallon (180-liter) tanks. His enviable ‘operation was sitting over an underground spring, dhus giving him an unlimited amount of pure spring water at all times. ‘The spring water entered a large tank that appeared to hold approximately 1,000 gallons. February 2014(3,700 liters), where the water was ‘warmed to 75°F I was told thatthe spring water entered the holding tank at a temperature of 68°F AL that point, the water entered a Linch horizontal PVC, where it was then continuously jetted by {force into each tank. An overflow system was employed at the far ‘end of each tank. 1 wasnt able to _get any really detailed information ‘on the operation. However, it looked very basic to me. I could see that the system was adjusted ‘and controlled so that the incoming ‘and owgoing flows would produce more, or ess, water Needless to say, a water system suchas this one is possible only If one is close enough 10 a quality spring to e able to draw the water ‘nad, just as important, to be certain that the water from the spring is suitable for the fish. Generally use conditioned municipal water with a garden hose for the water changes and made a 35 percent change once or twice a week. The sebaes were fed nothing but my diseus formula, once daily every fo or three days, and 1 didn’t give them much attention tuntil late one afternoon when 1 noticed that they had all begun to swim rapidly about the tank, Thad never been able to see any visible sex differences in any of the sebaes, but I saw the water clouding up very rapidly with small gray-white eggs. I wasn't prepared for any of this, but 1 collected the eggs easily, using a {ine mesh net, and placed them in one of the white enamel pans that T use for hatching discus eggs, using the fresh water from the 200-gallon adult mono tank, Hundreds of eggs had been laid, spring water in central Florida rans Conducting water changes muliple times per week wil cause less shock but probably no more than 100 closer to the surface than well water does, so mo deep drilling is necessary. The same ‘water volume that enters each tank is removed {rom each tan bottom at the same time Dear Jack, Among other discus that I have is a ‘group tha | believe may have come down swith Hexamita, Tm fairly certain that they do have Hexamita—they ate not eating ry well, and they have begun to lose their natural coloring. 1 understand the medication of choice is metronidazole, but I really don't know how to administer It. Talso have some mature Monadactylus ‘argenteus and would like to breed therm. Robyn Tolmach Washington, D.C. Dear Robyn, Assuming your mew discus do. have Hexamita, the drug treaument of choice for some discus breeders és metronidazole. In many past Issues of Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine Thave outlined in detail my method ‘of combating Henamita and other protozoans without the use of any drugs. always suggest the use of fresh garlic. Tve always been hestant to use any drags or anbitics om any af fish (or on myself However, you have chosen to go the route of medicating your discs, 30 11 give you tvhat Is probably the best method to contol Hexamita, if your fish do indeed have i Tioplcal Fish Hobbyise fordscus than changing @ large percentage ofthe water once a week Before adding the your tank, Td suggest a water change of “approximately 35 to 40 percent. If the discus ‘can handle a larger amount, I would make a 45 10.50 percent change, An increase in water lemperature to 92°F is necessary. If there ‘are any live plants in the tank, you have two choices either remove all the plants during the metronidazole treatment or prepare to lose all of them. Activated carbon in the filter must also be removed because metronidazole is. water soluble and will quickly be removed by the carbon. For treatment, the accepted dosage is 600 milligrams per 25 gallons (24% liters) ‘of water. Four treatments one day apart are necessary to compensate forthe metronidazole that ssas removed when making the water changes This brings to mind a situation that J had some years ago with Monodactylus sebae, 4 fish that had been given co me by Jack Roberts, who at that time was the largest tropical fish importer in the US. Those five sebaes were at least 17 em (7 inches) in height—from dorsal to anal fin—and were placed in a 200-gallon (750-lter) tank in four home Florida room, The sebaes had been hept in fresh water at Robert’ fish farm in ‘Miami, so also maintained them in fresh water We live very close to the Atlantic Ocean, 50 1 could have used sea water, but the sebaes were not my priority. I chose to metronidazole (0 vwweafhimagazine.com ended up inthe discus pan. The temperature in the room was always a steady 82°F, and by the following morning, all the eggs had either taken on another form or had hatched. By nighttime, chey all looked like miniscule pieces of elongated lack dust and moved about only with a slight disturbance. 1 had no idea what (0 atiempt to feed them, amoeba, paramecium, and other ciliates being much too large, 1 made a net out of a heavy paper towel and was able to fill the towel with sea water taken from our dock area, water directly ‘from the ocean, at low tide. 1 let the water drain through the paper towel, and I placed ‘the wet towel into the pan for approximately 10 to 15 seconds. This was done daily wntil the third day when most of the fry began to move but had not yet begun to grow. The fry were all at the surface, not seeking food, but twas able 1 see organisms that appeared to be smaller ‘than ciliates under my microscope. After five for six days, Thad lost most of the fry, but about 30 finally made it to the paramecium stagethen on (0 the newly hatched artemia stage, and finally a one-inch (214 em) size. There was no market for either the young sebaes or the adults, so they all ended up being sold cheaply to whomever Perhaps some of this information will help ‘you with M. argenteus. And remember, these M. sebac, adults and young, were in fresh ‘water. That may help you. "8 2cichlid world Se Meena al ‘Rint dicho we Ce Shak eg noe SSIS waa ed Sabah ees eat stale ie Mt ec ile eric hanneman 2 Pike Cichlids he pike cichlids in the genus Creicchla are a very diverse group. They live in a variety of habitats, come in a vast aray of sizes and colors, and feed on many lifferent food sourees. ‘The word “pike” has a variety of meanings, fromtheshortened formof the word “turnpike,” toamedieval weapon, to voracious freshwater fish. The root ofthe word pike is likely older than the weapon, and mainly refers to anything, ‘hat tapers to a point In Venecuela and other South American countries, pikes are known a5, ‘mataguares, which can be loosely translated as ssnallpatrot killers. Pike cichlids are found on the ‘sland of ‘Tiida, ehroughout the tropical Orinoco and. Amazon River basins, and south to the Parana River system in Uruguay and Argentina, where the water is much cooler and a nearly temperate climate prevails, Crenicichla Background Crenicichla macuphihalma, the frst pike cichlid, was described in 1840. by Johann Heckel from a specimen collected in the Rio Negro, a tributay of the Amazon River in Brasil near the city of Manaus, Growing 10 about 8 inches, this pike cichlids not closely related by DNA sequence to any other pike cichlid, Having an oddball asthe type species. of the genus Crenicichla means that someday. this lage genus may be divided into several dlflrent genera. Some authors separate the genus Teleacichla, but itis currently considered tobe within Crenicichla Depending on what you read or who you talk to, there are at least 85 described species of Crenicichla, and possibly as many 85 90 or more, making it the largest cichlid ‘genus, with Apistogramma a close second, Other authors claim that Apistogramma bas more species, Whichever you accept as true, Apistogramma will always outnumber Crenicchla in the hobby. ‘Many pike cichlids grow quite lage, up 10 2 feet in Teng, while the smaller species may be only a few inches. However, these small ww nafhmagazine com pikes canot be housed in a 10-gallon tank ike many species of Apstogramima, Traditionally, the pike cichlids have been divided up based upon color patter, scale and fin ray counts, snout shape, and the nurbee ‘of scales along the side. The large-scaed group, has about 70 scales in a ow along the side, and the small-scale group has 80 oF more scales, “The Urugnayan pikes almost all belong to the large-scale group. In recent years, hobbyists have organized many expeditions to Uruguay to colleet cichlids and enjoy the country and its fabulous foo. Uruguayan Pike Cichlids Seven described species of pikes are found in Uniguay, including . misonira (with three types), C minuano he smallest a 81 9 inches), C.tenpbaguas,C edd (with spots om the lips and red eras), C. viata fell uon® (the largest in Urugiay), scat our types), C. punctta (thee types), and the undescribed fois C sp "Lengua del Cuaro™ {also with spos on the ip), sp. pita “bella union,” and C. sp. "Cuareim™ (our of ‘more types) ‘A recent study of the DNA of the pike cichlids has anempied to bring some order to the genus and group the diferent species Ise on ow they are genial related Creniccla has been waditonaly cided into five species groups. The groups are named afer the species Clauss 8 species), C. Igubris (15 species), C. tcdata 8 speci), savas (25 species), and C. wallaci (7 species). The laest DNA evidence suggests further divisions, inching dividing the C. lhc group into C. missoeia and C. sot complees, and adding lange C. mandelburgeri species complex. Unless you are pike aficionado, even these few names ae probably ‘making your head swim, Species Flocks ‘What is interesting is de finding tha dhere are riverine species flocks of pike cichlids, just, ike there are species flocs in the East African February 2014if takes and in the crater lakes of Nica ‘species foe meansa group of closely related species that ocurin the same area with high level of endemic, meaning they are found nowhere se Both the C. mandebugen and. misonira complexes full hese criteria, While these two iroups have been separated geographically fr 6 to8 milion yearend are no clsly related there isastnikng rsemblance between species found in these groups tn each group, there ae species with prominent lateral and (C Sp “Urugur line” vs. C.etdochis), with bars oF double bars (C. mab vs. C hares), with an overhanging type and small mouth (Caf yaa ve mina), with lower jw extended anda age mouth ( tec) Cra, al wit Lob ips (Cp. gwza big ps vs. C tenbgs) “The DNA sequences tellus that the color pte clileences are od dfeences in mouth shapes, and suggest tha the diferent feeding states have developed independently. but repeatedly in diferent geographically isolated habitats. This is very Siac how diferent ich in Lake Maw divide the food resources in the same habitat by evolving different mouth parts and feeding behaviors to take advantage of different food Tin Lake Malawi, the evolution of the species flock seems to have developed sequentially through isolation, feeding specialization, and diversification of male color pattern based on female selection, Inthe C. lacustris locks, sesual selection of color pattern appeared frst, followed by adaptation to distinct habitats and finally develope feeding strategies are not based on specific habitats, since the different feeding types form mixed school, not unlike lage mixed species flocks of foraging birds. Just a few years ago, the species C. ypo was described from the Parana River in Argentina. This fish is characterized by six to eight irregular blotches along the upper Fateral line, a lack of spots on the flank, low scale number, and a protruding lower jaw spots on the flank, most prominent next to the pectoral fin Females are distinguished by a wide black. stripe in the dorsal fin, with an equally wide red stripe undemeat Parana River and many of its tvibutaries, and those of the Uniguay and Ig are divided from their main stems by significant number of waterfalls, whiel has led to a high level of endemic species evolving in the streams. cof feeling sategies. These Males have small ora the black one. The Tioplcal Fish Hobbyist Another fish upper Parana River basi this ime from the rom Brazilian waters, is C._jupiaensis The river was flooded by the Jupia Reservoir in 1974. C Jupiaensis is. on the an Red List ‘and no. specimens canbe exported. The fishy has failed to thrive in the impoundment, since this species requires rapidly moving water, Fortunately the species can still be found in a small tsbutary, the Piguiri River. The rapid development, dam building, and pollution occuring in Brazil t the species found there A Changing World ‘A study in Venezuela fustates how 1wo Allert pike cichlids divide up the habitat, during the dry season, Adult C gibi reach bout 8 inches ane are found in mairstem Ibias with woody debris and rocks, This species feeds mainly on sina fshes, expecially characids and Apstogramna spp. Juvenile C lagubris feed on aquatic insects, Aish scales, and shrimp, The 2-inch-ong C, walla lives tainly in kagoons ove le liter, and fees on quate insects and other invertebrates, though they were ocasionaly observed swimming in rocky shoals, Other small species include C Irs, C.geay, and C.netphohals The Switch from being a generalist feeder to piscivory does not akways happen at th same size for closcly related speces, Of five species in the Cuareim River in Uruguay, oly -clidchlus wakes an early and complete switch to peony C. missoneira and C sco are secondary piscivores and switch to fish eating more slowly. C lepidta switches quickly, at a small size, but not entry to fish eating, C.minuano specializes in aquatic insects and mollusks, Compared to other piscvores, Crenichla have small bocy sizes, prhags related to the lage numberof sal fish in South American seats. With the exception of some args-blied types, sich a8 the Amazonian C: lugs, pikes are relatively ot hiding places, counts rater many of ww nefhmagazine.com '§ Crenicichio regont, pke clcbilds require lerge hbital with plenty 1 Crenicichla marmorata; pike cichlids of he genus Crenicichlahave bbeen divided up based on such crileria. as color, pattern, and scale simall predators and, due to the wide range ‘of food organisms and the timing of the shift from javenile to adult diet, play a dynamic role in wopical stream ecology In astudy of C. mnezes, from northeastemn Bricil, males averaged a total length of 64 , and females 5.8 inches. They breed in an extended season from March through September. Females attain sexual maturity ceuler than males and acquire a red coloration in the ventral region during breeding. They spawn up to four times during the breeding season, Langer females have larger clutch sizes, The Trinidadian pike cichlid, C rma, has shaped the evolution of the guppy, Povilla reticulata, affecting schooling behavior, body size, coloration, and time’ devoted to reproduction, Predation by the pike cichlid has selected for male guppies with reduced shortwave refleciance, otherwise known as blue and iridescent color Farly studies ‘paradoxically found that C. frenata could not see the blue color. However, a newer study has nov shown that C. frmata can see blue light, although surprisingly via a different photoreceptor than that found in African cichlids Alrican cichlids have seven photoreceptors and can see colors from yellow down to th ultraviolet (UV). Neotropical cichlids Test two of the photoreceptor genes present in Alican cichlids, while Alican cichlids gained ‘a photoreeeptor gene from a gene duplication ‘event, The loss of these receptors is correlated 2Bwith the invasion of light-imited habitats, where short-wavelength photoreceptors are of hile use, Twwbid, tannin-rich freshwater habitats wansmit long-wavelength, or red light, better than shortwave-length bide light. ‘While African and Neotropical cichlids slverged approximately 85 million the loss of photoreceptors in Neotropical cichlids happened just 25 million years ago, so thege ophagint tribe or even just the Crnicchla genus, African cichlids are notable for their recent and rapid ‘adaplations, while Neotropical cichlids have not speciated as dramatically, and their present diversity may stem from older diversifications The reduced number of photore Neotropical cichlids may help explain this oss may be specific the since the African cichlid radiation is usually DE TaD U ed Professional Performance 4 ww nafhmagazine com associated with habitat selection, trophic ‘mode, and mate choice, which are all mediated by the visual system, Neotropical cichlids like . frenata may not be as able to invade new visual niches, While it is still not clear whether C. frenata can see UV light, male guppies may be exploiting UV refleciance to have private communication channel, since ‘Buppies have been shown to possess UV sensitive photoreceptors, Indeed, male {guppies that coexist with the pike cichlid appear to relect more UV than guppies that do not live with pikes. If you are fortunate enough 1 find pike cichlids available, for they are not at all common, it can be important. to determine what group your fish belongs t, since there ave different sizes and levels of aggression ‘groups. In general, pikes need a lot of room and require complex habitats—with large rocks and driftwood to break up lines of sight, hindering them from beating up om ‘each other. Established plants are usually not bothered, Some lange dither fish, such as silver dollars, red-aled sharks, larger barbs such as tinfoil, haarbs, or anything that cannot be easily swallowed, can help reduce aggression. Clean ‘water conditions and regular water changes are mandatory, as the larger pikes especially ‘can be susceptible to hole in-the-head disease Most pike cichlids live in rivers, and if they are Telecichla oF other small stream species, they may appreciate some current anel have associated with these different nent for well-oxygenated water, so orous alstone to the setup. All of the pikes prefer to breed in caves. I have seen a flower pot tummed upside down, with a étcular hole drilled inthe side that the female ‘could fit through (but not the male), used as a spawning si Pikes can be trained to feed om pellets, and gel food can be used to deliver the right size food particles and ingredients, Live goldfish as feeders are 1 be avoided unless a wild pike just refuses to start cating, as disease Into a tank. A large colony of ‘guppies is not a bad thing to have when pikes are in the house, but make sure they red ones, Thanks go to Jan Pedersen for suggesting this column. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future columns, please email me at primarypredator@gmail.com, feeders can often introdui February 2014Discus 6944 North East 4th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33138 Tel. 305-758-7848 * Fax 305-532-9977 Visit our website at: www.wattleydiscus.com Email: GPosada@wattleydiscus.com a Sates Jack Wattley Yellow Leopard 3” Discus Jack Watley Yellow Diamond 3” Discus ~ from $59.75 = from $59.75 Jack Wattley Red Panda Jack Wattley Blue Diamond Jack Watley Cobalt 2.5" Discus — trom $29.75 Discus - from $39.75 Discus - from $29.75 LIVE DELIVERY GUARANTEED! We ship Air Freight (approx $90.00) to your airport, or UPS Next Day Air to your door — after receipt of money order or cashiers check—or put on your ‘credit card, Minimum order 4 fish. zs) Jack Wattley Checkerboard Striated Ried 2.5" Discus — fom $29.75 Jack Wattley Discus is oftering wholesale pricing to ‘Aquarium shops. We also have other sizes avaliable, call for pricing,the planted tank Nonaquatic Plants To Avoid Agenda ia ng has See ee een nies fl. Snekplond iar le blond a pet of de mols st Sadana se sal de otk Toye es Cou, rl woe si ae Pron he CE ‘Rp Po Ens CA) ad, \ <4 amanda wenger photographs by the author 26 spite the sometimes dizzying array of aquatic plants available in the hobby these days, beginning hobbyists still frequently run into the trouble of inadvertently acquiring non-aquatic plants, sold as aquatics when they start to stock. their tank, The presence of such plants in the hobby is a bit ballling, but their introduction may have stemmed from the ‘earlier days of the hobby when a smaller selection of true aquatics was available ‘and anything new and interesting-looking ‘was welcomed. In any case, they never seem 10 go away, bolstered by purchases from hobbyisis who are looking wo put something green in theie tanks and either don't know or dontt care that they'll die in a month or two, is worth mentioning that many of these plants (though not all) are, in fact, semi ‘aquatic and make excellent specimens for terrarium and paludarium setups, where high humidity levels and water around. the roots are par for the course. Many. have particularly attractive foliage that provides great contrast in more terrestrial applications, Nonetheless, should you inadvertently acquire a non-aquatic plant, don’ assume (Sa deliberate attempt to seam you on the part of your local fish store (LFS). Many. local shops dont have plant specialists who can tell the difference between true aquatics and imposters, and an order placed with nursery for an assortment of plants may contain a few non-aquatics slipped in. If you find you've got such a plant, a reputable store should accept a return or exchange based on the mistaken Impression that the plant was truly aquatic, and bringing back the plant helps raise awareness of the nature of the species ‘and may aid your store in avoiding futwre ‘orders of the plant in question wovnurfhmagazine com Bog Aroids Though there are many truly aquatic aroids, including hobby staples lke Amubias and Cryprocoryne Crypts"), other species occirin wet, but not slbmersed conditions, Two common aroids mistakenly sold a acuatics are the peace ies of the genus Spathiphytlm and varrowhead plans” of the gens Signi ‘Spathipyilim are, popular houseplants due to their low lighting. needs, slow growth, attractive “Callalike »spathes {ihe sheath enclosing. the lower), and adaptable watering requirements. However, while they are known to occur in boggy jungle environments, thelr leaves are never found submerged and longterm growth smnderwater isnot viable. ‘While the peace lily the most popular common name for the plant when sold as a houseplan, in aquarium. shops, it is often sold under the misleading name “braiian sword plant.” While the leaves are somewhat reminiscent of the sword Plants ofthe genus Echinodors, there is no Felaion to speak of. Hobbyists are etter off purchasing rue Echinodors specimens, distinguishable from Spathiphyllum by the Patallel venation in thelr leaves ‘Syngonlum are frequently sold in lite net pots and refered to 96 arrowhead lint doe oo the shape of their lenves While they come ina numberof atrctive foliage variants Cincluding pink, white, and a selection of variegated patterns) that Inay fook nice inthe tank, they inevitably die off. If you want variegated foliage in your aquarium, try variegated Amis o Sorord planis or any number of reddishe pink aquatic plans like Ral or Ludwigia For exaic pink variegation, look for plants like Cryptocoryne conita ‘Rosanervig’ of in countries other than he US (where its banned), Hygrophila polysperma Rosanervig:(Gunset hygro). “Rosanervig™ February 2014is German for “pink veins,” so any plant swith that as a variety or cultivar name should exhibit a pink variegation. Hemigraphis Species ‘A few species of the genus Hemigraphis are sold for their vibrant purple colors, Common ade names include dragons tongue (HL repanda) and purple walle or waffle plant (Hl. allemata). Their upper leaves are dark green to gray-green, while the undersides exhubit rich red-violet hues Occistonally, new true aquatics Alter into the hobby with tentative labels from the Hemigraphis genus, sich as the introduction of “HL. trian” a few years back, but further investigation into their identity has always led to another species—the aforementioned example turned out tobe Hypislreniana, mint family arve aquatic that has foliage vaguely reminiscent of some Hemigraphs species, There ae, thus, no tue Hemighaphis species known to be fly squat. Alternanthera Species ‘There are truly aquatic representatives of the genus Altemanthera, notably the various color morphs and forms of A reineckii (forms include cardinalis, mini, number of hog and terrestrial Alternanthera are also sold from time to time as aquatics, Most prominent among these is A. ficoidea, sold as the hedge plant, cherry hedge, or green hedge. This is one of the most common fake aquatic plants sold in stores, and it especially troublesome because, to wwuly lilacina, ocipus, and variegated). Howey the inexperienced eye, it resemble aquatie plans like Ludwigia repens Lucky Bamboo and Its Cousins Though it may look like # fun thing to stick in the aquarium, the so-called “Tueky bamboo" plant (Dracaena braun) decidedly a poor choice fora fish tank, Also sold are D. marginata and D. “compacta variously known as “pineapple plant” and green sandy" (possibly from a synonym name of D. braunt, D. sanderiana)—theres also a variegated version called “green and white sandy Variegated Houseplants The aluminum plant (Pilea cadieri) is another example of a houseplant somebody stuck in the water one day and decided to ry to pass off as aquatic. It does have preuiy variegated foliage, which has led to Tioplcal Fish Hobbyist Spathiphyllum are environments, thelt leaves. cannot grow Underwater nd, theretore, they are not ‘eppropriate for aquariums, it occasionally being sold as “watermelon Pilea,” but as | mentioned cearlie are other variegated plants better suited to ww wifhmagazinecom the aquarium, More or less the same story ‘can be applied to Aglaonema species, sold variously as the Borneo sword (A. simplex) and Chine -vergteen, Grassy False Aquatics 4 number of plants with grassy foliage ate erroneously sold as aquatic, which is especially puzzling given the vast selection of truly aquatic grassy plants available for hobbyists. Most common among these is mondo grass” (Ophiopogon japonicum), 4 pretty litle ground cover species that quickly melisunder water. Another example is Acorus gramsineus. This species is a pond marginal with iris-Hike foliage that_may last a little longer due to its pond origins, but its still « poor choice for underwater culture, Similarly, the rain lily or zephyr lily, Zephyranthes candida, is. sometimes sold asa dar! version of the onion plants of the genus Crinum, but unlike the fully submersible Crinum species, 2. candida is best suited to growing in moist soil or in 1 or 2 inches of water along the edge of a pond. They frequently produce whit cerocus-like flowers alter storms, hence the Lucky bamboo is often sold for aquariums but does not survive in « completely submerged a