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Reef Aquarium Livestock Selection

on Feb 10 in coral aquariums tagged Aquarium livestock selection, finding Nemo, local aquarium club, reef aquarium livestock, reef safe livestock by Aaron

By Aaron Ediger, Main Contributing  Author for Coral Reefing…

I did not like the movie "Finding Nemo", it caused more clown fish to die than I want to think about. It made animal cruelty trendy over night, and the crowds cheered. Every person with a toddler, (and a few immature morons) went out and got clownfish and an anemone, and/ or hippo tang without proper knowledge or guidance, only to find out how territorial and aggressive the clown fish can be, and how infection and disease prone the hippos can be, (not to mention they eat a lot, are easily mal-nutritioned, and they get big), then proceeded to torture and execute thousands if not millions of poor little fishes and nemos.

Careful Aquarium livestock selection

On the other hand, deciding what kind of saltwater tank you want to set up is knowing what animals and plants you want to put in your system, and then finding out which fish and invertebrates  are compatible with each other… and which ones are known to be trouble makers. Some saltwater fish can be housed with saltwater corals, and some will eat them in nightly invasions.

With proper research and guidance through planning which livestock and equipment selection you can set up for a successful system that is peaceful and thriving, has nutrient breakdown and has export balanced…  and is stable enough to keep its inhabitants happy and healthy. The keys to success in this saltwater reef aquarium hobby are the same as life in general, -ask questions, -do research, -and never assume.

Careful livestock selection and introduction of your marine reef aquarium will ensure that the potential of your investment in your  reef hobby will be fully realized. Many fish, shrimps and crabs are territorial and aggressive and will fight to the death, not only their own species, but any interloper that may happen into their range, and some corals simply live to kill their neighbors and grow.

Be Picky About Where You Buy Your Reef Aquarium Livestock From

Part of the problem with this reef hobby is people (pet stores included) who are all to eager to make a sale in spite of the health, or life of anything they are able sell. This is where you as the marine reef hobbyist can make a difference, making sure that the environment the animal is going into is appropriate, balanced and stable… and the animal is obtained from a reputable source who does not engage in illegal harvesting or does business with others who do so.

Even better is buying known aqua cultured and captive bred species, to ensure the health of both the particular animal you purchased, and the health of the habitat where the species originated from. Captive-grown means control over the aqua-environment over generations of growing and breeding, thus making corals and fish better adapted to the environment people keep, can handle more drastic changes to its habitat when placed in a new reef aquarium, and they tend to be more resilient and healthy.

Fortunately taking these steps gives the livestock you choose the best chance at a long happy life, helps promote a more earth friendly approach to the hobby, and supports the people with a vested interest in their systems.

Reef Safe Livestock

The term "reef safe" is somewhat misleading; many fish that are as a species deemed safe, but individuals can break the rules. Knowing if you are going to keep coral is the main consideration for the non-reef safe fish, though they can also be predatory with small inverts as well.

The best approach is not only to have a list of intended livestock, but also an order of introduction, as there is going to be a pecking order with the fish and the weakest fish should be introduced first and the most aggressive last. Knowing whether you are going to have photosynthetic animals and plants will influence the type of lighting and circulation you will need.

Find a Local Aquarium Club

With proper planning you will be able to enjoy your aquarium hobby for years to come, providing an appropriate environment for animals that will be endangered soon, if they aren’t already. There are also national and local clubs that are some of the best sources for advice, livestock, and even decent quality used equipment.

You will also find the clubs to be full knowledgeable people who can help you in the planning stages and share their successes and failures, giving you some insight into just how in depth this hobby is, and how dedicated you really need to be.  You can Google for the reef aquarium clubs in your area…

Related Blogs and Sites

• Controlling Pests In Your Aquarium | Pest Rule and Control Management
• Exclusive first look at the spectrum graph of the plasma arc LIFI at different power levels
• Reef Aquarium Livestock Selection | Coral Reefing – Reef Hobbyist
• New! Salinity Refractometer 4 Aquarium Reef Hydrometer | Best Aquarium Guide

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