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Name:
Yellow tang,
Zebrasoma flavescens
Origin:
Pacific
Size:
15cm/6”
Minimum tank size:
180 l. /40 gal
Reef friendly:
Yes
Comments:
Yellow tangs make great additions to the medium or large reef
tank. They are fairly easy to keep as long as they are well fed, and their
bright colour and activity has made them popular aquarium fish. Feed lots of
algae in their diet.
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Name:
Lionfish,
Pterois volitans
Origin:
Indo-Pacific
Size:
38cm/15”
Minimum tank size:
300 l. /66 gal
Reef friendly:
No - it will eat small fish and shrimp
Comments:
Lionfish are instantly recognisable because of their elaborate
fins and reputation for being venomous. Not one for the reef tank, this
species prefers more gentle currents and open space. Only combine with
other large marine fish to prevent this predator from swallowing them.
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Name:
Mandarin,
Synchiropus splendidus
Origin:
Pacific
Size:
7.5cm/3”
Minimum tank size:
180 l. /40 gal
Reef friendly:
Yes
Comments:
Mandarins are exquisite but they need extra care. In the wild
they eat hundreds of tiny copepods per day and in the aquarium this should
be accommodated for by providing lots of live rock to seed the system, and
produce planktonic life. Only add to mature reef aquaria.
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Name:
Pyjama wrasse,
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Origin:
Indo-Pacific
Size:
7.5cm/3”
Minimum tank size:
75 l. /16 gal
Reef friendly:
Yes
Comments:
Pyjama wrasse are colourful, active and hardy. They swim
in and out of live rock and predate nuisance flatworms so they can
benefit the mini reef aquarium. Don’t mix with other small wrasses as the
Pyjama wrasse may bully them.
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Name:
Yellow goby,
Gobiodon okinawae
Origin:
Indo-Pacific
Size:
4cm/1
1
/
2
”
Minimum tank size:
40 l. /9 gal
Reef friendly:
Yes
Comments:
This tiny yellow fish inhabits coral branches in the wild. It can
be kept in nano reefs due to its small size, but it does need regular feeding.
Keep either on its own or in groups, and with small fish and inverts. It is
sometimes available tank-bred.
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Name:
Coral beauty,
Centropyge bispinosa
Origin:
Indo-Pacific
Size:
10cm/4”
Minimum tank size:
180 l. /40 gal
Reef friendly:
Yes
Comments:
Coral beauties are well-behaved dwarf angels, and perhaps
one of the hardiest members of their genus. They are safe with most
invertebrates but like all angels, they will nip at featherdusters. Live rock is
essential for grazing.
Neil Hepworth
Neil Hepworth
MP & C Piednoir / aquapress.com
Neil Hepworth
Neil Hepworth
MP & C Piednoir / aquapress.com