Fish Information & Care

Clown fish (Family: Pomacentridae)

Clownfish are considered the most popular of marine aquarium fishes for hobbyists. They are commonly cultured with around 20 species bred commercially. Clownfish species have a wide tropical distribution including Australia , the Indo-Pacific, South-east Asia and the Red Sea .

Clownfish are generally placid, colourful, relatively hardy, and will often spawn in hobby tanks. The optimum water quality parameters to maintain clownfish are temperatures around 27 o C, salinity of 33-35ppt, pH of 7.5-8, and dissolved oxygen (DO) of around 6ppm. The best feeds for clownfish are small live crustacea and an array of specialised frozen foods available in aquarium stores

They are prone to a number of diseases including White Spot, Marine Velvet, and Brookinyella.

Dottybacks (Family: Pseudochromidae)

Dottybacks are popular with marine aquarium hobbyists primarily due to their bright colours. They generally have an aggressive nature and are often kept singly in communal tanks. Popular dottybacks are found in tropical regions including the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Aden and Coral Sea

Dotty backs are brightly coloured, relatively hardy, and can handle relatively high salinities. They are best maintained at optimum water quality parameters with temperatures around 27 o C, salinity of 33-36ppt, pH of 7.5-8, and dissolved oxygen (DO) of around 6ppm. Dottybacks feeds include small live crustacea and an array of speciliased frozen foods available in aquarium stores. Dottybacks may be prone to White Spot

Cardinalfish (Family: Apogonidae)

Cardinalfishes are a popular and commonly traded marine ornamental found in tropical regions of Australia and Indo-Pacific. They can be maintained in aquariums singly or in groups of one or more species.

The optimum water quality parameters to maintain Cardinalfish are temperatures around 27 o C, salinity of 33-35ppt, pH of 7.5-8, and dissolved oxygen (DO) of around 6ppm.

Cardinalfish feeds include small live crustacea and an array of speciliased frozen foods available in aquarium stores. These aquarium fish tend to be prone to Gill Flukes

Grammas (Family: Gramidae)

Some species of Grammas are difficult to source and in high demand, including the royal gramma and black-cap gramma from the Caribbean .

They are best maintained at optimum water quality parameters with temperatures around 27 o C, salinity of 33-35ppt, pH of 7.5-8, and dissolved oxygen (DO) of around 6ppm. Grammas are picky feeders at first but will learn to eat frozen foods. Algae tablets are important as they are omnivores. These fish are prone to White Spot and Gill Flukes

Seahorses (Family: Sygnathidae)

Seahorses are an ever popular group of aquarium fishes in high demand particularly since their recent CITES listing. While there are temperate and tropical species of seahorse only a few tropical species are currently cultured in Australia . Seahorses are often difficult to keep in an aquarium, being fussy feeders and requiring strict maintenance.

Seahorses are best maintained at optimum water quality parameters with temperatures around 27 o C, salinity of 33-35ppt, pH of 7.5-8, and dissolved oxygen (DO) of around 6ppm. They prefer to feed on live Mysis shrimp or Brine Shrimp but are relatively easy to train to take frozen food. Beginners should opt for already trained seahorses from aquarium shops.

Seahorses can be prone to a number of health issues including White Spot, Gill Flukes, tail rot and Gas Bubble Disease.

Gobies (Family: Gobidae)

Gobies are quite commonly cultured and popular amongst marine aquarium hobbyists. They have a tropical distribution including Australia and the Pacific and are popular in reef tanks containing live rock and coral.

The optimum water quality parameters to maintain gobies are temperatures around 27 o C, salinity of 33-35ppt, pH of 7.5-8, and dissolved oxygen (DO) of around 6ppm. They easily take a variety of frozen foods and are prone to White Spot.

Roundheads (Family: Plesiopidae)

Members of this family are known to be very reclusive. They live along tropical temperate reefs in the Indo-Pacific. The Yellow Assessor is a relatively common aquarium fish due to its colour and hardiness. They have been cultured on a commercial basis for some time.

These brightly coloured fish are relatively hardy and can handle relatively high salinities.

They are best maintained in optimum water quality parameters with temperatures around 27 o C, salinity of 33-36ppt, pH of 7.5-8, and dissolved oxygen (DO) of around 6ppm.

Roundheads should be fed small live crustacea and an array of speciliased frozen foods available in aquarium stores. They may be prone to White Spot.