Large Aquarium Fish - Saltwater

Last week, if you recall, we went over various species of large freshwater fish. This week, as you may have already guessed, we’re going to cover large saltwater fish.

Saltwater Aquarium

Puffers

Biologists think pufferfish, also known as blowfish, developed their famous “inflatability” because their slow, somewhat clumsy swimming style makes them vulnerable to predators. Rather than fleeing, pufferfish use their highly elastic stomachs and the ability to quickly ingest huge amounts of water (and air) to turn themselves into a virtually ball several times their normal size and not appealing for consumption. 

A puffed up pufferfish also known as blowfish

Some species also have spines on their skin to make them even less palatable. Most species of Puffers reach approximately eight inches in length with the exception of the Canthigaster Puffers, which reach an average size of only three inches. Puffers are relatively hardy and adapt well to captivity if provided with swimming room, a varied meaty diet, and a few hiding places.

Arothron Dog Face Puffer

Who let the dogs out? This funny-looking fish is the Arothron Dog Face Puffer, also known as the Blackspotted Puffer, gets its name from its resemblance to canines. It changes appearance during different stages of life. While in the gray phase, it is gray with black markings around the mouth, eyes, and dorsal fin. The pectoral fins have a yellow appearance. The half-yellow phase is denoted by a yellow underbelly and dark gray overcoat, while the face looks similar to the gray phase. It may also have black spots over the body, which may be gray or yellow. It very rarely changes phases while living in an aquarium. They lack pelvic fins, but are very maneuverable, using their pectoral, dorsal, and anal fins. Instead of "teeth," it has a fused beak-like structure which it uses to crush prey. The Arothron Dog Face Puffer makes a great addition with its great personality and unusual appearance.

The Papuan Puffer 

This beautiful Papuan Puffer may also be called the Blue Dot Toby or Blue Dot Sharp-nosed Puffer. The most distinguishing feature of the Papuan Toby Puffer Canthigaster papua is the orange coloration around its mouth area. It lacks pelvic fins, but has learned to use the pectoral fins to move about the aquarium. It may be aggressive at times, nipping the fins of tank mates, leaving a circular hole as its mark. This is a "fashionista" fish for sure!

Spiny Box Puffer

The Spiny Box Puffer is also known as the Web Burrfish. It has a tan to yellow body with dark spots, and short, fixed spines which help protect it from larger, more aggressive fish. Its teeth are actually a fused beak-like structure. It is known to nip at slow-moving fish and long-finned fish, but is not aggressive with others in its own family. It will eat invertebrates found in a reef tank.

Angelfish, Large Marine

Large Angels are among the most popular fish for the home saltwater aquarium, and most marine angelfish adapt well to captivity. The diet of Large Angels consists of microalgaes, macroalgaes, sponges, and zooplankton. It is advisable not to introduce Angels from the same genus into one aquarium, as fighting will usually occur.

Queen Angelfish 

The Queen Angelfish is one of the most striking of all angelfish (and seem to know it from that attitude from her majesty pictured above). Vibrant yellow and electric sapphire-blue highlights give the Queen Angelfish an almost iridescent appearance. It has a dark spot on the forehead surrounded by bright blue. The dorsal and pelvic fins are elongated. 

The juvenile Queen Angelfish

The Small Juvenile will contain the Juvenile colorations or may be color shifting to a young adult, while the Medium will be a sub-adult, and the Large will be in Adult coloration. With the potential of reaching an impressive 18 inches, the Queen Angelfish needs a large tank - at a minimum of 250 gallons, with lots of hiding places and live rock for grazing. Not a good reef dweller, the Queen Angelfish is prone to nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles. It can be aggressive, so it must be introduced to the community tank last. A somewhat difficult angelfish to keep, Queen Angelfish often suffer from incorrect water parameters and diet. 

The Asfur Angelfish

The Asfur Angelfish is also called the Arabian Angelfish, or Crescent Angelfish. Originating in the Red Sea, but also found in the Indo-Pacific, the Asfur has a dark blue/purple body, black face, yellow tail, and a predominant yellow crescent bisecting the body vertically. The Asfur Angelfish has a bright yellow tail. As with some other Pomacanthus, the coloration of the juvenile differs markedly from the adult. A shy fish that does best when not kept with other Asfurs due to territorial behavior, the Asfur Angel requires a minimum of a 220 gallon tank with numerous hiding places and live rock for grazing.

Regal Angelfish

With vivid vertical striations of blue, white, yellow, or orange on the body and pelvic fin, the Regal Angelfish deserves this distinctive name. Regal Angelfish from the Maldives and the Red Sea have a distinctive yellow breast, where their Indo-Pacific, Coral Sea, and Tahitian relatives normally have a blue/gray breast. This coloration is more prevalent in specimens that are more mature and are at least 4" in length.

Sharks

Most sharks available for the home aquarium are found on or around coral reefs, rocky reefs, or lagoons. Vitamin-enriched frozen squid, live ghost shrimp, and other meaty foods should be offered. After the Sharks have had time to establish themselves in the aquarium, it is advisable to control the amount of food offered. Most Sharks will outgrow even very large aquariums.

Black Banded Cat Sharks 

The Black Banded Cat Shark is known as a Cat Shark because the barbels at the mouth look like cat whiskers. It is also referred to as the Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, and has a cream-colored body with broad dark black stripes. There may be large, muted brown spots between the stripes when the fish gets larger. They are a bottom dwelling shark that is common in the home aquarium. It stays relatively small, and requires sand as the substrate as the abdomen is easily scratched by a coarser substrate, which may lead to an infection.

Epaulette Shark 

The Epaulette Shark is a fairly small bottom-dwelling shark. It has a series of small spots on a yellowish-tan body and is recognized by the large spot directly above each pectoral fin. The Epaulette Shark will eat invertebrates in the aquarium, and since it is primarily active at night, will prey upon any small, sleeping fish.

Hasselt’s Bamboo Shark 

The Hasselt’s Bamboo Shark is known as a Cat Shark because the barbels at the mouth look like cat whiskers. It is also referred to as the Indonesian Bamboo Shark. Juveniles are black with dark grey/brown bands. Adult Hasselt’s Bamboo Sharks are more uniform in color with the bands being medium to dark brown; the black edges are the last to fade with maturity.

That’s all for this week – be sure to check back next Friday for more!