The Goniopora Coral

Goniopora Coral

Goniopora sp.
"When does a reef coral look like a pot of flowers… daisies or sunflowers? Find the answer in the Goniopora group!"
6/22/2010

The Goniopora Coral is a beautiful species that can look like a bouquet of flowers!

The Goniopora Corals Goniopora sp. are very pretty with a distinctive appearance These corals have several common names that depict their appearance. In the wild they are mostly columnar or massive, but some can also be encrusting. Their skeletons are lightweight porous skeletons, but their distinctive features are the elongated polyps topped with a fringe of tentacles surrounding a mouth area. They look much like a ball or cluster of potted flowers. Hence the common names like Daisy Coral, Flowerpot Coral, Sunflower Coral, and Ball Coral…Read More

Sebae Anemone

Sebae Anemone
"A beautiful anemone, a great clownfish host anemone, and the most readily availabe anemone to boot!"
11/15/2009

The long, pointed tentacles of the Sebae Anemone are so numerous that sometimes

the mouth is not visible at all!

The tentacles of the Sebae Anemone are generally whitish, violet, or greenish in color, and some specimens are found with beautiful blue, purple, and mauve tips. Usually it has a gray or violet-brown appearance overall, depending on the concentration of its symbiotic algae, zooxanthallae. It also has a rather leathery look, thus the term ‘leather’ in various common names. These common names are the Leathery Sea Anemone, Leather Anemone, and Leathery Sebae Sea Anemone.

In nature the Sebae Anemone has been found as host to 14 different species of clownfish. It has also been known to associate with the Domino Damselfish Dascyllus trimaculatus and anemone shrimps in the Periclimenes genus. They use their venomous cells or nematocyst found in their tentacles to sting and deflect any possible threats or attacks… Read More

The Purple Hairy Mushroom

Purple Hairy Mushroom

"I can be purple or red… or a bunch of different colors. But one thing’s for sure, I’m hairy!"
1/15/2010

The Purple Hairy Mushroom is similar to its cousin the Green Hairy Mushroom,

but they don’t grow as large!

The Purple Hairy Mushroom is another member of the Rhodactis genus that is easy to care for, easy to find, and moderately priced. They are similar to the Green Hairy Mushroom R. indosinensis, yet different. This can be confusing since both of these mushrooms are often just simply called ‘Hairy Mushrooms’.

The Purple Hairy Mushroom does not grow nearly as large as the Green Hairy Mushroom, which in a nano tank is good news. They also need a lower level of light. Appearance wise, they are also quite different. The R. rhodostoma have much more developed marginal tentacles. Its tentacles are branched and spaced apart, which makes it look like a cauliflower arrangement… Read More

Brown Glass Anemone

Brown Glass Anemone
"I’m an aiptasia that can be brown or more of a white, so I’m also well known as the Pale Anemone!"
10/3/2009

The Brown Glass Anemone may not be a hero in the reef tank,

but it has a claim to fame in the world of research!

The Brown Glass Anemone, or Pale Anemone, is one of the Rock Anemones whose fame is in its contribution to the understanding of coral bleaching. It is a hermatypic anemone, meaning that it contains and depends upon zooxanthellae (algae) for nutrients. This is one of the anemones, along with the Glass Anemone, being used in experimental modeling studies to understand how the stress of increased water temperatures affects this symbiotic relationship. Hopes are to learn how environmental causes of bleaching are linked to climate change and disease. Other Aiptasia being used in various types of research include the Small Rock Anemone Aiptasia diaphana… Read More

Branching Flowerpot Coral

Branching Flowerpot Coral
Alveopora Sp.
"Do you like to pick Daisies? Better yet… how about a perfect flower bouquet centerpeice in an aquarium!"
6/22/2010

The Magnificent Sea Anemone

Magnificent Sea Anemone

"This beauty and its frolicking clownfish… just makes you want to get a bigger reef tank!"
11/20/2009

First called the Ritteri Anemone, it is now known as the Magnificent Anemone… And it sure is!

The Magnificent Anemone is an absolute favorite. It used to be known primarily as the Ritteri Anemone because for years it was classified as Radianthus ritteri. Long time aquarists still commonly refer to it as the Ritteri Anemone. Some other common names it is know by are the Bulb-Tip Anemome, Purple Base Anemone, Maroon Anemone, and Yellow Tipped Long Tentacle Anemone.

In nature Magnificent Anemone or Ritteri Anemone is a clown host anemone. It has an intense body coloration ranging from avocado green, greenish-browns and white, to sky blue and violet. its 3″ long tentacles have iridescent bulb shaped tips that are a yellowish green. It has been found to host numerous different clown fish species, the Domino or Three-spot Damsel Dascyllus trimaculatus, several shrimp species and the Porcelain Anemone Crab Neopetrolisthes ohshimai… Read More

Silver Marten Rabbits – Syndil and Raven

Syndil and Raven
"What could be cuter than a rabbit?"
2010-04-05

Here’s what Lisa Stone says about Syndil and Raven:

"As rescue bunnies they are very timid, still not sure of me. I found their weekness a rabbit pellet. Now when I come into the room they chase me all over thinking I might have a treat. If I don’t they run away thumping their back legs."

"Syndil and Raven look great! Who’d have thought a couple of bunnies could be so photogenic? Best to carry treats… No? Thanks for sharing your bunnies with us."

Maldive Coral

Maldive Coral
Pavona maldivensis
"This velvety beauty is a super starter coral for the new reef keeper!"
2/03/2010

The Maldive Coral is a fast growing SPS that is not only easy to care for,

but is one of the best beginner stony corals!

The Pavona genus make excellent starter stony corals. They are hardier than most other small polyps stony (SPS) corals. They tend to be tolerant of most adequate aquarium reef habitats, thriving under less intense lighting and are fairly disease resistant. They have deeply embedded corallites that help protect their polyps from many environmental stresses and pathogens. The Pavona genus and Pachyseris genus are currently the only two genera regularly offered to aquarists from its family, Agariciidae.

The Maldive Coral Pavona maldivensis is very handsome. It usually has a column growth form that looks like stubby fingers, yet it can also form thin horizontal plates… Read More

Tabby Cat – Jack

Jack
"He plays hide and seek with what??"
2010-04-05

Here’s what A B Barham says about Jack:

"He is a one year old male cat, weighing 10 pounds. Last night I awakened feeling a strong breeze. Turns out Jack had pulled on the long cord attached to the ceiling fan over my bed. He is long and lean, a jumper with an innocent expression on his face. He likes to play with my shoes and carries them into other rooms."

"He turns on fans and plays shoe hide and seek… what a cat! Thanks for sharing Mr. Jack with us."

Maxima Clam – Tridacna maxima

Maxima Clam – Tridacna maxima

"Some call me the "Holy Grail of the Reef Aquarium! I guess it’s because I am so good looking. Now I’m not just talking, you can see for yourself how vibrant and unique I am!"

One of the favorite giant clams is the beautiful Tridacna maxima, the Maxima Clam!

The Maxima Clam, Tridacna maxima, is one of the most beautiful of the Tridacna clams. Maxima Clams usually show a variety of rich colors and patterns. These gorgeous colorings of its mantle arguably make it one of the most popular of the Tridacna clams. Vying for this honor is its close cousin, the Crocea Clam Tridacna Crocea. Though a bit smaller than the Maxima Clam the Crocea Clam is another highly colored, beautiful, and favored giant clam… Read More

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