Protein skimmers are the quintessential component of aquarium filtration that almost every reefer has in their sump. It is possible to be successful without one but controlling the amount organic nutrients makes aquarium maintenance much easier. Protein skimming is when…
Search Results For: mimic octopus
The Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium might just be Omaha’s best kept secret
When you think coral and saltwater fish, Nebraska would probably not come to mind immediately. Being triply landlocked, Nebraska is as far away from the sea as you could imagine. Somewhere within Omaha however is home to the Henry Doorly…
Survival on the reef part 2: Cover and concealment
In our previous installation of reef creatures and their survival techniques, we talked about mimicry and how certain mimics have evolved to copy their models for protection. In this second part, we take a look at animals who display protective…
Survival on the reef part 1: Masquerading under false colours
Look at this amazing pair of Meiacanthus grammistes. Eh hmm…wait a minute. That’s not quite right. Look closer. Cardinal fish? Bingo. This is a pair of Cheilodipterus nigrotaeniatus and they are excellent mimics of their venomous fang blenny models. Mimicry is an…
7 Questions with Steinhart Aquarium’s Matt Wandell
We thought it would be fun to do a series of “7 Questions” with people in the industry and hobby. Our first candidate is a Matt Wandell, a marine biologist at the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences…
Elasmobranch Enthusiasts (Part 2): Modern Husbandry – Diet
From the ferocious great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) to the graceful white-spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari), Elasmobranchii are a diverse group of boneless fishes that are circumglobal, inhabiting a diverse array of habitats, temperature ranges, salinities, and niches in the…