Where the heck did this Maroonellaris clownfish come from?

A Maroonellaris is a hybrid clownfish cross between a maroon clownfish and an ocellaris clownfish. We generally don’t encourage hybridization in any kind of fish, but something about the genetic portmanteau of a big ole maroon clownfish and a slender…

Valenciennea yanoi, a new species of sleeper goby from Japan

Valenciennea yanoi is a yet another new species of sleeper goby from Japan that is definitely going to turn some heads. Sure we get tons of new species of gobies every year, but sleeper gobies are a little more special, being large…

ReefAPalooza ushers in a new era of coral reefing education

We’re just five days away from Reefapalooza Orlando and we couldn’t be more pumped! Along with ReefStock and MACNA, no other show has become a cultural event in the marine aquarium community like ReefAPalooza in each of its three locations. We all…

Xanthic undulated triggerfish makes annual appearance from Philippines

The xanthic undulated triggerfish is a mystery among aberrant reef fish, but thankfully we don’t usually have to wait too long in between freshly caught specimens. At a rate of roughly one xanthic Balistapus undulatus every twelve months or se,…

Hybrid blueface angelfish appears at Vessel 1997 in Japan

The hybrid blueface angelfish recently revealed by premier Japanese aquarium retailer Vessel 1997 is a very nice treat for angelfish and rare fish aficionados. We don’t get to see too many hybrids of large angelfish species, and when we do…

Sinularia dura, the one and only cabbage leather coral

The cabbage leather coral, Sinularia dura, is one of those inimitable corals that all reefers should keep at some point in their aquarium career. This coral has the potential to be incredibly beautiful but it is rarely ever displayed in a flattering…

Acropora for Beginners

With the introduction of more aquaculture and mariculture facilities, there has been a boom in specimens available at the local fish stores these days. But I will say for certain that if you can get a frag from a successful…

Bounce mushroom anemones are killin’ it right now!

Bounce mushrooms, bullseye mushrooms, and every derivative of Rhodactis and Discosoma corallimorphs are incredibly popular right now. This group of reef animals, which were once considered beginner corals, are now being sought out by coral collectors and fetching record-setting prices.…

Branching bubble coral

The branching bubble coral, Plerogyra simplex, is a little known species of LPS coral which deserves to have a moment in the spotlight. There are many different types of bubble corals, and several different species, but the branching species has always fascinated…

Reef Octopus Commercial Skimmers, backbone of an industry

Commercial protein skimmers are important pieces of equipment for the large facilities which hold and ship around the precious livestock that feeds the aquarium hobby. For decades the commercial protein skimmer market was dominated by large and inefficient venturi protein skimmer, simply…