Dactylanthias is a Deepwater Anthias on Steroids!

Dactylanthias is a genus of large, very showy anthias that live in water so deep they are only rarely seen alive, usually through deep diving submersibles and ROVs. For the most part the majority of photos of Dactylanthias are of freshly reeled up…

Four New Species of Blennies Officially Described

Blennies are a diverse group of highly personably small reef fish and in the past weeks we’ve enjoyed many new species getting officially recognized. These range from the diminutive tube blennies to the bright faced glass blennies and one species…

Parascolopsis akatamae, A New Species of Fluorescent Monocle Bream

Parascolopsis akatamae is a new species of dwarf monocle bream from Japan which has a very curious and unique feature. Fluorescence is well documented among many different groups of reef animals, especially the corals, but the new Akatamae bream exhibits…

Plectranthias purpuralepis is Taiwan’s Newest Basslets Species

Plectranthias purpuralepis is a brand new species of deepwater basslet coming from the North end of Taiwan in the Three Northern Islands area. It’s not surprising that this new Plectranthias is found in deep water like so many of its…

A New Moray Eel Described from South Africa, Gymnothorax elaineheemstrae

Moray eels are a unique and unmistakeable predator of many marine environments, and a very interesting pet predator to keep in an aquarium. Some widespread species have natural ranges from one continent to another but often times, the populations that…

Plectranthias cruentus, a New Perchlet Species from Lord Howe Island

Plectranthias cruentus is a very unexpected new species of perchlet discovered in the remote waters of Australia’s Lord Howe Island region. The sole photo of a freshly preserved specimen collected off Ball’s Pyramid shows a fish that looks quite a…

How (Hybrid) Tridacna Clams are Made

Spawning and rearing giant clams is an elaborate process that requires a certain degree of knowledge, but thankfully this know-how has been extensively documented and shared around the world. For around forty years small island nations of the Pacific Ocean…

Science Sheds Light on Squamosa x Crocea Clam Hybrids

Hybrid giant clams have been an enigma to the aquarists who seek to understand them in order to better provide for these treasured bivalves. Finally a new research experiment not only confirmed the authenticity of hybrid Tridacna clams – they’ve…

Two More Exciting Captive Bred Species from Bali Aquarich

You heard about the recent breeding of Centropyge joculator as well as the Rock beauty (Holacanthus tricolor). But this is not the end of recent breeding announcements, as the very warm and dry weather in Bali brought us some two…

Top 10 Angelfish Stories of 2019

It’s no secret that marine angelfish are some of the highest profile pets for our saltwater and reef aquariums, and they are certainly among our favorite reef animals to write about. With a circumtropical distribution, their captive breeding breakthroughs, aberrations,…