March must be Anampses month as we’ve seen lots of members of the genus turn up in fish stores lately including today’s featured fish, the Feminine Wrasse. Fems are wrasse royalty and are so-called because the female’s bicolored orange and…
Awesome Fish Spotlight: Freckle Face Tang
If you’re in the market for a show-stopping surgeonfish that won’t cost the earth, look no further than the Freckle Face Tang, Acanthurus maculiceps. Also known as the Spot Face Surgeon or White Freckled Surgeonfish, A.maculiceps is native to the…
Awesome Fish Spotlight: Leaf Scorpionfish
The leaf scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus) is a species of marine fish and the only member of its genus. These fish are highly camouflaged and sit patiently waiting to gobble up any passing crustaceans or tiny fish. The leaf scorpionfish is about 10 cm (4 in)…
Halimeda Ghost Pipefish is More Unusual Than You Can Imagine
We’ve been quite busy the last few weeks, setting up coral nurseries all around the island of Bali, Indonesia. One of our reef restoration sites which is an Ocean Gardener project in Amed, North Bali is starting to attract more…
Awesome Fish Spotlight: Barbour’s Seahorse
The Barbour’s Seahorse, Hippocampus barbouri, is born a striking yellow with an eye catching zebra striped snout. Its textured skin with spines protruding from its body make it an unusual species. Like most seahorses, it likes to hang out in…
Awesome Fish Spotlight: The Catalina Goby
The Catalina Goby, Lythrypnus dalli, is one of those irresistible nano fish that puts many other gobies to shame. Sure, it may be in running competition with the flaming prawn goby or a Yasha goby but those vivid blue and red stripes…
Awesome Fish Spotlight: Paracheilinus attenuatus, the diamond tail flasher wrasse
The Diamond Tail Flasher wrasse, Paracheilinus attenuatus, is one of the most attractive yet lesser known species of wrasses from the Indian Ocean. We’ve given a lot of attention to Fairy Wrasses of the Cirrhilabrus genus this year, but we still have…
Awesome Fish Spotlight: Valenciennea helsdingenii
Chances of bumping into cool fish increases exponentially when you’re out and about marauding the various Balinese wholesale facilities. Picking out a truly rare gem amidst a swathing plague of reef fish requires a keen eye and an innate intuition. That…
Awesome Fish Spotlight: The scarlet Synchiropus
Synchiropus is an immaculate genus famed for the unorthodox juxtaposition between cute and freaky. With frog like faces, huge bulging eyes and pursed lips, coupled with their undulating fin movements, they make for a highly peculiar animal. In the aquarium context, few species illicit…
Awesome Fish Spotlight: Zebrasoma xanthurum, the Purple Tang
It’s been some time since we last featured an Awesome Fish Spotlight, and what better way to continue than with an evergreen aquarium favourite from a well loved genus. Zebrasoma is without a doubt the blue eyed boy of the…
