The family Serranidae, the sea basses (not to be confused with a certain film character portrayed by Cam Neely), is a diverse assemblage of fishes ranging in size from tank-busting “bruisers” to diminutive species that are well suited to life…
Rock Beauty Angelfish: a Finicky Feeder Best Left in the Sea
On one of my earliest dives down in the Florida Keys back in the 1990s, a gorgeous yellow and black angelfish caught my attention as I drifted over a section of reef. In my mind’s eye, I envision the angel…
Ricordea florida: an Underappreciated Caribbean Beauty
As an American reefkeeper, it’s all too easy for me to forget that some truly gorgeous invertebrate livestock originates relatively close to home in the tropical western Atlantic and Caribbean. I was reminded of this recently when CC entrusted several…
The Harlequin Bass: An Exceptionally Hardy, Beginner-Friendly Marine Fish
Prized for its striking patterning, modest adult size, exceptional hardiness, and overall adaptability, the harlequin bass (Serranus tigrinus), denizen of the tropical western Atlantic and Caribbean, makes an excellent choice for the novice marine aquarist and experienced hobbyist alike. (In…
Blackcap Basslet: A Comely Deepwater Cousin to the Royal Gramma
Most marine aquarium hobbyists are well acquainted with the royal gramma (Gramma loreto), a worthy tank inhabitant by virtually any measure. But G. loreto isn’t the only member of the Gramma genus that is well worth its salt. Another is…
The Candy Basslet: A Sweet Deepwater Denizen on Many a Hobbyist’s Wish List
Ask any group of marine fishkeepers to name their most sought-after species—the fishes they’d really love to own if money and availability were no object—and most of them will likely place the candy basslet (Liopropoma carmabi) somewhere close to the…
The French Angelfish: Pretty, Curious, and Well Worth the Tank Space!
One of my more enduring memories of diving in the Florida Keys was coming across a pair of French angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) gliding in unison above the reef. Unlike so many other fishes that dashed into hiding as I approached,…
Dynasty’s deepwater deluge series 3: Plectranthias garrupellus and Gonioplectrus hispanus
The final series to this short Curacaoan sampling deals with two prominent and rather well known Serranids from the region. Plectranthias garrupellus and Gonioplectrus hispanus are more or less icons of the surrounding region and are again, one of the few…
What Constitutes a Marine Biotope Aquarium?
For today’s post, I’d like to take a slightly different tack than usual. By presenting my meandering thought process on the concept of marine biotope aquariums, I’m hoping to elicit some input from you, my fellow salties, on precisely how…
Dynasty’s deepwater deluge series 2: Schultzea beta and Parasphyraenops incisus
Our second series of deepwater Curacao fish aims to shed light on two very unorthodox aquarium offerings. The waters of the Atlantic are home to a smorgasbord of basslets, and it is no doubt that the family Serranidae attains maximum…
