The Coral Aquarist Research Network (CARN) is a young program launched in the UK to combine the efforts and knowledge of three unique groups of stakeholders, all in the name of coral. Hobbyists, industry representatives and researchers each share a…
Male cleaner fish “punish” greedy females
When it comes to messing around with the meal ticket, it seems male fish are apt to punish greedy females who take more than they should putting the entire group’s food source in jeopardy. Cleaner fish, who get their meals…
Plantimal: Green Sea Slug part animal, part plant
Green is the way to go and researchers at the University of South Florida recently discovered a green sea slug that has evolved over time to produce its own chlorophyll making it the first animal to actually produce the substance…
Get schooled on invertebrates with Ron Shimek, Reef Stewardship Foundation
Ron Shimek, author and one of the decent marine biologists in the hobby especially when it comes to invertebrates, is offering you the chance to learn more about inverts through the Reef Stewardship Foundation’s online course starting this January. The…
Giant jellyfish invade Japanese waters
Gigantic jellyfish, weighing up to quarter ton (450 lbs) and reaching up to six feet in diameter, are moving Northward invading Japanese waters and plaguing the local fishing industries. The Nomura jellies (Nemopilema nomurai) are tainting and killing fish in…
Jellyfish-eating coral caught in the act
Recently scientists from Israel encountered a strange sight—a coral eating a jellyfish in the Red Sea. We saw this news posted on the BBC’s website and did a bit more digging. Typically larger predators are the animals taking advantage of…
Mantis shrimp eyes: the key to next generation high def devices
The mantis shrimp is definitely one of the most intriguing reef creatures and recent news is showing their sensitive eyes are leading researchers to uncover new ways to revolutionize communications. It seems stomatopods, who haven’t evolved too much in the…
Robotic fish to swim, monitor the open seas
Robotic fish are not the latest Hollywood horror flick but they are looking to make a “splash†and be released in the wild to monitor and transmit conditions from bodies of water to researchers ashore. In tandem, zoologists and engineers…
Aquarium nuisance lends its “sting” to medicine
Aiptasia. The name alone brings shudders through many aquarists’ bodies but this prolific reef tank nuisance is being put to good use by the Israeli bio-medical firm NanoCyte. According to a recent article in New Scientist, the company has found…
You don’t know Jack about coral identification
Do you think you can tell the difference between your Porites compressa and Porites lobata? If your answer is yes then guess again. New research from Zac Forsman and his research crew looked at genetic markers to see how coral…
