Photos by Oceanseeker

Siganus stellatus - Brown-Spotted Rabbit Fish

Hi Guys

This is something interesting that caught my eye at a LFS. Its been known to habitat Kosi Bay in KZN. Not sure if this specimen came from there.

Siganus stellatus - Brown-Spotted Rabbit Fish

Siganusstellatus.jpg


Classification / Names - Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Siganidae (Rabbitfishes)

Size / Weight / Age - Max length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; common length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed;

Environment - Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - ? m, usually 5 - 30 m

Climate / Range - Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 27115); 30°N - 35°S

Distribution - Indian Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to the Andaman Sea.

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 7; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 13. Indian Ocean subspecies. S. s. laqueus greyish green with head and body covered with chocolate brown spots; in S. s. stellatus, background color is yellowish. Trailing edges of soft parts of dorsal and anal fins, perimeter of caudal fin and a saddle over the caudal peduncle are markedly paler than the rest. Silvery iris, tinted brown or green, with 10 equally spaced spots. Spines stout; pungent only in juveniles. Preopercular angle 92°-103°. Strong scales cover the cheeks. Usually midline of thorax fully scaled, but pelvic ridges sometimes without scales.

Common in coral reefs; juveniles enter weedy estuaries. Juveniles and subadults form schools, adult in pairs. Adults feed on benthic seaweeds. Anterolateral glandular grooves with venom gland.

Threat to humans - Venomous

SOURCE

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All images are copyrighted © 2009 - 2012 Oceanseeker's PHOTO.
 
Panther Grouper - Cromileptes altivelis

Spotted this one at a LFS. I love the way they move around. Does anyone know what these fish are like in a fish only setup. Anyone got one?

Panther Grouper - Cromileptes altivelis

Cromileptesaltivelis.jpg


The Panther Grouper, also known as the Polka-Dot Grouper, is an off-white fish with polka-dots over the entire body. It is found in crevices and swims along the reefs of the Indo-Pacific, where it can attain a size of up to 20" (50 cm). The Panther Grouper camouflage the fish and act as a disrupter by breaking up the body shape so that other fish and would-be predators cannot identify it.

The Panther Grouper is a very hardy and long-lived animal provided it is kept in an ample-sized, fish-only aquarium of 100 gallons or larger, with sufficient filtration. The Panther Grouper will eat any fish and invertebrates it can swallow.

The Panther Grouper is a beautiful and graceful swimmer, if given enough room to do so. Panther Groupers will feed on mobile invertebrates and is best kept in an aquarium with fish its size as smaller fish will be preyed upon.

Groupers are collected as food fish including the Panther Grouper in many areas of the world. The Panther Grouper yet not the most brightly colored grouper, but it does have a striking polkadot appearance. This is also one of the groupers that remain small enough to be kept in a large aquarium.

Panther Grouper hover in a head-tilted-down position and their pectoral fins resemble ping-pong paddles. These fish can move quickly and are strong swimmers in short bursts. Just when you think they are resting at one end of the aquarium they can be at the other end in a wink of an eye.

The Panther Grouper is not a good choice for a reef aquarium for a couple of reasons. First, they will consider small fish and crustaceans to be food that you so kindly provided just for them. Second, because they are a bottomless pit at feeding time, they also produce large amounts of wastes that make it difficult to maintain the highest water quality.

When selecting tank mates to share an aquarium with a Panther Grouper, keep it in mind that they are fast eaters. The fish should be large enough that the grouper will not attempt to eat them and they should also be fast enough eaters so they can compete at mealtime. Some wrasses, tangs, angelfish and triggers can be good choices.

Panther Grouper in general are more resistant to the common diseases and infections than many marine aquarium fish. However, it can be difficult to see the telltale spots caused by a Cryptocaryon irritans infection because of the Panther’s white coloration. They seem to be tolerant of copper treatments and are good candidates for hyposalinity therapy, if the need should arise.

Tank Conditions: The Panther Grouper will spend a good deal of the time hiding in a dark spot within the aquarium. Plenty of rockwork should be provided to them in order to minimize stress and create a more natural environment. Subdued lighting is ideal for this fish. Although they can do well when kept in water a few points higher or lower, Panther Grouper seem to prefer 76-78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Habitat: The Panther Grouper are found in most parts of the Indo-Pacific Occean including Srilanka, Phillipines, Australia etc.

Feeding and Diet: The Panther Grouper is definitely a big eater. They can eat a wide variety of meaty seafood such as fish fillets, shrimp, clams, scallops and uncooked prawns. The challenge may be in getting food to the grouper’s tank-mates before he quickly gobbles it up. Resist Don’t feed the Panther Groupers goldfish and other freshwater species. This type of food will not provide the proper nutrients necessary to their overall health and it can lead to conditions such as fatty-liver disease.

Feeding and Diet: In the aquarium, it can be fed a number of different foods such as dried or fresh fish, squid, prawns, silversides, freeze-dried krill, or other comparable foods.


SOURCE

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Copyright Notice

All images appearing on this forum uploaded by Oceanseeker are the exclusive property of Oceanseeker's PHOTO and are protected under International Copyright laws. The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Oceanseeker's PHOTO. Use of any image as the basis for another photographic concept or illustration (digital, artist rendering or alike) is a violation of International Copyright laws.

All images are copyrighted © 2009 - 2012 Oceanseeker's PHOTO.
 
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Picasso Trigger Fish - Rhinecanthus aculeatus

This was a huge specimen I saw at a LFS - probably 30cm and looked very healthy.

Picasso Trigger Fish - Rhinecanthus aculeatus


Rhinecanthusaculeatus-sml.jpg


Picasso Trigger Fish - Rhinecanthus aculeatus: The Rhinecanthus aculeatus or Humuhumu Picasso Trigger fish is a popular and very aggressive tank mate. The Humuhumu Picasso Trigger fish artsy appearance matches it's outgoing dog-like personality. Though mild mannered as juveniles it will learn to not only feed from owners' fingers but feed on owners' fingers if given the chance. Belligerence will increase with age. Should be kept with fish the same size or larger. May bite eather tubes, air-line tubing and disrupt aquarium aquascaping. Like many triggers they can be taught to accept hand feedings and will often learn to grunt in participation or an attempt to talk you into a feeding. The HumaHuma Picasso Trigger is a low maintenance fish. The HumaHuma Picasso Trigger may act aggressively toward other fish.

Maximum Size:
This species grows up to 10 inches in length.

General Size:
This Humahuma Picasso trigger is about five to seven inches in length.

Minimum Tank Size Suggested:
A 55 gallon for juvenile and 100 gallon for adult larger aquarium provides a good environment for these Humahuma Picasso trigger .

Tank Conditions:
The Humahuma Picasso trigger should ideally be kept in temperatures between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. A pH value of 8.1 or 8.4, and a specific gravity of 1.020 to 1.025 should be maintained. When kept with invertebrates, the specific gravity range should be 1.020 to 1.025, for the invertebrate species. In a fish only aquarium, the specific gravity should fall between 1.020 and 1.023.

Habitat:
The Humahuma Picasso Trigger occurs on coral reefs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia, the Humahuma Picasso trigger is known from central to north-western Western Australia and from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef south to northern New South Wales.

Feeding and Diet:
The Humahuma Picasso trigger diet consist of meaty foods such as live shrimps, small fishes, worm, mussel and squids. They are carnivorous.

SOURCE

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Copyright Notice

All images appearing on this forum uploaded by Oceanseeker are the exclusive property of Oceanseeker's PHOTO and are protected under International Copyright laws. The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Oceanseeker's PHOTO. Use of any image as the basis for another photographic concept or illustration (digital, artist rendering or alike) is a violation of International Copyright laws.

All images are copyrighted © 2009 - 2012 Oceanseeker's PHOTO.
 
oceanseeker said:
Spotted this one at a LFS. I love the way they move around. Does anyone know what these fish are like in a tank only setup. Anyone got one?
Click to expand...


I could not resist. Tank only? :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
oceanseeker said:
Now having said that, if you saw the size of this bugger, maybe he should be the only one in a tank
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Beautiful fish with a big mouth and a good appetite. Would like to know how long it would take to grow from 10 to 20cm.
 
LuckyFish said:
Beautiful fish with a big mouth and a good appetite. Would like to know how long it would take to grow from 10 to 20cm.
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Hi Lucky

I think the growth of fish is dependant on the size of the tank and how much you feed them. Ive heard of unprecedented growth in fish by just placing them in a large tank.
 
oceanseeker said:
Hi Lucky

I think the growth of fish is dependant on the size of the tank and how much you feed them. Ive heard of unprecedented growth in fish by just placing them in a large tank.
Click to expand...

i dont agree with this statement, i have a 2m setup and @Keanan has a 1.2m ?

we both bought chromis from perkies from the same shipment, mine doubled in size in the 14 months i have them, Keanans probably quadrupled in the same time period.

so it cant realy be tank size, maybe feeding as keanan feeds more than me.

just an observation.
 
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Nur Mowzer said:
i dont agree with this statement, i have a 2m setup and @Keanan has a 1.2m ?

we both bought chromis from perkies from the same shipment, mine doubled in size in the 14 months i have them, Keanans probably quadrupled in the same time period.

so it cant realy be tank size, maybe feeding as keanan feeds more than me.

just an observation.
Click to expand...
@Nur Mowzer Yip I got a 1.2, damn that 2 chromis were huge. The biggest i've seen. I did feed a bit on the heavy side, fish are greedy lol.
 
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mariusmeyer said:
A fish will grow to it maximum size in any tank unless it is stunted due to physical limitations or bad water quality.
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Cant be physical limitations as the fish came from the same shipment, all my other fish have grown and are still growing, as for the water conditions, my water is actually 110% and @Keanan will agree if you compare water params mine would be better than his:

Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphate 0
Kh 12.2
Ca 480
Mg 1320
PH 8.2

Tank temp constant lights off 25.5 - 26 , lights on 27-27.5 slight the .5 is variation in daily ambient temp.

SG never below 1.022 or exceeds 1.027 - Constant at 1.025 unless i see a spot on a regal and drop it to 1.022 or feel i want to spoil my coral and increase to 1.027. either lower or increase @ 0.001 per day.

no algae issues in at least 10 months. i feed frozen food thrice a week with a mix of Frozen prawn, super shrimp or brine with hufa and red plankton.

Daily feeding is :
HBH @ 8AM
Nori @ 4pm
Nori/Frozen/formula 2 flakes @ 18:30
Nori @ 21:30

Lights 1st stage on @ 14:30 and off @ 23:00
Lights 2nd stage on @ 16:00 and off @ 22:00


reason for all this info is that i keep everything constant from my side and as a result i enjoy stable params yet those chromis dont grow.
 
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Great thread @oceanseeker.:thumbup:

Nice pictures and info you don't see every day.
It must have taken a long time to put this together.

I am helping Masa to build up a database of pics and info.
It would be really awesome if I could have your permission to include these pics and info in the database, so that it doesn't go to waste.;)
 
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