Some Mantis shrimps have evolved sharp forelimbs that are used to capture prey, while others are able to punch with a speed that’s equal to that of a. There are over 400 species of these brightly colored creatures whose lineage can be traced back over five hundred million years! The species can also be found in Southern Japan and New Caledonia. The fish’s mouth is yellow outlined in white, and it’s back has a yellow “saddle.” The tailfin peduncle is usually the same yellow-gold hue as the saddle patch.Ĭlown Triggerfish originate from the east coast of Africa, extending south down to Durban and then eastward to Samoa. This aggressive species has a dark brown base color over its body adorned with large white spots. The Clown Triggerfish, scientific name, Balistoides conspicillum, grows to an impressive 20 inches in length and can make an awe-inspiring addition to a large marine aquarium. Nudibranchs are often advertised as reef-safe, but that’s not strictly true, as these dazzling, rainbow-colored creatures are known to eat specific species of sponges.Ħ. There are over 3,000 species of Nudi, all of which have extraordinary colors and shapes. These are soft-bodied marine gastropod mollusks that shed their hard carapace once they have left the larval stage. The Nudibranch is also known as a Nudi or sea slug. These fish are venomous and can deliver a painful sting from venom glands hidden between its spines.Īdvanced aquarists may like the idea of adding the Nudibranch to their collection. These beautiful yet menacing fish are very popular with marine hobbyists, but the Lionfish comes with a warning. Juvenile Lionfish can be just 1 inch in length, whereas adults grow to be an impressive 18 inches. The fish’s spectacular red, cream, black, and white banding, showy pectoral finnage, and upright spiky fin rays are used as a deterrent to predators. The Lionfish is a marine species that is native to the Indo-Pacific, although it’s now noted as an invasive species in parts of the Atlantic regions. As you might have guessed from the fish’s names, it’s regarded as a delicacy in some parts of its range. Common names for the species include Firefish, Zebrafish, Tastyfish, and Butterfly Cod. Red varieties of Discus can have red spots on the tail and belly, and these are the most sought after and expensive examples of the species. Some specimens are solid-colored, whereas others have dark vertical bars, and some have beautiful effervescent streaks of color. These brightly colored fish can be blue, green, red, orange, brown, turquoise, and yellow/golden.
There are three main variants of Discus fish, blue, brown, and green, all of which grow to around 9 inches in captivity. Symphysodon aequifasciatus, or Discus fish, is a species of tropical freshwater cichlid that comes from the eastern and central areas of the Amazon Basin. A full-grown adult specimen measures up to 15.75 inches in length.
These semi-aggressive fish take around 24 to 30 months to mature and acquire their adult coloring, but the youngsters are certainly not disappointing to look at. Adult fish are no less gorgeous, having yellow and blue stripes and black markings around the eyes. Juveniles are particularly eye-catching with electric blue and white rings adorning their head and body. The stunningly beautiful Emperor angelfish is a marine fish that inhabits reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, ranging from the Red Sea to the Austral Islands and Hawaii. Mandarin gobies grow to around 3 inches in length, are reef-safe, and require a mature tank of at least 30 gallons.Ģ. The fish is a riot of color, being covered from head to tail in a dazzling array of colored patterns in orange, blue, green, and black. These peaceful marine fish come from the Indo-West Pacific Ocean around the Philippines, Northwest Australia, and Eastern Indonesia. The Spotted Mandarin goby, scientific name Synchiropus picturatus, is also known as the Target Mandarin goby, Psychedelic Mandarin, and Spotted Mandarin Dragonet.