Poisson Passion Issue 9 - Charismatic Clownfishes by Poisson Passion

Issue N°. 9 • Mar 2015

MCI (P) 180/01/2015

A PUBLICATION FOR HOBBYISTS

FEATURED FISH

The Opalescent Beauty, Tinker’s Butterfly Fish THE COMM

Q&A with W.B Sabby SALTY DEPTHS

A Hobbyist View on Reef Tank Setups

Charismatic Clownfishes Jesters of the Reef Amphiprion percula (Picasso variant) © Lemon Tea Yi Kai

POISSONPASSION.COM

Sharing Knowledge

Clownfish Aquaculture Sunken Scape

Off to a Rocky Start special feature

A Downunder LFS Experience

T H E C O L O P H O N

In This Issue Issue N°.9 March 2015

04.

08.

10.

14.

THE COMM

LATERAL LINE THOUGHTS

FEATURED FISH

SUNKEN SPECTACLE

W.B. Sabby Interview

Cosmestic Enhancement for your Fish

Opalescent Beauty: The Tinker’s Butterfly Fish

Hardscape— Off to a Rocky Start

15.

20.

26.

30.

SPECIAL FEATURE

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

SALTY DEPTHS

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

A Downunder LFS Experience

Charismatic Clownfishes

A Hobbyist View on Reef Tank Setups

Clownfish Aquaculture

32.

34.

36.

NEW TO OUR SHORES

NEWBIE INFO

Latest Products on Sale

Types of Filtration II

Editor’s Note Happy 2015 to all our readers and many thanks for choosing Poisson Passion as your aquatic magazine! Our team has planned out an exciting editorial lineup for this year and the following year, to satiate your thirst for all things to do with our aquarium hobby. In our following pages, we touch on an increasingly important topic “Cosmetic enhancements for our fish pets”, in our Lateral Line Thoughts column. W.B Sabby, a name wild discus fanatics’ associate with quality and distinction recently found a key distributor, Aquarist Chamber, for its range of livestock. One of W.B Sabby’s principals, Onoda Keisuke visited Singapore and we jumped on the chance to meet with Onoda-san. The interview revealed some little known nuggets and also shed some light on a past controversy surrounding Lago Solomon on page 4. For this issue, we are glad to welcome onboard a young and accomplished marine fish blogger, Tea Yi Kai, or Lemon, as he is affectionately known in the marine fish circles. Lemon shares with us his fascination with Chaetodon tinkeri, as he guest pens the “Featured Fish” column on page 8. Finding Nemo is the iconic show which brought attention to the humble clownfish, and we are confident Lemon’s knowledge on these reef jesters will be a delight to read, as he guest pens Species Spotlight on page 14! Do note that we will be taking a short break for the moment and issue 10 will be delayed for publication. Fret not, as we will return with more things to share! LIKE us on Facebook (www.facebook. com/PoissonPassion) and BOOKMARK www.poissonpassion.com to be kept in the loop on new developments in your favourite hobby!

guest writer

Lemon Tea YiKai Lemon Tea YiKai is a Singaporean aquarist with a deep interest for reef fish. His passion and pursuit for rare and exotic fish species has fueled his travels all across Southeast Asia, Japan, Australia and the United States. His travels have allowed him to meet and talk to a myriad of industry experts, as well as relevant authorities of their respective fields. At 22, Lemon is one of the youngest minds of the industry with and a deep understanding and knowledge on his expertise. Although well versed in other aspects of the hobby, his interest primarily lie in fish and he’s currently the senior editor for that department on ReefBuilders

CONSERVING THE PURE HARMONISING THE FUTURE

To the next fish

Vincent Koh Founding Editor, Poisson Passion

Dreamfish Inc (S) Pte Ltd 221 Neo Tiew Crescent Singapore 718831 T: +65 6862 9391 E: enquiry@merlionarowana.com merlionarowana.com

A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R H O B B Y I S T S

THE COMM

Q&A with W.B. Sabby W

hat an explosive start to 2015! Another premium South American Discus exporter finally made its way into South East Asia! W.B Sabby, a name wild discus fanatics’ associate with quality and distinction recently found a key distributor, Aquarist Chamber, for its range of livestock. One of W.B Sabby’s Onoda san and our editor posing outside W.B Sabby’s exclusive distributor. principals, Onoda Keisuke (OK) visited Singapore and Poisson Passion (PP) jumped on the chance to meet with Onoda-san. The interview revealed some little known nuggets and also shed some light on a past controversy surrounding Lago Solomon. Responsible for the marketing and international distribution of W.B Sabby’s livestock exports, Onoda Keisuke spends most of his time shuttling between Brazil, China, Taiwan and Japan. The former three territories are purely for business, while the latter is to cure his homesickness. Having left Japan more than 20 years ago for Brazil, it was pure chance that Onoda-san started W.B Sabby with another “displaced” countryman, while holidaying in the Amazons. Himself not an aquarium hobbyist, the then 37 year old Onoda-san wanted a change from his stereotypical Japanese salaryman lifestyle and dove head first into Amazonian waters to start an ornamental fish collection and export business. Although being in the fish business for decades, he still proclaims himself not a “fish lover”, but it was quite hard to believe him, while he was excitedly explaining the small nuances of W.B Sabby’s “Collection” and “Selection” lines of wild discus!

PP: Which was the most exciting fish you have seen from 4

W.B Sabby?

various collection points and personally select the catch on the spot!

OK: That would be the Cuipeua Discus. In my opinion, the

PP: A truly dedicated and veteran exporter! Can you tell

redness exhibited from the fish is almost legendary. When I first set my eyes on it, my first thoughts were “How is fire able to burn underwater?”

us more about the past experiences? How has the fish collection changed in the past 20 years? OK: In the past, the Brazilian government did not impose

PP: W.B Sabby is famous for its discus, but are there any

other fish species W.B Sabby is specialised in? OK: In the past, we collected all types of fish species, however, we shifted focus to discus collection and Apistogramma collection. We used to collect plecos as well, but that has slowed down. I remember we collected this black and yellowish gold pleco (L273), and I named it the “Titanic”. This trade name was given, as it reminded me of the popular movie back then, and the colour of the pleco was very similar to the sinking ship in the last scenes, black silhouette body with orange lit windows running across the body of the ship.

tight restrictions on fish exports, and everyone was catching everything from the Amazon River and exporting it out. However, the government realised this is harmful for the ecology of the Amazons, and from a conservation viewpoint, restricted the export on quite a number of fish species. Currently, there are a lot of checks on fish harvests, with a strict requirement on obtaining documentation on collection and export of ornamental fish. There is even a complete ban on exporting hypancistrus plecos. PP: In that case, with the building of the Monte Belo Dam,

there were reports of a drop in the number of fish species near the dam vicinity. Has the dam affected your collection of discus?

PP: Being one of three key discus exporters in South

America, how does W.B Sabby distinguishes itself from the others? OK: We pride ourselves on our long history (more than 20 years) as a discus collector and the high level of quality control used by our collection team. Our main collector, Kamoshida-san will stay an average of 3 to 4 months on the Amazon River, visiting

OK: We are aware of this and have heard rumours of the loss

in quite a number of fish species, especially plecos from our friends near the dam. At the moment, there is not much change in our collection of discus. PP: We have a burning question for you. Sometime back

(2010), W.B Sabby introduced a new line of discus for sale

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THE COMM

Discussing the “Lago Solomon” controversy. The confusion was carefully explained by Onoda-san.

Onoda-san’s was very enthusiastic while we discussed about W.B Sabby’s key export, wild discus.

Kamoshida-san, W.B Sabby’s key harvestor netting out discus from floating holding pens built nearby the collection point.

The fishing nets being checked for their precious haul.

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THE COMM

Another “Lago Solomon” treasure. The intensity of the neon blue lines running across its body makes this a highly prized “Royal”.

A “Lago Solomon” discus being held in the palm. The massive discus is highly sought after for its impressive size.

A “Nhamunda” royal carefully selected for sale to discus fanatics.

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THE COMM

“Lago Solomon was a trade name that I coined, and no such location exists! I felt that this population of discus deserved a special name, like the ‘Titanic’ pleco, as it was very unique.” © W.B Sabby Ltda

Piabeiros (fishermen) posing with their catch.

and named it Lago Solomon. There was a big controversy back then and criticism were plenty, as no such location exists in the Amazons. Quite a number of hobbyists were confused on this, as following tradition, wild discus are named for their collection locations. Can you shed some light on this? OK: Lago Solomon was a trade name that I coined, and no such location exists! I felt that this population of discus deserved a special name, like the “Titanic” pleco, as it was very unique. The adult “Lago Solomon” discus was the biggest, full bodied fish (about 22cm across) compared to the other lines. They were very robust and I felt they are like treasures from King Solomon’s Mines, hence the name.

Unfortunately, we were unable to collect the line for 2014, and if we are successful this year, the Lago Solomon discus will be sent to Singapore! PP: Last question from us. We have seen a lot of beautiful

biotope pictures from your collection expeditions and wondering if W.B Sabby will export the native Amazon plants for hobbyists to recreate the biotope? OK: The Brazilian government has banned exports of any wild

harvested plants, but are slowly relaxing the export controls for cultivated plants. W.B Sabby has started cultivating the native water plants and the necessary licenses for the export, and are preparing for export!

PP: Besides the size, what is so unique about the Lago

Solomon line? OK: The colour contrast is unlike any other discus collected

by us. This is especially true for the Lago Solomon Royals.

Many thanks to Onoda-san for giving our readers the opportunity to take a peek and understand the inner workings of this famed discus exporter!

A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R H O B B Y I S T S

L ATER AL LINE THOUGHTS

Cosmetic Enhancement for your fish A Dastardly Deed Indeed!

ost aquarists are naturalists at heart, preferring the look of their pet fish to be as close as what nature intended. Although some do raise their brows at the inevitable hybrids (think flowerhorns or “Louhan”) and selectively breed varieties (Bettas and guppies), these practices are still much tolerated. Sidetrack for those who are wondering—Flowerhorns are the result of crossing of several Central American cichlids, while bettas and guppies underwent extensive selective breeding over countless years. Both categories have produced a plethora of stunning forms and colours, intriguing generations of new aquarists. These “new discoveries” generated much interest in the ornamental fish trade, and also a handsome profit for the original breeders! Perhaps it was greed for profits or the drive to produce new fish variants, which paved the way for, in my opinion two heinous acts; the artificial “enhancement” of ornamental fish by colour injections and/or tattooing. The “enhancements” Ask any fish hobbyists and they will tell you that the appeal of rearing fishes lies in keeping them in its natural form with colours that fits its native environments. However unscrupulous fish breeders have decided to up the ante by introducing colours which are more suitable as highlighter pens or neon signboards.

Colour dyed axolotls. If the axolotl survives the “colour dye” process, the unnatural colour tends to fade after 3 months.

School of colour dyed albino corydoras

The process of adding these colours are usually through the injection of neon colours under its scales and usually, albino fishes are bred to achieve this “look”. Google “tattooed fish” and multiple images of “colourful” parrotfish cichlids and mollies will assault your senses; with their bodies haphazardly tattooed with numbers, symbols and messages. The “artwork” is usually meant for providing “winning lottery combinations” and expressions of love. Not so lucky for the fish bearing those messages. The impact of such practices Truth be told, a tankful of such “enhanced” fishes does look cool and novel. Who could resist a school of neon blue or green corydoras swimming about, sifting through the gravel floor looking for food? Or for the habitual punter seeking inspiration, an aquarium full of numbered fishes is akin to having a natural number generator. However, for these fish keepers—their love for keeping such fishes are usually very short-lived, as the effects of the “highlighted fish” wears off after several months, or worse, the forcibly tattooed fish succumb to infections and passes on. What irks me more is that these “enhanced” fishes also attract the attention of newcomers to the hobby: someone who is keen to find out more and totally inexperienced. The novelty of the neon coloured fish or tattooed fish is probably the attraction point in starting off a fish keeping hobby. Unfortunately for these newbies, excitement of keeping such wonderful creatures slowly turns into heartache and disappointment, as the fishes die prematurely on the newcomers leaving behind an empty tank with high expectations. To be continued on Page 27

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featured fish

Opalescent Beauty

The Tinker’s Butterflyfish Text and photo by Lemon Tea YiKai

utterfly fish are an undeniable icon of shallow water coral gardens. There aren’t many fish that can elicit the same level of exuberance as a pair of picture perfect butterflyfish in mid “flight”. Yet for a family so cultural and deeply recognizable in the coral reef scene, it’s surprising that we don’t know everything about them. The family Chaetodontidae boats of over a hundred species, in twelve genera spread out into the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Even in our current day and time, new species are still being discovered with many awaiting official description. To convey all the information necessary to completely understand the family and all the related genera would be an immense undertaking. What’s incredibly fascinating however, is the incredible spectrum of diversity that this family boasts. On one hand we have within a genus, many complexes with allopatric sisters that share closely related ecological niches and biology. On the other hand we have members with polar opposite needs, highly specialized diets and even diversity of form. Habitat and preference of depth for example, is a factor that runs the gamut of ranges. While many butterflyfish enjoy the shallow water reef scene with colourful coral and a bounty of

food, a large portion spend their entire lives living in deep water. Members of the genus Roa and Prognathodes for example, are very often found in depths exceeding 120m. These deepwater butterflies are never seen by conventional divers, and may only be encountered by rebreather diving. Underwater submersibles and trawler fishing have invariably widened the horizons for deepwater fish research, and are providing more information into these secretive species that inhabit soul-crushing depths. Our species spotlight for today introduces a beautiful butterflyfish that threads the transition between the shallow and twilight zones of the reef. The Tinker’s Butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri) is a highly coveted deepwater beauty found primarily in the Hawaiian Islands. This deep-bodied Chaetodon is a pearlescent white, with a large black oblique patch covering a third of its body near the rear. The monochromatic theme is accented with a yellow tail, eye mask and trimmings on the edges of the dorsal fin and spines. Chaetodon tinkeri is a handsome species and is a member of the Roaps subgenus, with four other closely related members. They are, C. flavocoronatus, C. declivis, C. mitratus and C. burgessi. Together these five form a complex, and are superficially similar in general appearance. With the exception

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featured fish

“The monochromatic theme is accented with a yellow tail, eye mask and trimmings on the edges of the dorsal fin and spines.” of C. mitratus being found only in the Indian Ocean, the rest are are all Pacific in distribution. The Roaps butterflies are all fond of deepwater, where coral growth is sparse. The Tinker’s Butterflyfish is found at depths starting at 30m, but becomes increasingly more evident in deeper waters. At this depth, light penetration is not as restricted as in the twilight zone, but it is compromised enough such that coral growth is scarce and scattered. At 45m–60m, the Tinker’s Butterflyfish can be seen swimming in pairs, very often along and under deep ledges and steep reef walls. An unusual trait that it shares with the rest of its sisters is the penchant for swimming upside down. The Roaps are very often seen and photographed swimming either upside down or vertically along ledges and drop offs. In their habitat, brightly colored stony corals that depend on light to survive are replaced by non-photosynthetic species such as black coral. Here, the idea of a tranquil garden is lost, yet many species of butterflyfish can be found living in relative abundance.

Distinguishing Characteristics / Species

Chaetodon tinkeri

Body Markings

Colour

Black/white/yellow

Size (measured from the tip of mouth to start of the tail)

5 1/2 inches max size

Distribution and water requirements

Found primarily in Hawaii, and surrounding Hawaiian islands. Water requrirements 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025

Maintenance/ Diet

Meaty items including frozen mysid shrimp and chopped seafood.Dried high quality pellet and flake food. Some seaweed sheets may be provided.

Reef safe?

With caution.

Possible tank mates

Peaceful to most fishes except maybe to conspecifics.

A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R H O B B Y I S T S

featured fish

Close up of the Tinker’s Butterfly fish. The amazing colour contrast of black on white and a dash of yellow makes them a handsome fish for any aquarium.

“At 45m–60m, the Tinker’s Butterflyfish can be seen swimming in pairs, very often along and under deep ledges and steep reef walls. An unusual trait that it shares with the rest of its sisters is the penchant for swimming upside down.”

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featured fish

C. tinkeri spots a tasty morsel amongst the anemone.

Chaetodon tinkeri is not a corallivorous species. Due to the scarcity of corals at this depth, members of the Roaps subgenus are more benthic opportunistic. They feed on small invertebrates, algae, and whatever edible morsels they can find growing and encrusting on the reefs. Because of their wide and non-specific dietary components, C. tinkeri is not difficult to feed in captivity. On the contrary, the Tinker’s Butterflyfish will accept dry food almost immediately without hesitation. They are also relatively “reef safe” as far as butterflyfish go, and can be housed in carefully constructed reef set-ups. Coral eating may be expected, but because of their diet in the wild, they will not go after every coral indiscriminately and should you choose to keep one in your reef, careful observation should be carried out. Removal of certain corals may be necessary if it is picking on it. Generally speaking, butterflyfish are curious and like to nip at various objects throughout the day. Some light nipping is okay as long as it isn’t tearing flesh off a coral. I have a C. tinkeri in my reef that only eats Tubastrea and left everything alone. Again, it all boils down to an individual fish and if you are a coral lover who cannot bear to take the risk, then this fish isn’t a good choice for you. Keeping the fish well fed and distracted by having other reef fishes is a good way to keep nipping at bay. The heartbreak lies in its availability and price. Hailing from deepwater Hawaii, the Tinker’s Butterflyfish is rare and very pricey. Like many deepwater reef fish, it adopts an inverse price scale where smaller specimens are preferred and are more expensive than larger specimens. A juvenile Tinker’s butterflyfish can fetch anywhere between SGD$500–700. Having said that, Chaetodon tinkeri is a fine example of a hardy, beautiful and rare butterfly that is worth every cent. The opalescent alabaster and jet black combination is sharp, striking and very handsome. If you plan on keeping a butterflyfish, then this Hawaiian beauty is a perfect starter. If you are taken aback by the steep price, then perhaps the other members of the Roaps complex may offer a good substitute. If you ask me though, none is quite as eye catching as this opalescent beauty.

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SUNKEN SPEC TACLE

Hardscape— Off to a Rocky Start The Selection and Preparation Text by Zhuang Changzhong

quascaping is all about bringing home a piece of nature, and nature is not just about plants. While fields of flowers or a nice rose bush can be visually satisfying, aquascapers typically integrate wood and rock pieces into their aquascapes. After all, the human eye finds mountains and forests breathtakingly beautiful, and will likewise appreciate aquascapes with artistic pieces of rocks and wood interwoven amongst the plants. Rocks and wood, collectively known as the “hardscape” (while plants are considered the “softscape”) add strength and character to the scape with their solidity and chiseled edges. The Selection It is not recommended to use rocks picked up from the wild. It is difficult to know the effect that such rocks will have on the water parameters of the aquarium, or if such rocks may introduce any harmful pathogens in your aquarium. Further, some rocks picked from the wild may not withstand prolonged submersion in water, and may crumble over time.

Water Chemistry Certain rocks can affect the water chemistry, which create difficulties in maintaining stable water parameters. This is especially a concern for aquascapers, where precise water parameters are required for lush plant growth. For example, rocks that have metallic veins running through them are likely to introduce heavy metals into the waters that adversely affect livestock. Unfortunately, not all effects by rocks on water parameters can be observed so easily. There is a simple test, though, for checking if the rock will raise the pH. A few drops of vinegar, or preferably a stronger acidic compound, can be dripped on the rocks and if the acid fizzes, that rock is likely to bring up the pH of the water. Besides testing for pH increments, the testing for other effects of rocks on water chemistry is less straight forward. Further, few fish shop owners are likely to allow customers to walk around dripping vinegar on their wares. The only option for aquascapers, then, is to either purchase from reputable aquascaping specialty shops, where the attendant can advise on the effect of their rocks on water parameters, or for the aquascapers to purchase a small piece and test at home by following the steps listed below: 1. Set up a small bucket or tank. 2. Test the water chemistry with a comprehensive tester to find out the water chemistry. 3. Place the rock into the water, cover the container and leave it aside for 3 days or so. It is important to leave the

A dry tank for use in a specialty aquascape shop allows scapers to visualise the rock placement prior to purchase. Notice the lengths indicated below the tank.

rock in the water for a period of time because changes to water chemistry can be very small and may not be picked up by the test. Leaving the rock in the water for a longer period of time will allow any chemical buildup to sufficiently accumulate and show up on the water chemistry tests. 4. Test the water again, and compare the results now with the initial results. Aesthetics When choosing rocks, it is best to patronize shops that have dry, substrate-filled aquariums for the purposes of allowing customers to play around with different rock formations. It is difficult to visualize by holding rocks up in the air, or even by placing rocks on flat ground, and having an aquarium to move rocks around is very helpful for aquascapers to find a formation that is just right. For consistency, pick rocks that are of the same type in terms of color and texture, with differences in their shape and size. This creates harmony and uniformity between the rocks and makes the formation more pleasing to the eye. Rocks that have natural and earthen colors like black, grey and dark brown are also recommended. Bright and stark colors

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SUNKEN SPEC TACLE

Various rocks available to the inspired aquascaper. Wet and dry rocks are put side by side to show the changes in colour.

are not generally seen in nature, and may create an artificial look. If possible, aquascapers should ask if the shop owners are willing to allow the wetting of the rocks, so that aquascapers can have a more accurate appreciation of the rocks’ color under water. This is because some rocks have very different colors and shades when dry as compared to when they are wet. Sometimes, even rocks that look alike when dry can look distinctly different when soaked in water. When it comes to size, the tallest rocks should be about 2/3 the height of the aquarium, such that the scape can sufficiently fill up the aquarium and create an impressive scape. The choice of height will also depend on how deeply the rocks are buried in the substrate. Finally, avoid picking rocks of around the same size, but selecting sizes that range from the very large to the very tiny. This lend variety and interest to the scape. Preparation Rocks are generally very dusty, and will require a good scrub before putting them into the aquarium. However, some rocks,

The beautiful Unzan stone has a depression which allows the aquascaper to plant the desired flora.

i.e. lava rocks, can be fragile and hard brushes may cause the rocks to disintegrate. In such cases, a soft toothbrush is recommended to gently clean off any debris. Process Before placing rocks into the aquarium, it is prudent to first place egg crate, or some sort of protective layer between the rocks and the glass to disperse the weight of the rocks. Heavy rocks, combined with their sharp edges and points, could put excessive pressure on the glass, and this layer of protection will prevent cracks to the glass. Cracks are less of a problem, though, if there is a thick layer of substrate to better distribute the weight of the rocks. After the protective layer is placed, add the heavy rocks on them. At this point, the substrate can be added and sloped from front to back to add a sense of depth. This way, the substrate will bury the rocks a little deeper and make them look established and aged. The added substrate should also be poured around the rocks to look like they “flow” around the rock formation, just like how the currents in rivers and streams sculpt the soil around rocks. This will create a more natural and harmonious scene. With the substrate and main hardscape in place, the remaining rocks can be added to complete the formation. When scaping, do space out the sessions to give yourself time to refresh perspectives and gain further inspiration. Aquascaping is an art, and like any art, it should not be rushed, but given plenty of thought and contemplation. After you are done with the scape, water can be added slowly onto a plate, or a plastic bag resting on the substrate, to minimize disturbance to the scape. And it is finished! Do stay tuned for the next issue, as we delve into the different styles of aquascaping with rocks, such as the popular Iwagumi style of aquascaping, or the use of rocks to complement wood or the plants.

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SPECIAL FE ATURE

A Downunder LFS Experience Text and Photos by C.K. Lim

Spacious and clean environment, typical of Australian LFS.

Many Singaporeans are familiar with Australia. Some might have spent their undergraduate years here, while others have been here for work or holiday. However, few know about the ornamental fish industry in Australia. As a student based in Melbourne, I am currently working part-time for a local fish shop (LFS) which is popular to many Melbournian fish hobbyists. L aw and Regul ations Australia is known for its strict biosecurity laws to protect the rare and endemic species such as the ever popular koalas and kangaroos which cannot be found elsewhere in the world. Together with Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic dependence on its agricultural industry, the nation can suffer heavy losses should exotic animals or microorganisms be introduced into their ecosystem. Hence it is only logical for Australia to enforce strict rules when importing animals and plants. Even items stained with soil might be confiscated upon passing through the customs! Although the benefits of strict biosecurity laws are apparent, it has taken its toll on the ornamental fish industry. Over the years, more species are progressively being banned from the Australian trade, for example, Protopterus spp. (Lungfish),

Pangasianodon gigas (Mekong Catfish) and Hoplias spp. (Wolf fish) which have all been declared as noxious species. As recent as September 2014, the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine released a report which require species within the family of Osphronemidae (Labyrinths), Cichlidae (Cichlids) and Poeciliidae (Livebearers) to be tested for Megalocytivirus before being allowed into Australia. (Megalocytivirus is an infection virus which causes spleen and kidney necrosis in both freshwater and marine fishes. The virus can only be detected via testing and test samples are usually killed before tests can be conducted.) As most imported ornamental fish are from South East Asia, which previously had a Megalocytivirus outbreak, the new measure is to prevent similar outbreaks occurring in Australia. With this implementation, the high costs associated with the tests, make importation of the mentioned species less profitable for the distributors. The costs will ultimately be transferred to the end consumers, creating over-inflated prices, or worse discourage newcomers to enter the hobby entirely! While relevant, the strict import laws of Australia have created a black market for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;exoticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fishes. For instance, the black market price for a pair of Hypancistrus zebra (L046) is

A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R H O B B Y I S T S

SPECIAL FE ATURE

Glossamia aprion The Mouth Almighty is strictly a freshwater species.

Pogona vitticeps. A pair of bearded dragons â&#x20AC;&#x153;hanging outâ&#x20AC;?.

about AUD5000! With such prices, ornamental fish smugglers often tempt fate by bringing the banned species into Australia. Do be warned that hefty fines and possible imprisonment await any unlucky smuggler. On top of national laws, different states also have their own set of biosecurity laws. For instance, although it is legal to import and keep kois and carps in New South Wales, it is completely banned in Victoria where it is regarded as a noxious species and should be destroyed if found in the wild. Price & Qualit y Many Australians will find the family Loricariidae (plecos) highly prized in the trade. The entire genus with exception of the genus Farlowella (whiptails) has been banned in 1999 under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Remaining Loricariidae stocks sold currently are bred by hobbyists who bought them before the ban. With no new imports to bolster the gene pool, generations of inbreeding causes multiple genetic defects in the offspring as well as general confusion over species identification amongst hobbyists. For instance, it is impossible to find a pure Hypancistrus sp. L333 as they have been crossed with other species (described or undescribed) over several generations. The same can be said about many of the cichlids, such as species the genus Geophagus and Vieja. Although the bans seem barbaric at first, do note the Australian Department of Agriculture performed extensive

Scortum barcoo Besides being an ornamental fish in Australia, the Jade Perch also serves as a food fish.

Tateurndina ocellicauda An attractive and impressive addition to any planted tank, the Peacock Gudgeon lives up to its avian namesake.

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SPECIAL FE ATURE

“ Service standard is top notch in Australia, as each staff is able to recommend customers on the fishes to keep, educate on water management and even explaining the difference between coldwater, tropical and marine fish keeping.” only advice I can get is from the LFS owners. Sadly, many of the older LFS’ tend to have little knowledge of fish compatibility as well as water management. Due to this, many of my fishes eventually outgrew my little 2 foot tank! Having said that, the newer generation of LFS’ in Singapore has since stepped up on service and are much more knowledgeable than the past, often imparting precious fish keeping knowledge to newcomers. Overall, Singapore is still a better place to buy quality livestock and equipments as we are spoilt by the choices available as well as reasonable pricing.

studies on the banned species of ornamental fishes and their impact towards the native species and ecosystem before implementation. Australian studies have shown plecos are able to survive and breed in the warmer waters of subtropical and tropical Australia and hence considered a pest by the fishery department while large cichlids and predatory fishes will eat most of Australia’s small native species such as the rainbow fishes and small gudgeons. Working in Australia Most LFS’ in Australia are family run and have very few staff although the aquarium I work in has more staff than others, as there are departments taking care of quarantine and import, reptile and amphibians, fish room as well as tank-making. The LFS’ are usually spacious and have well-organized areas and offices for their staff, very different in comparison to the usually cramped Singaporean LFS’. Also, most of the larger shops will sell both freshwater and marine fishes and equipment together although there are also shops which only specialize in planted tanks, marine fish and corals. Service standard is top notch in Australia, as each staff is able to recommend customers on the fishes to keep, educate on water management and even explaining the difference between coldwater, tropical and marine fish keeping. Service standard is one of the factors lacking in Singapore as compared to Australia. I remembered when I first started fish keeping as a child and the internet is still in its early days, the

Exotic Pets In Australia, reptiles and amphibians are often sold in LFS’ alongside fishes. Previously not being able to keep such pets in Singapore, it was such a great experience to feed the reptiles, especially feeding pinhead crickets to the bearded dragons! Although all non-native reptiles and amphibians are banned, Australia itself already has a wide range of native species such as the bearded dragon, frilled-neck lizard, blue tongue skink and the huge goanna. Having them as pets is fine and exciting, but education is essential for keeping these species as they come from various regions of Australia and each require different care and diet. The awareness and education is undertaken by exotic pet clubs, often holding talks and setting up booths in bazaars and fairs to educate the public. These are just some small initiatives taken to help people understand the animals. Lessons Learnt On the whole, Australians have a strong emphasis and culture in protecting the environment, especially their reefs and native animals. The education that is passed on by Australians signifies their commitment to protecting their environment. There are definitely lessons to be learned by Singaporeans which can eventually shape the future of our pet trade. By having strong emphasis on education, more people will understand that releasing of animals into the wild (often nonnative) will cause damage to our environment and destroy our native ecosystem. Perhaps, with Singaporeans becoming more educated on the exotic species, and with some luck, exotic pets can one day be kept in Singapore!

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SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Charismatic Clownfishes Jesters of the Reef Text and Photos by Lemon Tea YiKai

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SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Amphiprion thiellei

he poster child for marine life has got to be the incomparable clownfish. No other species comes to mind quite like the orange and white icon that has plagued the world over no thanks to the popular animated film “Finding Nemo”. To say that the iconic clownfish has not left a cultural impact is a severe understatement no less. What many people don’t know however, is that the quintessential “clownfish” is just one of many species. Amphiprion ocellaris, or “nemo” is the hallmark representative for the family. Ironically though, only two species are coloured and shaped in the traditional “nemo” fashion, with the rest appearing in a wide variety of forms, some totally abandoning the clownfish stereotype altogether. There are two existing genera encompassing roughly thirty species. Amphiprion, which includes almost all of the known species, as well as Premnas, a monotypic genus with only one member—The Maroon Clownfish (P. biaculeatus).

Clownfish taxonomy is messy and very difficult to grasp. A large number of species are superficially extremely similar in appearance, making identification very tricky. Making matters worse is the prevalence of geographical variations and forms within a species, which blurs the line of identification even more. Confusingly, some “species” are hybrid derived. “A. thiellei” is a naturally occurring hybrid between A. ocellaris and A. sandaracinos. This hybrid is fertile and can produce offspring amongst themselves, which begs the question. Is A. thiellei a legitimate species or not? In the thousands of years to come, will it eventually evolve to form its own distinct bloodline of a hybrid derived species? All clownfish are part of the main family Pomacentridae, which collectively are known as damselfish. However unlike damselfish, clownfish are strictly shallow water species and are not found in deep reefs. Clownfish are symbiotically closely

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SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Amphiprion leucokranos

associated with anemones, and because the latter requires sunlight for photosynthesis, clownfish are always found in shallower waters. The anemone provides a safe haven by allowing the clownfish to nestle within the stinging tentacles, which is impervious to the mucous coating of the clownfish. In turn, the clowns fiercely defend their anemone home from predators such as butterflyfish. As such, the availability of clownfish is not dependent on factors such as deep diving. The unavailability of certain clownfish species however, is due to isolated ranges, or occurrence of the species in a protected range. A. mccullochi for example is found only in Lord Howe Island, where all collection is banned due to it being a UNESCO heritage site. A. fuscocaudatus is found in Seychelles, where no collection is allowed and even so, the range is far and isolated with no collection facilities nearby. In the aquarium trade, many species of clownfish are available to aquarists. The similar looking sister of â&#x20AC;&#x153;nemoâ&#x20AC;?, A. percula, is another popular choice for reef seekers. Outside of the orange and white stripes, skunk clowns such as A. sandaracinos and A. perideraion are also rather popular. These are noted for their absence of striping, and are uniformly orange or pink. They get their names not from their black and white coloration akin to the terrestrial mammal, but from the horizontal white stripe that runs down its dorsal fin, much like

the white striping of a skunk. A handful of other similar looking members are also found within this skunk complex, but the previous two by far are the commonest. Another commonly encountered clownfish is A. clarkii, which can be black or orange depending on its geographic locality. It is banded in white as with the typical clownfish patterning. A. clarkii as a species is notorious in having a huge collection of geographical forms, making identification rather difficult. A large majority of clownfish species falls into the clarkii complex, which are rather deep bodied and share the similar band patterning. A. bicinctus, A. tricinctus, A. chrysopterus, A. chrysogaster, A. allardi, A. latifasciatus and A. akindynos are just some, to name a few. Regardless of the species and complex they come from, clownfish are all generally pretty hardy and share the same basic

Take note when purchasing the Maroon Clownfish as a tankmate, as it is a belligerent species, prone to attacking any fish straying nearby its territory.

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tip!

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

A. ocellaris Various hybrid forms of the False Percula clownfish

care requirements. A few species are a little more sensitive, such as A. latezonatus which prefers cooler water. A. chrysopterus is notoriously susceptible to brooklynellosis, also known as the clownfish disease. This parasitic protozoan manifests itself as a thick slimy film that is most often encountered in clownfish species, and is best treated with formalin. Proper quarantine set ups and suitable medication should be readily available, just in case. In the wild, clownfish are often seen in pairs or sometimes in small groups. In the aquarium, a pair can be maintained and a group should not be attempted. The dynamics of clownfish hierarchy is complex. Unlike most reef fish which are protogynous hermaphrodites, clownfish are the opposite. They are protandrous hermaphrodites (proto -first, androus –male) meaning they start out life as males, and where social pressure dictates, are capable of sex changing into fully functional females. In the typical scenario for clownfish, a large female normally lives together with multiple males and juveniles, the reverse of protogynous hermaphrodites. This would make “Finding Nemo” rife with scientific inaccuracies, because instead of taking his son all over the ocean after his wife was eaten by a barracuda, Marlin would have partnered up with another male and then proceeded to change his sex. Perhaps falsifying scientific information for the sake of a controversial sex change topic might not be a bad

Amphiprion leucokranos

Contrary to popular belief, clownfishes do not need to be kept with anemones, as they will do perfectly fine without one. They may host other corals, or sometimes even inanimate objects such as magnet cleaners on rare occasions.

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DI D Y OU KN OW ?

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Amphiprion chrysogaster. The Mauritian clownfish is a rare and highly sought specimen in the aquarium trade.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the dominant female is captured or dies, the next most dominant male in line will assume his sex change and take her place.â&#x20AC;? 25

idea after all, especially with a target group intended for ten year olds. If the dominant female is captured or dies, the next most dominant male in line will assume his sex change and take her place. Thankfully for the aquarium industry, clownfish are some of the easiest marine species to spawn and raise. They lay demersal eggs which the male guards and fans, and the fries can be fed with rotifers soon after hatching. Home breeders with a passion for aquaculture usually start their journey with clownfish breeding. The aquaculture industry is bursting at its seams with captive raised clownfish of various strands. Like guppies, clownfish are now subjected to a dizzying and innumerable number of different strains, some altering the wild type form to nearly unrecognizable designs. To touch on clownfish breeding and designer clowns would be another long can of worms that should probably be opened another time!

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SALT Y DEPTHS

Larry’s impressive reef tank.

A Hobbyist View on

Reef Tank Setups 26

ontinuing from our last issue on the setup of a Fish Only tank, we felt it would be more rewarding to our readers to learn from an experienced reef hobbyist (“Reefer”) than reading about the various steps required to set up a Reef tank. Hence, we reached out to Larry Ng (LN), an accomplished Reefer and also the owner of Singapore Reef Club and Malaysia Reef Club to let you have a glimpse into reef keeping! Larry was obliging to our request and took time out from his busy schedule to share with Poisson Passion (PP).

PP: How did you get into the marine tank hobby? What were you keeping prior into going full on into Reef tanks? LN: I believe most hobbyists started their obsession with a

freshwater tank, I was keeping guppies and Louhan fish prior to my salty journey, but I was inspired to keep something out of the ordinary and take up the challenge which the marine hobby offers. My first brush with a marine was when I was 10 years old. My dad brought home a marine fish from one of his fishing trips and we tried to keep it alive. In my teenage years, I was exposed to the exotic and colourful world of coral reefs by a close friend. We were very excited about it and spent most of our free time in fish farms learning from the staff. Sadly, due to the limited information and availability of reef keeping knowledge at that time, setting up a reef tank seemed like an impossible task!

LN: Since young, I was fascinated by the diversity of marine life, so much so that and I would spend hours of my free time staring at the beautiful reef displays at the local fish shops, dreaming to possess my own setup one day. When access to the internet became more convenient, I did my research via various overseas and local online forums. The forums helped a lot as it provided a wealth of information which aided me in setting up my first reef tank. Although setting up a reef tank is definitely more challenging and costly, coupled with the strict requirement of water testing and changing, this is worthwhile, as nothing beats being able to relax in front of my reef tank, enjoying a small slice of the ocean, after a long, hard day at work. PP: How much time was spent in maintaining your tanks?

Which is more expensive, the hardware for the tank or the livestock?

PP: Why did you decide to go into this time consuming and

costly hobby? What research was done?

LN: On average I would spend a few hours per week on tank

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maintenance, which includes cleaning the tank walls, skimmer cup and filters etc. When I set up my first marine tank 10 years ago, there was not much choice in terms of affordable equipment. Most marine aquarium equipment came from either USA or Europe, and it was very costly to setup a marine tank. However, with the technological advancement and globalisation, we are fortunate to have more affordable Chinese-made equipment, to start on this hobby. Larry’s Setup : Main Tank : 6ft × 4ft × 2.5ft – Schuran Acrylic Plexiglass Sump Tank : 62” × 36” × 24 “ – PP Frag Tank 1 : 36” × 24” 18” – Glass – 12mm QT / Hospital Tank / Frag Tank :36” × 24” 18” – Glass 12 mm Refugium Tank 1 :36” × 24” 18” – Glass 12mm Refugium Tank 2: 36” × 24” 18” – Glass 12mm Frag sump tank 1: 36” × 24” 20” – Glass 12mm Frag sump tank 2 : 36” × 24” 20” – Glass 12mm Total Water Volume: About 4 tonnes (1000 gallons)

Clusters of LED lights are used to illuminate the reef!

PP: Which piece of equipment would you say is/are critical for the reef tank?

LN: Protein skimmers, lights and wave makers are the most important equipment in a reef tank. The protein skimmer helps in maintaining the quality of the water by removing and breaking down organic waste, whilst wave makers help to distribute food to the water column via circulation, and boosts oxygen levels through water movement at the surface. Having a good light set is important to the growth and health of corals, and enhances the colouration of your corals. PP: Obviously, a firm grasp of marine fishkeeping knowledge

is required before setting up a reef tank. In a quick summary, able to share which knowledge areas are essential? LN: Be responsible and know the care requirements and compatibility of the marine fish and coral species you are buying, this will not only save money in the long run (fish and corals survive), it also allows your livestock to live in a suitable and conducive environment. Having a good grasp of the desired water parameters for reef keeping is a MUST!

Ideal water parameters for a reef tank: Specific gravity : 1.023–1.026 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: below 1.0 ppm pH: 8.1–8.3 Phosphate: Less than 0.30 ppm Calcium: 350–450 ppm Magnesium: 1250–1500 ppm Temperature: 26–28 degree

Notice the careful labelling on the pipes. This assists minimal mix-ups during maintenance!

PP: Any accidents to share? What happened and how could it

be avoided? LN: I think the most horrible incident which happened to me

was coming home to a power failure. I lost all my livestock and had to restart my tank as a result of this. The power failure was caused by equipment failure, which resulted in a complete “tank crash”. I learnt the hard way to rely only on quality equipment for my setup, although they may cost more, I am assured of their performance. Right now, I am not taking any chances, and have installed backups for every piece of equipment and have even implemented a “Power failure sms notification” system, which gives me peace of mind!

Larry’s Equipment: Skimmer: Deltec 2560 internal × 2 Wave Maker: Vortec MP60 Wes × 2 with battery backup Lighting: AI Lighting, Hydra 52 (8 units) Main Return Pump: Abyzz A200 × 2 Ozonizer: Sander Calcium Reactor: Deltec PF1001 Kalkwasser reactor: KM800T Dosing pump: Grotech 8 channel dosing pump

PP: In your opinion, are nano reef tanks a good investment to

start? Any issues to take note of? LN: Yes, it is very much possible to keep a nano tank nowadays, due to the improvement of technology. However, anything smaller than 50 gallons (about 200 litres) is very challenging

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Bird’s eye view of the reef tank.

to upkeep as the small water volume has little room to accommodate any changes in water parameters.

PP: As corals/anemones are similar to plants, what do you do

when they grow bigger? LN: Some reefer would prefer to “frag” (i.e cut) and sell the overgrown corals but I prefer sharing with friends through exchange or as gifts. This helps to strengthen the hobby and also provides a back-up for me, just in case any mishaps happen to my healthy corals! PP: Able to walk through with our readers, what are the main

Holacanthus ciliaris Apart from the corals in the tank, the Queen Angelfish is Larry’s pride and joy!

steps to consider when setting up a reef tank? PP: Any advice to aspiring reef keepers before they take the LN: Before venturing into the setup, plan your setup, and your

stock list. This helps to determine the equipment that you need as well as your budget. Try to get the biggest tank that you can afford as a bigger water volume would make maintaining the tank much easier. PP: What do I need to take note of when setting up a reef tank? LN: Unlike freshwater or a fish only setup, coral reefs are more sensitive to nutrients in the water, especially phosphates and nitrates. Too much of both affect the coral growth and their overall health. However, with the advancement in technology it is much easier to keep these in check with the use of chemical filtration mediums like zeolite reactor or a denitrator.

plunge? LN: Knowledge and patience is the key to success in this hobby, do your research on the equipment and livestock before you take the plunge. Unlike a simple freshwater setup, the reef tank is more demanding on the water quality, but in return for the effort, you will be rewarded with a healthy, vibrant and colourful reef tank that is the envy of most!

Many thanks to Larry for sharing his experience. We hope to see more converts to reef keeping after this article! For more information on reef keeping and the marine hobby, visit www. sgreefclub.com for more details!

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SHARING KNOWLEDGE

Jun Kai (left) and Russell (right)

Clownfish Aquaculture

nowflake, Black Snowflake, Premium Snowflake, Wyoming White, these names would have most fish hobbyists scratching their heads in confusion, but to clownfish lovers, they are names of “Designer” or hybrid clownfish. At its peak, these “Designers” costs more than an arm or leg, commanding upwards of SGD$500 per fish. Bred specifically to enhance the whiteness of the fish or the colour contrast on their body, these hybrids became a pet project of two intrepid Singapore hobbyists, Russell Ee (RE) and Ong Jun Kai (OJK), whom partnered up and started their clownfish aquaculture breeding facility. Curious on clownfish, Poisson Passion (PP) located the breeders and find out more about their passion! PP: What prompted the both of you to

start this aquaculture project?

was brisk back then, as we were the only Singaporean commercial breeders.

snowflakes and Wyoming whites. PP:

RE and OJK: We started as marine

PP: Which traits were you looking for

hobbyists and were fascinated about cross breeding the various clown fish species. Their hardiness, ease of pairing and the ability for intraspecies to breed were the main reasons why we started on them. Initially, the project started (in 2011) as a challenge to our knowledge on fishkeeping, but turned into a commercial venture when the popular movie, Finding Nemo, debuted on the big screen. There were a lot of interest then on the clownfish and prices for the unique hybrids skyrocketed! Business

in selecting your breeding fish? Which species were used at the start?

What were the difficulties encountered in pairing, spawning, and raising the fries? Will the hybrids breed true?

OJK: We looked at several traits, but the

RE: On pairing, it could take about

main ones were colour (intensity and coverage of the white), the size of the parents and the fins. We experimented with Percula and Ocellaris clownfish, as they were the least aggressive species. The natural colour variants for both species were used and depending on which species were the male or female, we were able to obtain quite a few types of hybrids- premium snowflakes, black

hours or up to a few months. The female decides if she wants to accept the male. One way would be isolating the female if the initial contact is not successful, but continue having the male swim in the same tank as the female. This way, the female gets used to the male and more likely accept on subsequent attempts. For spawning, there is always the issue of low egg counts, bacterial/fungal

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SHARING KNOWLEDGE

A. percula. Various hybrid forms of the True Percula clownfish

Pseudachromis flavivertex. Besides breeding clownfishes, the duo specialises in sunrise dottybacks too!

The simple setup employed in nurturing the clownfish fry.

infection on the eggs, and parents preying on the eggs.

RE: Well, if the finances allow it, why not? There are bragging

rights attached to the high price tag for a unique piece. OJK: Time waiting for them to hatch and low hatch rates. It

is important to feed the fries when they hatch as it ensures a lower mortality rate. The eggs tend to hatch after 3-4 hours when its goes dark. If you are keen to hasten the hatching, control of the water temperature is necessary. Although there is a trade off on the size of the fries. Higher temperatures will induce hatching, but the fries tend to be smaller, vice versa. The hybrids are able to breed true, and require about 1.5 to 2 years for maturity. They can be â&#x20AC;&#x153;forced pairedâ&#x20AC;? as male clownfish can switch sex, if required. PP: That is a lot of effort! We have seen some unique

designer clownfish going for as high as SGD1,000. Are they worth it?

PP: Any tips for home hobbyists keen to try their hand at

breeding designer clownfish? RE: Regular feeding (more than twice a day) and maintain

pristine water conditions. Live foods (i.e adult rotifers) are good, but there is the issue of parasites. If new to keeping clownfish, do buy the fish and observe them to understand their mannerisms. Many thanks to Russell and Jun Kai for sharing their knowledge and time in providing insights into designer clownfish breeding! We wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

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