Marine Fish Husbandry for the Reef Aquarist

Introduction

• Who are we? What are our goals as fish keepers? What obstacles do we face? What are the expectations of this class? Discussion about student experiences, perceptions of marine hobby.

Responsibilities of the Marine Aquarist

• The life in our hands – conscientious methodology above all. Give something back Environmental impact. * Local retailers – who do you support?

Basic Taxonomy

• What is a fish? What is a Genus? What is a species? * Why does it matter?

Basic Biology

• Basic Anatomy Do fish sleep? Hermaphroditism

Habitats

• Where do our fish come from? Does it matter? What is a microhabitat? * What is a biotope?

Tank Selection & Setup

• How big? Glass or Acrylic? Plywood? To skim or not to skim? What kind of filter? Do I need live rock? * Lighting – Quarantine Procedure What is quarantine? Why do I have to quarantine? Does quarantine stress the fish more than just placing it in mytank? * Is it worth the extra expense?

Stocking order & Compatibility

• What do I introduce into my tank first, and why? Can I keep fish of the same species together? Can I keep fish x with fish y? * Aggression Management/Aggressive tanks

Disease management/Feeding

• Prevention and treatment of common fish diseases * Nutrition

Family Specific Discussions

• Angelfish Triggerfish Groupers * Wrasses, etc

Species Specific Discussions

• Open discussion on suitable species and compatibility * What are the most desirable species for a reef?

Fish to avoid

• Fish that shouldn’t be purchased, and maybe shouldn’t even be available!

Invert Compatibility

• Can I keep this fish in my reef/this invert with my fish? * Angels in the reef

Nanos.

• What is a nano? What makes it different? What fish can I keep in my nano? * Are nanos harder to keep?

This class will introduce you into the world of marine fish husbandry, from basic biology and taxonomy that every marine aquarist should have a grasp of, to principles and procedures used to insure that these animals live out long and healthy lives under your care. You’ll learn how to select the proper equipment, and be guided on how to set up your system in a way that suits the fish that you’ve chosen and the environment that you would like to emulate. Most importantly, you’ll learn to avoid all the mistakes that are so easily made when learning to keep these amazing animals.

The class will cover the tendencies and idiosyncrasies of various families of marine fish, how they interact with each other, and how to keep them together without experiencing the problems that plague so many aquarists. You’ll learn how to manage and avoid diseases that commonly infect and often kill so many captive marine fish.

You’ll learn what you must do, and as importantly, what you must not do in order to excel as a marine fish keeper.