
Thyroid Hormones Dictate Clownfish Early Life
A new open-access publication highlights the influence of thyroid hormones on the early life stage and settlement of clownfish larvae.

Are Banggai Cardinals Depleted in the Wild?
A new proposed draft rule to prevent the US import and export of the Banggai Cardinal (Pterapogon kauderni) under the Endangered Species Act, would do vastly more harm than good. The need for these proposed changes is based on a false premise. Meanwhile, these rules would vastly complicate the aquarium trade in this species and significantly stifle the robust commercial aquaculture of the species that currently produces the vast majority of fish seen in the aquarium trade.

Is your Acropora tenuis really A tenuis?
A new paper focuses on Acropopra tenuis, and ultimately resurrects five coral taxon and described two additional new species of Acropora.

Endolithic Algae in Stony Corals!
Far from being devoid of life, the skeleton of a coral harbors a wide array of algae, endolithic fungi, heterotrophic bacteria, and other boring eukaryotes, often forming distinct bands of color visible to the bare eye. Some functions of these endolithic microorganisms are critical in coral health, such as nutrient cycling and metabolite transfer, but they are poorly known, particularly by aquarists.

Coral-Killing Sponges? ENOUGH already!
As if the list of threats to corals wasn’t long enough: climate change, pollution, parasites, and diseases. Add on the Anthropocene, the human age. It all has taken a serious toll on corals. And yet here’s another coral-killer that has been in the hobby for quite some time now—the coral-killing sponges.
Matt Pedersen says:
Jonathan, I've sent messages through two avenues I have for him and included your info. Perhaps you'll be able to connect.Jonathan Baskin says:
I am trying to reach Henry Feddern. We were students together in U or Miami Marine lab it the 1960s.I see that the interview was done in 2011 so maybe the address you gave for him, which I have tried, may no longer be valid.CORAL Video: Banggai Ban with Bob Likins says:
[…] https://www.reef2rainforest.com/2023/08/22/are-banggai-cardinals-depleted-in-the-wild/ […]Vinny Kreyling says:
Congrats to Mark on his new position.I know I speak for many wishing him the best.Robert Di Marco says:
Hi Matt, I always read with great interest your articles on any new species being bred and especially the loves of my fish life, the Clownfish. (I was the first Clownfish breeder in Canada back in the late 80’s, having reared 9 varieties from a basement operation and have spoken at MACNA twice and given over 75 presentations, on maintaining marine tanks and rearing Clownfish, in all the four corners of Canada and the US. My goal was to try and raise as many different varieties as possible to avoid taking any more off the reefs. Your article on the first raising of the Oman Clownfish struck a particular chord with me. At the MACNA XXVI held in Denver Colorado, Colorado August 29-31, 2014, we took the opportunity to visit the Denver Aquarium and I was stunned to see a pair of Oman Clownfish on display because everything I had heard was that collection and exporting from Oman was prohibited. Here is one of the pictures we took: I had a particular fascination with this species of Clownfish because they develop a more pronounced forked caudal fin as they mature, even more than some “clarkii”. I tried to speak to someone at the Denver Aquarium about if they had tried or had any plans to try to breed them and unfortunately no one at the Aquarium that day knew anything about them and even what type of Clownfish they were. All they did know was that an anonymous donor had given the pair to the Aquarium. I even wrote to them to offer any assistance but I never got a reply. So, all these years, I am truly pleased to hear that another species will be reared in captivity, this again is of particular interest because I am preparing to give a talk (which I have given a few times since 2014), entitled “ANEMONE FISHES OF THE WORLD”. I confirmed my last update in communication with Dr. Gerry Allen, (we spoke together at a MACNA), when he discovered the Amphiprion Pacificus. In this talk. besides the ones that I raised personally, I also identify the species that have been raised by different breeders and facilities. Previously you used to issue a list of Marine fish that had been raised in captivity, but since 2019 I have not been able to find an updated version which now of course would include the Oman Clownfish. Can you tell me if such a new list exists and I would like to see which species of Clownfish that have still not been reared. Thanks Robert Di MarcoVIDEO Inside Look: AMAZONAS Magazine “FRESHWATER STING says:
[…] That’s right, you can now get Inside Look, your exclusive sneak peek at the brand new issue of the aquarium magazine AMAZONAS, in video format! Host Alex Rose walks you through the latest issue, FRESHWATER STINGRAYS, the September/October 2023 edition. You can still get the FRESHWATER STINGRAYS Inside Look in a readable format as well! […]