A newly-received Indian Redfin or Melon Butterflyfish, Chaetodon trifasciatus, sampling food from a coral skeleton in a quarantine aquarium.
This page serves as a launchpad for anyone attempting the formerly unthinkable husbandry task; keeping coral-eating reef fishes alive in captivity. Corallivores, most notably the obligate corallivorous Butterflyfishes, may no longer be “cut flowers” as they were once written-off. While still among the most challenging “expert only” marine aquarium fishes for your saltwater tank, corallivorous fishes are not entirely doomed in captivity. It may be time to rethink these gaudy, but generally off-limits species.
We’ll continue to add articles and resources as they come online, so be sure to bookmark the page. You are invited to share your comments and experiences below!
VIDEOS – Corallivorous Butterflyfishes Eating Everything Except Coral
More to come…
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! […]