Clownfishes Damselfishes and Other Book Excerpt:
The complete guide to the
successful care and breeding
of these hardy and popular
marine fish
Jeff Kurtz
ISBN 9780793816781; April 2010.
©T.F.H. Publications Inc.
Used with permission.
Pomacentrids purchased in good health are about as
bulletproof as aquarium fishes can get. But the operative
phrase here is “purchased in good health.” Unfortunately,
these fishes may endure a lot of stress from the time
they’re captured in the wild until they appear for sale at
your local fish store. As a result, when many specimens
reach your dealer’s shop they may be on the verge of
succumbing to disease, injury, ammonia poisoning, or
other stressors associated with collection and shipping.
Stephan Kerkhofs/Shutterstock
Chapter 3
Choosing and Housing Pomacentrids
Signs of a Healthy,
Happy Pomacentrid
A healthy pomacentrid will have a full,
robust body with completely intact
fins, vibrant coloration, and clear, non-bulging eyes. It should be swimming
actively (though clumsily in the case of
clownfishes) and behaving boldly. Most
importantly, make sure the specimen is
eating as it should. It is seldom difficult
to elicit a feeding response from a
healthy pomacentrid, so be sure to ask
your dealer to feed the specimen right
in front of you. If it doesn’t eat, pass it
by. Period.
Avoid specimens that are listless and
lethargic; cowering in the corner of the
tank; twitching, trembling, or dashing
about nervously; swimming erratically;
breathing rapidly; or scraping their
bodies against rocks, decorations, or
other objects in the tank. Also avoid
any specimen that exhibits faded
coloration; any obvious injuries, pits,
or lesions; ragged, torn, or rotting fins;
excessive body slime; a velvety coating
or tiny white spots; cloudy or bulging
eyes; or a pinched-in belly. Essentially,
if any physical or behavioral symptom
gives you cause for concern, you’re
better off bypassing the fish that
exhibits them.
Patience Is a Virtue When
Purchasing Pomacentrids
Pomacentrids that spend a few days
in a dealer’s tank getting acclimated
to aquarium conditions and getting
accustomed to eating standard
aquarium fare before they are
purchased tend to have a much better
overall survival rate. So do yourself a
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www.tfhmagazine.com
October 2010
