Recent content by AquaBear

But will they still grow? I found one about 6 inches tall, but it's going to have to grow another foot before it will reach the water level (my fuge is fairly deep). Once it gets taller, I'll remove the glass lid so it can rise above the water. Is there an alternative you could suggest...

I bought one of these off of Ebay, and I HATE it. I calibrated it like the instructions said, using the 4 and the 10 fluid, then stuck it in the 7 fluid and it was WRONG, and not just by a little...it was at least a whole point off. Just in case the calibration fluid was "old", I compared it...

I read somewhere to dip your LR in very heavy salt water, about 1.030, for 30 seconds to flush critters off. Of course, that would probably include all the desirable things too, so I guess it's a matter of how clean you want your rock. --Aquabear

I've been reading up on Mangroves and am seriously thinking about putting a couple in my fuge, because my nitrates are a little higher than I like. My phosphates run on the high side too. But I have a question. Do they have to grow partially above water, or could they be completely submerged...

Mystery solved. Tonight, I switched on the light in the fuge and the Serpent was nowhere to be found. The CChip was huddled in the corner, not moving. About an hour later, I decided to move the CChip out of the corner and found what was left of the Serpent. I didn't move it the other night...

Thanks. Actually, I think it might be too late. I just looked in the refugium and the Serpent is laying on the sand pretty motionless. The pods are crawling on her, and there's this little "cloud" of tiny things buzzing around one of her stubs, much like a swarm of gnats buzzes around a dying...

They have co-existed without incident for a while, but I have to admit, I tend to believe you. But since the Serpent can move so fast, why couldn't she have just gotten away instead of lying there and letting the CChip do it? I had someone at work call her CChip a "cannibal", so I guess that...

I'm scratching my head again. My perfectly-healthy Banded Serpent Starfish, a very nice 12" across with 5 legs last night suddenly showed up in the fuge, on it's back, with 3 legs down to about 1" long. This is in the refugium, so there are no fish or crabs. Only occupants are 1 turbo...

I figured staying in the corner had something to do with stress. The Angel is extremely overbearing, he pulls rank on every other fish, except for the clown that was in the tank before him, and the clown the went through quarantine with him. I knew it would have been best to introduce the...

Hi forum! Got a question regarding my Raccoon Butterfly. It passed QT at the LFS and then a month of it in my own QT, with no problems. Added it to the main over a month ago, lately I noticed it rubbing on rocks once in a while, maybe a couple times a day. Bought a cleaner shrimp this...

Yes, some of them can. Some BFlies, like Chaetodon lineolatis (Lined Butterfly) can reach 10 - 12", but Raccoons average 6-7". There is always Chaetodon punctatofasciatus (Spotbanded Butterfly) that averages 4" and is also very beautiful. Butterflyfish are an unusual group, either species do...

If you specifically want a Butterflyfish, you might consider a Raccoon. I successfully keep a Raccoon Butterfly (Chaetodon lunula) in my 75 FOWLR, so that might be a possibility for you. Raccoons have a decent success rate in home aquariua. He's not aggressive (but will defend himself when...

Those are exactly the two I've seen together, and coincidentally, those are exactly the two I would want. The third I've seen is a bi-color pygmy. --Aquabear

Now you know why Steve-S has his own fan club on here. :D