Fish Index: July 2008

Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)

The Great Barracuda or Sphyraena barracuda is one of the largest of the 18 different species of Barracudas. It can grow over 6' in length and weigh over 100lbs! This fish has sharp teeth and very powerful jaws. All these characteristics makes it one mean looking fish.

Though it is rare for a Great Barracuda to attack a human, it does happen every once in a while. They are said to be attracted to shinning silvery things, so be sure to avoid displaying your bling bling while scuba diving in their habitat. Don't worry though, even if attacked it will most likely be one really bad bite and is rarely ever fatal.

The Great Barracuda, much like the Pike, is a lie and wait predator. When it locates its unlucky meal is when you really can appreciate its amazing speed. These fish can swim at speeds of over 25 miles and hour! They often feed on smaller fish and sometimes shrimp.

An amazing fact about the Great Barracuda is that these fish will actually corner schools of fish after eating and guard them until hungry again! Masters of their environment Great Barracudas are commonly found in the Indo-Pacific, but they are also found in places like Florida and the Caribbean. Check out this impressive fish in action in the video below...

The Mono Sebae or Monodactylus sebae is a diamond shaped aquarium fish. It requires a larger tank of at least 60 gallons due to the fact that this fish can grow over 8" in. length. This fish can survive in fresh water when it is younger, but as it grows it should gradually be introduced to more salty water. These particular fish are normally black and white in color.

The Mono Sebae is sometimes called the African Moony, because it originates in Western Africa. This fish is an omnivore that can be fed on flakes, lettuce and brine shrimp. Puffer Fish and Archer Fish make very good tank mates for the Mono Sebae. In the wild this type of fish is found in brackish mangroves. You can check out the African Moony is an aquarium setting along with some Silver Dollar fish in the video below.

The Pygmy Seahorse or Hippocampus bargibanti is one of the smallest of the over 40 different species of Seahorses. This tiny creature will only grow to about 2-1/2cm in length over its lifetime and is only found on Gorgonian corals. The Pygmy Seahorse blends right into the Gorgonian corals to the point where it is very hard to even tell the difference between the coral and the Seahorse.

In fact, this Seahorse is so camouflaged that it was only discovered upon close inspection of a Gorgonian coral during an experiment. These fish are found at depths of less than 40 meters in the Western Pacific Ocean from southern Japan to Australia. Little more is know about the Pygmy Seahorse, but if you have additional information please leave us a comment.

The Smallmouth Bass or Micropterus dolomieui is one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. It is also called the Bronzeback, Brown Bass, or Bronze Bass and is sometimes confused with the Largemouth Bass. This freshwater fish is found throughout North America and is a extremely popular sporting fish, known for its jumping ability and never say die attitude. They get their name from the fact that the rear end of the lower jaw does not extend past its eye unlike that of the Largemouth.

The Smallmouth Bass is often found in rocky areas or other locations where it can lay in cover. It prefers temperature that are cooler than that of the Largemouth Bass. This fish feeds on smaller fish, crayfish and unlucky insects trapped on the waters surface. Not only is the Smallmouth Bass a great catch, but it is very tasty too! Most people considered it to be much better than the bigger Largemouth Bass. The Smallmouth Bass can live up to 13 years and the largest Smallmouth ever caught was 11lbs 5oz! I bet that was one hell of a fight. If you have any Smallmouth tips or recipes feel free to leave us a comment.

The Guentheri Killifish or Nothobranchius guentheri certainly doesn't live up to its name. This fish is by no means a killer, in fact it is a very peaceful fish! This small freshwater fish will only grow to a maximum size of just over 2", and is found in rivers and watering holes in Africa. This is a very colorful fish, black, blue, red, and yellow grace the Guentheri Killifish. Also known as the Redtail notho, this carnivorous fish will feed on brine shrimp, flake and frozen meats.

Its small size and bright colors makes it a great addition to a freshwater aquarium. They prefer temperatures of 69 to 80F. The Guentheri Killifish is just one of the over 1200 species of Killifish! If you would like to purchase this fish you can do so by clicking the button directly below...

The Green Moray Eel or Gymnothorax funebris is just one of the over 200 different types of Moray Eels. This species is one of the largest morays, growing to over 10 feet and weigh in at over 70 pounds. This creature is a predator, but a very lazy one at that. The Green Moray Eel will sit and wait for its meal to come swimming by before making its move. Moray Eels actually have two sets of jaws which they use to feed on crabs, shrimp, octopuses, small fish and squid.

The Green Moray Eel gets a bad rap due to the fact that they aren't exactly pretty to look at and they habitually open and close their mouths. This habit is actually how the Eel breathes. The water passes over the gills and exits through openings in the back of its head. These fish are found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans normally around reefs at levels of less than 30 meters. They have even been known to locate themselves on the same reef for years! Although the Green Moray Eel is not considered dangerous it will bite with its very sharp teeth if provoked. They also have a very strange jaw called the Pharyngeal Jaw which allows them to open their mouth and swallow large prey.

To see the Moray Eel in action take a look at this video below... Or if you would like to buy a Green Moray Eel just click the picture directly below the video!

The One Spot Foxface or Siganus unimaculatus is a type of Rabbitfish that gets its name from the distinct black marking near the back of its body. The One Spot Foxface is a saltwater herbivore and can be fed fresh vegetables or algae. Because of its ability to consume algae this fish will keep your fish tank cleaner longer and makes it a favorite among aquarium enthusiasts. This is a small peaceful fish that can only grow to just over 7" in length and can live over five years.

The One Spot Foxface normally will be left alone by other tank mates because it has venomous, dorsal spines. If you are pricked by these spines you should seek medical attention immediately. Also known as the Blotched Rabbitfish, this is a hardy fish that should work very well in a salt water aquarium. This fish is normally found in the Western Pacific around reefs normally no deeper than 40 meters. You can check out this fish in the video below.

The Pacific Hagfish or Eptatretus stoutii is quite often known as the slime eel because of the amazing amount of slime that this fish can create in just a flash! Needles to say that this unique defense mechanism makes them very undesirable to potential predators.

This deep sea fish is often found directly on the sea floor. They act as a garbage disposal for the sea feeding on dead carcasses and anything else that sink down to the bottom. The Pacific Hagfish will swarm the carcass and actually eat it from the inside out with its sharp teeth!

Believe it or not, this fish and its slime are eaten in many Asian countries, from what I understand it is actually quite tasty when prepared correctly. The Pacific Hagfish doesn't have any true eyes but makes up for this with an amazing sense of smell. This saltwater fish can grow over 2' long and has five hearts! To learn even more about the Pacific Hagfish or Slime Eel check out the videos below...

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Black Ghost Knifefish

The Black Ghost Knifefish or Apteronotus albifrons is one cool looking freshwater fish. Its long slender eel-like body and white rings on its tail make it quite the sight to be seen. This fish is nocturnal so if you have it in an aquarium setting you should provide plenty of plant cover for the fish to hide in. Clear tubes can also be used so you can still appreciate the beauty of the Black Ghost Knifefish. This type of fish is considered to be very peaceful and can even be trained to eat right out of your hand! You can handle this fish after it become accustom to your presence. This fish can easily grow over 1' long so a larger tank is recommended.

In South America the Indians believe that the Black Ghost Knifefish carry the spirits of the dead and they will not hunt or eat this type of fish. They have electrical sensors that run along the bottom of their body which they use to detect food. This fish is by no means a picky eater. It will eat live foods, chopped earthworms, as well as frozen and flaked foods.

Pretty good video of feeding the Black Ghost Knifefish in an aquarium. Just look at the way it uses it's bottom fins to move!

The Great White Shark or Carcharodon carcharias is perhaps the most feared creature in all of the oceans throughout the world. This massive predator can grow to lengths of over 20' and weigh in at over 5000lbs! This makes the Great White Shark the largest predatory fish in the entire world!

These sharks tend to hang around coastal areas which makes humans a prime victim for these creatures. Most Great White Shark attacks aren't fatal as this type of shark will take test bites often. It has even been know to take bites out of buoys. A mouth filled with up to 3,000 teeth makes it one mean looking shark!

This type of shark will also occasionally even attack boats! Some people think that the electric fields from boats are the cause. The Great White Shark feeds on dolphins, rays, tuna, smaller sharks, sea lions, seals and whatever else they can get their jaws into. Great Whites can detect even tiny amounts of blood in the water up to 3 miles away! They will often attack by surprise from below creating a spectacular display of hunting as they jump out of the water grabbing their prey at the same time! To see the Great White Shark in action check out this video below...

The Serpae Tetra or Hyphessobrycon callistus is a great community freshwater aquarium fish due to its peaceful temperament. This type of fish is fairly easy to care for in a smaller tank. This should be kept in schools of 6 or more or they can become slightly aggressive and are known to nip each others fins.

They feed on flakes, brine shrimp and some pellet food too. Their striking red, orange and black coloration makes them stand out from the crowd. These fish can only grow to about 1-1/2" but can live up to 8 years old. They should be kept at temperatures of 70 to 82 degrees. This fish is also known as the Red Minor Serpae Tetra or Jewel Tetra.

The Shubunkin or Carassius auratus is a singled tail Goldfish that originated in China. This freshwater fish is very hardy and is filled with white, black, red and orange blotches much like the Koi. A perfect beginner fish this is one of the easiest fish to take care of. They do not need an extremely large tank and don't require a heater either which makes them all the more popular.

The Shubunkin Fish is also called the Speckled Goldfish or the Harlequin Goldfish. When this fish spawns it can have over 1,000 eggs and only take about a week to hatch. This fish should be fed small live foods or flakes. The fish will eat plant roots so be sure your plants are covered with rocks to protect them. The Shubunkin fish can grow just over 1' in length when kept in a large aquarium or pond.

The Atlantic Angel Shark or Squatina dumeril is a very odd shaped shark that is sometimes referred to as the Sand Devil. The Angel Shark is often mistaken for a type of stingray, because of its broad pectoral fins. An odd eye setup allows them to bury themselves in sand or mud, lying in wait for their prey. Truly an amazing ambush predator, just watch how quick they strike their prey in the video below...

These sharks can grow to about 5' in length and are not considered aggressive unless accidentally stepped on or aggravated.

The Atlantic Angel Shark is an ovoviviparous shark which simply means that the eggs stay in the mother's body until ready to hatch. When they do, this shark can have up to 30 little sharks running around! This type of salt water fish is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean from the surface to about 5000' deep.

The Gold Royal Pleco or Panaque nigrolineatus is an easy to care for freshwater aquarium fish. Native to South America this fish can grow up to 15" in length. They are easily recognizable by their strange golden stripes.

The Gold Royal Pleco is a bottom feeder that often helps clean up an aquarium tank by eating left over food or algae. This fish will eat flake food and pellets. This freshwater fish is also known as the Royal Plec or Royal Panaque.

A tank of over 100 gallons and lots of plant life and hiding spaces will help with fish stay happy. For some strange reason this fish is able to digest wood, I am not quite sure why or how scientists figured that one out. Maybe you know? You can check out a Pleco doing just that in the video below.

The Flying Fish or Exocoetidae gets its name from its ability to actually take flight right out of the water. This fish has been captured "flying" out of the water for a full 45 seconds on video! There are over 50 species of flying fish and this fish is quite common in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean. The Flying Fish's large pectoral fins allows this fish to evade predators by exploding out of the ocean and into the air.

These fish have been know to reach speeds of over 60 mph and travel over 1300' in one glide. The maximum size for one of these fish is about 1-1/2'. The Flying Fish feeds mostly on plankton floating about.

Like some other fish, the Flying Fish is attracted to light which makes them very easy to catch. Here is the video of the 45 second flight...

The Warsaw Grouper or Epinephelus nigritus is no doubt a massive salt water fish. This monster can grow over 6' in length and weigh in at well over 350lbs. As you can imagine the Warsaw Grouper is a very popular sporting fish and frequently caught in areas from North Carolina to the Florida Keys. These type of Groupers are also found in the Gulf of Mexico and the northern coast of South America.

This fish most often caught in depths of 900 feet and above. Also known as the Black Jewfish or Black Grouper they are the only Grouper Fish with 10 dorsal spines. The second dorsal spine is always longer than the first. They have very large mouths in which they swallow their prey whole much like the Large Mouth Bass, but on a much bigger scale!

The Dragonface Pipefish or Corythoichthys haematopterus is a slightly difficult creature to take care of, but worth all the work. This unique salt water fish has the ability to move its eyes in just about any direction and its long slender appearance makes it a favorite for an advanced aquarist much like its close relative the Tiger Tail Seahorse. The Dragonface Pipefish is a natural defender against Red Bugs which have been known to destroy entire reef colonies. A reef aquarium that is very mature and has lots of micro-crustaceans to feed on is highly recommended. You should also have caves or overhangs for them to hang out in.

Dragonface Pipefish thrive in warmer salt waters around 70-80 F and grow to 8" in length. They feed on copepods, amphipods, brine shrimp, amphipods, mosquito larva, and daphnia. This fish is also known as the Dragon Pipefish, Messmate Pipefish, or Reeftop Pipefish
. You can check out the Dragonface Pipefish with your own eyes in the video below...

Siamese Fighting Fish or Betta splendens is without a doubt one of the best fresh water aquarium fish to have. Its amazing coloration is iridescent and can be red, blue, turquoise, orange, yellow, white, and green! The Siamese Fighting Fish also have many different tail formations including Fantail, Delta Tail, Double-Tail, Half-Moon, Veiltail, Short-Finned Fighting Style, Combtail and Crowntail. They will often breed in an aquarium setting under the right conditions. As you can see below they make a bubble nest.

This fish is naturally found in very shallow waters in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. Water temperatures of 75-86 F are recommended. The female version of this fish is not as brightly colored, and they have much shorter fins. This fish is considered to be very aggressive even though it only grows to 3" in length. It is even known to try and attack its own reflection!

Never put two male Siamese Fighting Fish together, they will attack and kill each other, hence the name. This fish normally lives 2-4 years and works well in a small tank. You can check out these beautiful Betta Fish in the video below...

The Bristlenose Fish or Ancistrus lineolatus is one ugly fish! From the Catfish family this fish has strange whisker-like growths coming out of the top and sides of their head. This freshwater fish is a fairly popular aquarium fish due to this rather strange appearance. If you do purchase this fish though, you might not see them too often during the day. They do like to hide from the light and will normally only come out when being fed or at night.

Bristlenose Fish prefer a tank that has plenty of places to hide and lots of plant life. The feed on worms, brine shrimp and spinach. The Bristlenose fish is a very peaceful fish, but if you get two males together they will attack each other. These type of fish can well over 8 years old. They originate from the Amazon River area in South America.

The Bull Shark or Carcharhinus leucas is one of the most dangerous sharks on the planet. It is known for its erratic, and often aggressive behavior. This combined with the fact that they can tolerate salt and fresh water, and are found in shallow waters makes them all the more dangerous. Bull Sharks get their name from their short, blunt snout and the fact that they will head-butting their prey right before they attack! Only the Great White and Tiger Shark are considered to be more dangerous than the Bull Shark, but this fact is still up for debate as the number of documented shark attacks rise around the world.

Also known as the Nicaragua Shark or Zambezi Shark it is one of the most common sharks in the ocean. It is found all around the world in waters normally no deeper than 40 meters. These sharks can live up to 17 years in the wild.

Since this fish can tolerate fresh water it has been found in some very strange places including in Lake Michigan, Mississippi River, Amazon River, Lake Nicaragua and the Illinois River. Scary to think that the Bull Shark could survive in such places. The females of the species are much larger than the males and can grow up to 12' in length and weigh in at over 600lbs. The Bull Shark is very territorial and will attack without warning, they should be avoided at all costs. For more information on the Bull Shark check out this video...