Fish Index: December 2008

Deep Sea Hatchetfish (Argyropelecus Gigas)

The Deep Sea Hatchetfish or Argyropelecus gigas has large sunken eyes that are permanently looking upwards towards the surface. These creepy eyes help them find the food that is floating downwards towards the bottom. As you can tell from the pictures though, these eyes also make them look like the ghosts of the ocean!

Known in some areas as the Greater Silver Hatchetfish, this is just one of the about 45 different species of Hatchetfish. As you can see, these deep sea fish get their names from their strange shape, which almost seems to resemble that of a hatchet. They are often found between the depths of 200-6000 meters in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Deep Sea Hatchetfish can grow to about 1/2' in maximum length.

Like some other creatures of the deep they use counter illumination as a form of camouflage to avoid potential predators. They have organs called photophores on their undersides. These photophores actually produce light that makes it much more difficult to be spotted by predators. They can adjust the intensity of light on their underside which makes them nearly invisible from below! This light is also said to play a role in the mating process of the Deep Sea Hatchetfish. You can check out the Deep Sea Hatchetfish along with some other Deep Sea Fish in the video below...

Little more is known about this strange deep sea creature, but if you have anything you would like to share please do so in the comments below...

The Celebes Half Beak fish or Nomorphamphus liemi is a freshwater fish that is often kept in an aquarium setting. Although it is not considered too easy to care for, in the right setting this fish can flourish.

This fish requires a tank with plenty of plants, rocks and other places to hide. The Celebes Half Beak fish is a fish that swims in a school so purchasing a few is recommended. Make sure you have a tight lid on your tank as these fish have a tendency to jump.

Water temperature of 75-79° F and a PH level of 6.8-7.5 is acceptable. These fish are carnivores that should be fed live and frozen meaty food such as bloodworms and tubiflex. The occasional flake food is acceptable as well. Check them out in action in this video...

These fish can grow to about 3.5 inches in maximum length. As you can tell from the pictures these fish get their name from their strange mouths which almost resemble a beak! This immovable jaw curls around so the tip of the beak faces the rear of the fish. Males of these species tend to be slimmer and smaller with more colors then the females. In the wild these fish are found in shallow fast flowing streams.

If you have any more information about the Celebes Half Beak that you would like to share please do so in the comments below.

Burbot (Lota lota)

The Burbot fish or Lota lota is found in streams and lakes in places like Canada, Europe and The United States in Michigan and Minnesota. This fish is part of the Cod family and has a long thin appearance. It is normally yellow or brown, but generally becomes darker towards the top of its body. These fish have barbels much like the Catfish. They also bear a resemblance to the dangerous Snakehead, but can be differentiated by their split dorsal fin.This freshwater fish can grow to about 22 pounds and measured about 42 inches long! These fish have an oil in them that has been proven to improve furs. Their liver which can weigh almost 10% of their body weight, produces a chemical that is 3-4 times more potent in vitamin D, and 4–10 times more potent in vitamin A than other of cod liver oils. The Burbot almost looks like they are scaleless, but in fact they have very small, almost microscopic scales.

These fish are slow growers only reaching about 18" in the first 7 years of their lives! This is around the moment that the Burbot first begin to spawn. They spawn in the late winter under the ice and are said to form a solid ball of several Burbots while spawning. The Burbot is one of the only fish that spawn during the wintertime. They can produce over a million eggs at a time!

It is my understanding that despite their ugly appears these fish are quite tasty, their flavor resembles that of a lobster, hence its nickname the Poor Man's Lobster! They are also known as Cusk, Lawyer Fish and Freshwater Cod. If you have any recipes or fishing tips for Burbot that you would like to share please do so below in the comments!

The Double Full Red Cockatoo Cichlid or Apistogramma cacatuoides has to be one of the fish with the longest names! These fresh water fish are known for their amazing coloration. Red blue and black are almost painted on their dorsal fins and tail. Also known as the Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid or Big Mouth Apistogramma this Cichlid originates in the streams and rivers of South America. Since then they have become a quite popular aquarium fish.

Not the easiest to take care of this fish requires a very good filtration system along with plenty of hiding places. Reaching only about 3-1/2" in maximum length these fish will do well in anything larger than a 40 gallon aquarium. Water temperatures of 72-86° F with a PH level of 5.0-7.0 is acceptable. They are fast growers that should be fed freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, flake food, and brine shrimp. There is also some specially designed pellet food available for this Cichlid. The Double Full Red Cockatoo Cichlid is very easy to breed for what I hear.

If you have any tips for keeping these fish in an aquarium setting please comment!

The Frilled Shark or Chlamydoselachus anguineus looks like a creature from the times when dinosaurs ruled the world. Believe it or not, this prehistoric looking shark was actually spotted and filmed last year in Japan in very shallow waters. (see video below) Normally these deep sea creatures are found only in depths that range in between 50 m and 1,500 m!

Simply known in some places as the Frill Shark, it has the six gill slits that identify it as a shark. They get their name because the gill tissue that sticks out more than most other sharks. Frilled Shark will grow to almost 7' in maximum length.

Found worldwide in deep waters the Frilled Shark feeds on squid, small deep sea fish and even other smaller sharks that are found in the depths. They have sharp and jagged teeth that look quite intimidating. This shark is not considered a danger to humans simply because they are found so deep in the ocean. To check out the Frilled Shark in action watch the video below...

The Blueface Angelfish or Euxiphipops/Pomacanthus xanthometopon is a color changing fish! When this salt water fish is young it has vertical stripes along its body that are black, blue and white. Once this fish is nearly fully mature though it changes to a light yellow with blue scales and a sharp yellow pectoral fin. When it is older this fish almost looks like it is wearing a blue mask around its face! As you can imagine this fish is simply a delight to watch grow up.

Also known as Yellowface Angelfish or Yellowmask Angelfish, these fish can reach over 1' in length so a minimum of 100 gallon tank is highly recommended along with many hiding places. This fish can be somewhat aggressive so be careful! Generally, it is best to keep only one Angelfish in a tank at a time. The Blueface Angelfish will normally be a bit shy at first, but once comfortable it will become one of the boldest fish in your tank!

This fish is an omnivore should be fed Spirulina, algae, frozen shrimp and other meaty foods. They require a feeding about 3 times a day so be ready for a commitment if you purchase this fish! The Blueface Angelfish has been reported to live over 20 years in the proper aquarium setting.

This saltwater fish requires these water conditions 72-78° F temperature, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, and a PH level of 8.1-8.4.

If you would like to see this fish in action check out the video below...

The Nile Tilapia or Oreochromis niloticus is just one of the over 100 different species that are called Tilapia. These fish have a rich history and were even caught by the Ancient Egyptians. This fish was first mention in literature by Aristotle in 300 B. C. and was allegedly given to Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount. Tilapia are still an important fish for many people in Africa and many other parts of the world. It's not just Africa though, the Nile Tilapia is the most widely domesticated Tilapia in the entire world!

Also known as St. Peter’s Fish, and for some strange reason the Aquatic Chicken the Nile Tilapia have thin bodies and vertical stripes much like the Perch. These fish are normally greyish green, but they have developed reddish versions of this species as well. They can reach almost 2' in total length and weigh about 9lbs maximum.

The Nile Tilapia is one of the fastest growing fish in the world. These amazing fish can grow up to 3 pounds in its first year! This combined with their ability to withstand bad water quality makes them perfect for fish farms.

Nile Tilapia fish are omnivores that feed on underwater plants and algae. For this reason they are also used to control aquatic weeds. Research in Africa has shown that these fish feed on mosquito larvae as well, which can be a huge help in fighting disease. Yet another big bonus for having these fish around!

If you have any more information about Tilapia including recipes that you would like to share please do so in the comments below...

The Raccoon Butterflyfish or Chaetodon lunula has the amazing ability to turn its colors darker and take on a blotchy appearance to blend in to its surrounding at night or when threatened. Also known as the Crescent-masked Butterflyfish or the Lunule Butterflyfish this species of Butterflyfish from the Chaetodontidae family can grow up to 8" (20 cm) in length.

The Raccoon Butterflyfish is just one of the over 100 different species of Butterflyfish and are often found in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific region around shallow reefs. Raccoon Butterflyfish are nocturnal and often found in pairs or small groups, apparently they get lonely very easily! They feed on nudibranchs, tubeworm tentacles, and other benthic invertebrates, algae and coral polyps. They can be fed flake food in an aquarium setting.

Although not considered to be an extremely aggressive fish they should not be put into a tank with Lionfish or Triggerfish and they do not get along.

These saltwater fish are sometimes kept as pets in an aquarium setting (at least 70 gallons) where they can live up to 8 years! A lot of aquarium owners use this fish to get rid of Aiptasia and Majano sea anemones pests. They normally eliminate them in under a month!

If you have any tips or other facts about the Raccoon Butterflyfish please leave them below in the comments...

The Coffinfish or Chaunacops melanostomus is one very odd looking deep sea fish. It has a weird flabby body and a long tail that are both covered with small spines! The Coffinfish has a black mouth that almost looks like it is frowning. This deep sea species is quite small only growing to about 10 cm in length.

The Coffinfish has been caught at depths of 1320m to 1760 meters in the Central and Eastern Indian Ocean. The name melanostomus comes from the Greek melanos meaning black and stoma meaning mouth.

Little more is known about this deep sea creature, if you have anything to add to this post please do so in the comments below...

The Smokey Leopard Veil Angel or Pterophyllum sp. is a quite popular species of freshwater Angelfish. These fish are rather small only growing to about 6" in length. The Smokey Leopard Veil Angel is normally spotted with black, gray and silver. They have very long thin "webbing" which extend out the back of their bodies.

These type of aquarium fish don't need a very large aquarium, anything around 35 gallons or larger will work well. A temperature range of 75-82° F, and a PH level of 5.8-7.0 is recommended. A variety of flake food, vegetables and even meaty foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms can be fed to this easy to care for fish.

The Quillback or Carpiodes cyprinus is a common fish found in the large river including places like Florida's panhandle and other areas of the eastern and central United States. This is a sucker fish that grows to about 26" in maximum length and weigh in at about 12lbs maximum. It does look a bit like the Carp, but it can be distinguished by the lack of barbels around this fish's mouth. This fish is silver colored with very large scales down its body.

This fish gets the name Quillback from its strange filament that runs back from its dorsal fin. The Quillback feeds on insect larvae and other organisms in the bottoms of rivers and streams. The mouth of this fish like other suckers is situated on the underside of the head and the snout extends forward beyond the jaws.

These fish spawn in the months of March and April normally. The female of this species can produce from 15,000 to 360,000 eggs apiece! They may live as long as ten or eleven years in the wild.

If you have any other tips such as angling techniques or recipes please leave them below in the comments...

The Undulate Triggerfish or Balistapus undulatus is a vividly colored saltwater aquarium fish. Also known as the Orangelined Triggerfish or Orangetailed Triggerfish, it has an attractive, emerald-green body with yellow-orange vertical stripes. This salt water fish has a strangely shaped body that looks more like an alien then a fish!

The Undulate Triggerfish has the ability to make a grunting sound which some think they use as a form of communication. In an aquarium setting be careful who you pair this fish with as is can be very aggressive towards certain other fish species. This fish does best in water conditions of 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.020-1.025, with a PH Level of 8.1-8.4.

The Undulate Triggerfish grows to about 1' in length so a larger aquarium is best suited for this type of saltwater fish. This type of Triggerfish should be fed meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, small fish and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their growing teeth. These fish can learn to eat right out of its owners hand, but be careful you don't want to get nipped.

The Swordfish or Xiphias gladius is one of the most well known fish in the ocean due to its strange appearance. Its long flat bill looks much like a sword coming out of its head, hence its name. These fish are quite large reaching sizes of 15' or 4-1/2 meters! The largest Swordfish ever caught weighed in at an amazing 1,182 lb (536.15 kg)!

Most people might think that their "sword" is used to impale or spear its prey, but they actually use their "sword" to slash at its prey, normally injuring them and making them defenseless. They can also use their "sword" to protect themselves from the few creatures that can attack them.

These fish are very fast, not quite as fast as the Sailfish which are the fastest fish in the ocean, but they can reach speeds of up to 50 mph!

Even though the swordfish is a cold blooded creature they have organs next to their eyes that actually heat their eyes and brain! This heat helps improve their vision and makes them all the more dangerous of a predator.

Also known as Broadbill in places around the world, the Swordfish are often kept as a trophy fish and are also quite tasty. If can see for yourself by purchasing Swordfish shipped to your door! Just click the small picture directly below...

To check out the Swordfish in action watch the video below. If you have an additional information about the Swordfish that you would like to share please do so in the comments.

The Sandbar Shark or Carcharhinus plumbeus is one of the biggest coastal sharks in the entire world. They can grow up to 2-1/2 meters (8 feet) in length! Also known as the Thickskin Shark or the Brown Shark these sharks are either a bluish or brownish grey. The Sandbar Shark is sometimes found in groups of up to six and are most active during the night or at dawn and dusk.

Their dorsal fin like most sharks is triangular, but it stands up high then most other sharks and can weigh almost 1/5 of its total body weigh! As you can imagine these sharks are often found in muddy or sandy areas in bays, harbors, and even the mouths of rivers.

This type of shark often feeds on smaller fish, stingrays and other unlucky forms of prey that dwell on the bottom. The Sandbar Shark is viviparous which means they carry their young inside their bodies before birth, in this case a full year!

Although rarely attacking humans, this shark is quite dangerous due to its large size. If anything the shark should be more afraid of humans. In fact the Sandbar Shark is the most commonly caught of all the sharks in the world. They also fall prey to Bull Sharks, Tiger Shark and even the Great White Shark!

Teardrop Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)

The Teardrop Ocellaris Clownfish or Amphiprion ocellaris has more recently become a even more popular salt water aquarium pet. This fish might look familiar to a lot of you out there, especially the ones with kids. You see the Teardrop Ocellaris Clownfish is just like the star in the animated adventure movie Finding Nemo. This fish's colors are quite striking with a vibrant display of orange, white and black. This type of Clownfish is very small only growing to about 3-1/2".

The very hardy Teardrop Ocellaris Clownfish is found in the Indo-Pacific area and is also known as the False Percula Clownfish, False Clown Anemonefish, and Anemone Demoiselle just to name a few. They are often found near reefs and in water depths of up to 15 meters. These fish prefer water temperatures of 72-78° F, sg 1.020-1.025, and a PH Level of 8.1-8.4. Clownfish should be fed meaty foods and frozen herbivore preparations. This fish can last 6-10 years.

To check out this fish in action watch the video below...