Filefish

Closely related to the triggerfish, the filefish are not so boisterous in aquarium surroundings as their cousins, nor as destructive as them.

Most species are smaller than triggerfish too, but they share the split configuration of the dorsal fin (forms a spine to anchor the fish in a cave.

The ventral fin on the underside of the body is similarly modified, providing additional support. Filefish have small mouths, with teeth designed to nibble at food like algae. They must not be housed in reef aquariums as they naturally feed n coral polyps. Although usually tolerant to their own kind they are known to harry other fish.

Preventing Fish Stress

Anything outside the required or behavioral needs of your fish will cause stress to your marine fish, stress to your fish will generally affect the fish health, reduce the life span and increase the chances of your fish having diseases.

Fish have a slime coat which is their primary defence system towards infections and stress is the main cause of the deteriorating of the slime coat. Fish can adapt to slightly different conditions in ther environment and understanding the factors that contribute to stress will reduce the risk.

By maintaining a balanced environment which include such things as our aquarium water parameter as this will elimate stress.

So what are the causes of stress for Fish?

Aquarium Mates:

The key word here is compatibility, so the last thing you want is aggressive fish chasing around the timid fish, smaller fish with no hiding places will feel stressed when theres large fish around

Some fish require a shoal to feel safe where others might be happy on ther own, so know your fish and you can be ableto provide a better enviornment for them.

Aquarium Size:

Most new budding hobbyists will go out and buy as many fish as they can squeeze in and at times will over popular their saltwater aquarium, the approx rule of thumb is 1inch of fish per 2 gallons of water but remember our fish will grow too. Again take note of individual fishes requirements before buying marine fish to avoid any over crowding.

Aquarium Water Temperature:

Fluctuations of temperature should be moderate and controlled at all times. The optimum temperature for fish will vary from fish to fish, but too cold or to warm will cause stress to the fish. Keep in mind that a tank in direct sunlight will heat up during the day. The water temperature may also rise during the light-on period. This can be more of a concern with smaller tanks rather than the larger ones.

Aquarium Water changes can cause stress so its important that you have the same temperature of the water, and dont disturb the fish to much too, therefore its always better to change less water more frequently.

Water Parameters:

Poor water quality or toxic posioning is the most significant cause for stress. Most fish can survive sub-optimal conditions if not too far out of their range. But sudden changes within the water chemistry will cause severe stress. Adjustments in aquarium pH, salinity, or water hardness should be made gradually. Ammonia and nitrite are extremely stressful and can be detrimental if high levels persist.

Nitrate, not as dangerous as ammonia/nitrite contributes to stress at all levels.

Other Factors:

Stress is also induced by insufficient oxygen levels (fish gasping for air), old fish food, and an unbalanced diet.
Fish are not good travelers and can cause a lot of stress so good care must be taken during acclimation process.

Symptoms of Stress:

• fish hides
• fish does not eat or eats less than usual
• fish hovers at the surface or motionless at the ground
• wounds do not healing
• fish gets sick

A lot of contributing factors have to be considered but elimainating as many as possible will raise the resistance of your fish.

Triggerfish

A relatively stocky, oval body shape characterizes triggerfish. The triggerfish caudal fins are quite small, so these fish rely mainly on the rippling movement of the rear part of the dorsal fin, combined with their anal fin, to propel themselves though the water.

Their front dorsal spine interlocks with a smaller second spine and can be used to anchor the fish in a rocky crevice. Once the locking mechanism has been tiggered, it’s virtually impossible to dislodge them. Therefore it may be necessary to buy the triggerfish and its rocky retreat, if it’s retreated their while being caught.

Triggerfish are idea for people looking for a fish with personality as they can be tamed sufficiently to feed on hand offered food.

Keeping Your Aquarium Fish Healthy

Having healthy fish starts with buying healthy fish from your Local fish shop (LFS), so selection of the correct LFS is important, look at the size of livestock as well as the quality of the staff.

Look at the saltwater aquarium tanks themselves look for signs of well maintained, avoid tanks that are cloudy, have decyaing plants,dirty tanks or signs of ill fish or worst dead fish in them, all these are signs of poorly cared fish and maybe it worht going to the next LFS.

If you have a newly set up aquariumand the intial stocking of fish is very improtant and basic rules and guidelines should be followed regarding whta is suitable, if you have an doubt please discuss with your LFS.

Now you have brought your healthy fish from the LFS the rest is upto you, generally marine fish should be placed directly into a saltwater quarantine tank, this is practiced so any fish that arrive with any diseases will not give it to all your other maine animals in your saltwater aquarium.

The next step to ensure healthy marine fish is good aquarium maintenance and care should be used to ensure your aquarium is maintained at the optium level for your fish.

While feeding your fish look out for signs and make sure all your fish are eating, swimming and generally look in good health. Check the marine fish for color, eyes,skin and fins as well there breathing much as you would when you are buying marine fish. Spotting something now could mean you have increased the chances of living due to early treatment.

If you do note any odd behaviour of anything, preform a water test to check the aquarium water quality as this can account for many diseases starting. Many odd behaviour can be fixed by imply just adjusting the aquarium water parameters.

Keeping fish healthy can be minimized by avoiding stress where posible, fish stress factors include tank mates, aquarium size, aquarium temperature and water parameters.

The fishes slime coat protects the fish from disease and will protect from bacteria and fungi, once the fish become stressed this coating is reduced and the fish are vunerable to disease.

The slim coat has three functons:

1. Protective coat towards diseases
2. Buffer in internal-external gas exchange (osmoregulation)
3. Helps reduce a loss of energy while swimming.

Therefore to maintain any heathly fish in your saltwater aquarium the rules are simple, maintain good water quality and a stress free environment.

Sponges (phylum Porifera)

Sponges belong to the phylum Porifera and represent the first evolutionary steps in the single-celled organisms organizing themselves into multicellular animals.

They have been highly successful and have over 8,000 species currently listed with the majority being marine sponges. Primarily adapted to filter organic particles and plankton from the water column, some species have incorporated photosynthetic algae into their tissue.

Since they rely on an unobstructed surface area, problems can arise inside your saltwater aquarium where high nutrient levels can fuel the growth of aquarium algae which will obstruct the sponges. Also large amounts of detritus may also comprise the sponges ability to feed.

On a brighter note with the right food at regular basis, a sponge can be kept successfully inside an aquarium.