‘Complex Nano’
Music by Space Voodoo Crystal
Video and Aquarium
2010 Coral Morphologic

Above is a short video featuring a glow-in-the-dark perspective of the 5-gallon ‘Complex Nano’ reef aquarium. A daylight photo of this aquarium is featured in the April/May – 8th Anniversary Issue of Marc Ecko’s Complex Magazine (see below). By comparing the two differently illuminated versions of this nano reef, the true fluorescence of the corallimorphs and zoanthids immediately becomes apparent. The fluorescent pigments of the corallimorphs and zoanthids are preferentially activated under the 470 nm blue wavelength LED lighting used in the video. Notice that the normally bright orange coloration of the clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) appears nearly black in the film.

Both of the fish in the aquarium are captive-raised by the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute’s ornamental aquaculture subsidiary ORA. ORA has been a leader in this field, and we stand fully committed to the further development of  aquacultured ornamental marine fish species. You’ll notice that the normally three-striped clownfish has an unusual cross-pattern on one side. This is the result of selective breeding on ORA’s part.  In recent years, clownfish hatcheries have developed all black, white, orange, and ‘Picasso’, variations of the standard ‘Nemo’ through patient breeding and selection.

The other fish in the aquarium is an orchid dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani). Wild versions of this fish tend to be more fiesty and territorial, whereas hatchery-raised fish tend to be more gregarious and better suited for life in a community reef aquarium.

Note the commensal (and nearly translucent) Pederson’s cleaner shrimp (Periclimenes pedersoni) on the fluorescent orange (Ricordea florida) corallimorphs in the video.

Click here for a complete species and hardware list

Special thanks to Patrick Albertson (article author) and Space Voodoo Crystal (soundtrack)

‘Preener’
Mithraculus cinctimanus crab on Ricordea florida corallimorphs
Music, Video, and Aquarium
2010 Coral Morphologic

Shown above is a 1cm Mithraculus cinctimanus, commonly known as the banded clinging crab. Typically this species is known to live in association with a variety of Caribbean sea anemone species. However, several years ago we noticed that juvenile and sub-adult banded clinging crabs seemed to prefer the protection amongst Ricordea florida polyps in the wild. When they are small, like this one, the carapace (shell) of the crab is nearly entirely covered by a fuzzy red algal camouflage. As they get larger (up to 25mm) they lose much of this hairy coat, revealing a striking white and maroon patterned exoskeleton.

The video shows the crab alternating between preening its own algae covered carapace and the fluorescent tentacles of the Ricordea florida on which it lives. It is possible that the crab may ingest some of the polyps’ mucus as an occasional food source. The video was sped up considerably (9x). At normal speed the polyps appear static, but at this speed the regular hydraulic undulations and contractions of the R. florida polyps are clearly visible.