Water Colors Aquarium Gallery

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Sources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/zach-johnson
https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/paige_filice

This week, the Water Color’s team invites Ali to pick up the microphone and give us her take and experiences with SPS corals. What makes a coral a SPS or a LPS? Is the care similar for most species of SPS or LPS? What’s a good beginner SPS coral that is hardy? How often do I have to test my tank and what should I focus on? Amy, Ali, Ben and Calder help us understand how tricky these aquarium classifications can be and how it can make keeping certain types of corals seem a little more intimidating. Join us the discussion and let us know some of your favorite SPS corals.



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Sources mentioned in this episode:

Corals.com – https://www.corals.com/
World Wide Corals – https://worldwidecorals.com/
Top Shelf Aquatics – https://topshelfaquatics.com/
Tidal Gardens – https://tidalgardens.com/

Species mentioned in this episode:
Hydnophora – Horn or Velvet Coral
Cyphastrea – Brain or Meteor Coral
Leptoseris – Wrinkle or Porcelain Coral
Acropora millepora – Staghorn Coral
Acropora hyacinthus – Brush or Red Planet Coral
Montipora digitata – Velvet Branch Coral
Sarcophyton – Toadstool or Leather Corals
Leptastrea – Crusting Coral
Halimeda – Cactus Algae
Caulerpa brachypus – Mini Caulerpa
Acropora yongei – Green Bali Slimer
Acropora carduus – Red Dragon Acropora
Pavona – Cactus, Lettuce or Potato Chip Coral
Echinophyllia, Mycedium, Oxypora, and Echinopora – Chalice Corals
Pocillopora – Cauliflower or Cat’s Paw Coral
Stylophora – Cauliflower or Cat’s Paw Coral
Stylophora pistillata – Purple Milka Stylo
Seriatopora – Needle or Finger Coral
Seriatopora hystrix – Bird’s Nest Coral
Anacropora forbesi – Briar Coral
Stylocoeniella – Thorn Coral
Acropora sp. ‘Stuber Stag’ – ORA Stuber Stag Acropora
Tubastraea coccinea – Orange Cup Coral
Pachyseris – Elephant Skin Coral

Amy, Ben and Maddy have breeder lab updates this week. We have learned a lot and are learning more everyday. It’s been really interesting to listen back to our “Water Color’s Next Step – Breeder Lab Brainstorm” episode and see how the ideas have grown and changed. We are excited to share what we have been up to in the basement and hope you are too. Let us know about your current breeding projects and successes.



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Join our growing community on Discord! https://go.watercolors.shop/discord

Species mentioned in this episode:

Aphyosemion riggenbachi
Nothobranchius guentheri
Aphyosemion splendopleure ‘Tiko Green’
Aphyosemion striatum
Epiplatys dageti monroviae
Rivulus sp. Colombia
Nothobranchius korthausae
Nothobranchius rubripinnis
Epiplatys annulatus
Nothobranchius rachovii
Betta macrostoma
Betta pallifina
Betta patoti
Betta dennisyongi
Betta antuta
Betta enisae
betta ocellata
Betta iaspis
Betta coccina
Nanosphronemus gemma
Limia tridens
Limia perugiae “Gold”
Mogurnda mbuta
Tigrigobius multifasciatus

This week on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast, we got a little weird and had a lot of fun. Since Ben wasn’t here, we got to talk about what we wanted and this time it was aquatic insects. Calder takes the lead and talks about many different types of bugs that could and should be part of the aquarium hobby. From diving beetles to dragonfly nymphs, there are many great options for that spare five gallon tank you have lying around, just be sure to have a tight fitting lid.



Looking for more content? Become a YouTube member for exclusive access to behind the scenes livestreams! https://www.youtube.com/@watercolorsaquariumgallery

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Join our growing community on Discord! https://go.watercolors.shop/discord



Sources mentioned in this episode:

AMAZONAS Magazine – https://www.amazonasmagazine.com/
Bug Guide – https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/15740
iNaturalist – https://www.inaturalist.org/
Benthic Macroinvertebrates Survey – https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/indicators-benthic-macroinvertebrates

Species mentioned in this episode:

Orders:

Odonata – Dragonflies, Damselflies, etc.
Coleoptera – Beetles
Hetetoptera – Stink bugs, Assasin bugs, Water Striders, Giant Water Bugs, etc.

Tenodera sinensis – Chinese Mantis
Anax junius – Common Green Darner Dragonfly
Thermonectus marmoratus – Sunburst Diving Beetle
Darner Dragonflies
Skimmer Dragonflies
Diving Beetle
Aquarius remigis – Water striders
Dytiscidae – Predaceous Diving Beetle
Elytra
Dytiscus marginalis – Great Diving Beetle
Cybister fimbriolatus – Fringed Diving Beetle
Gyrinidae – Whirligig beetles
Belostomatidae – Giant Water Bugs
Lethocerus americanus – Giant Water Bug
Ranatra fusca – Brown Water Scorpion
Hellgrammite – Dobsonfly larvae
Notonectidae – Back swimmers
Corixidae – Water Boatman
Dolomedes – Fishing Spiders
Argyroneta aquatica – Diving Bell Spider

Terminology mentioned in this episode:

Ootheca – a hardened, foam-like egg case produced by certain insects—most notably praying mantises and cockroaches—to protect their developing eggs
Eclosion – biological term for when an insect hatches from an egg or emerges from its pupal case as an adult
Stridulation – the act of producing a high-pitched, creaking, or chirping sound by rubbing specialized body parts together; one structure acts as a “scraper” or plectrum (a sharp ridge, lip, or set of pegs), while the other acts as a “file” or stridulitrum (a finely-ridged surface)

Amy, Ben, and Calder talk about blennies and, boy, was there a lot to say and how they could have gone on for hours. With 6 families, approximately 130 genera and 900 species and counting, there is a lot of information in this week’s podcast. Blennies have amazing personality, colors, and adaptations. Let us know what blennies you have in your aquariums now and tell us about the ones you wish you could too!



Looking for more content? Become a YouTube member for exclusive access to behind the scenes livestreams! https://www.youtube.com/@watercolorsaquariumgallery

Enjoying the show? Support the gallery by shopping aquarium plants, merch, equipment, and more! https://watercolorsaquariumgallery.com/

Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/788428861825086/

Join our growing community on Discord! https://go.watercolors.shop/discord



Sources mentioned in this episode:

Live Aquaria – https://www.liveaquaria.com/?srsltid=AU7gw4VM5elUthzXzVaptIEeesFCcAlnX6rTtZrbd0OMDCXs4Y8EzNFb

Fish Base – https://www.fishbase.se/search.php

Seriously Fish – https://www.seriouslyfish.com/



Species mentioned in this episode:

Order: Blenniiformes

Sub-family: Blenniinae

Meiacanthus – Fang Blennies

Meiacanthus grammistes – Striped Blenny
Meiacanthus kamoharai – Kamohara Blenny
Meiacanthus nigrolineatus – Blackline Fangblenny
Meiacanthus oualanensis – Canary Blenny
Meiacanthus atrodorsalis – Forktail Blenny
Meiacanthus smithi – Disco Blenny
Meiacanthus mossambicus – Mozambique Blenny
Meiacanthus bundoon – Bundoon Blenny

Plagiotremus – Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides and others) Mimics

Plagiotremus tapeinosoma – Piano Fangblenny
Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos – Bluestriped Fangblenny
Plagiotremus ewaensis – Ewa Fangblenny
Plagiotremus azaleus – Sabertooth Blenny
Aspidontus – Fang Blenny (Meiacanthus) Mimics

Xiphasia – Snake Blennies

Ecsenius – Clown Blenny

Ecsenius gravieri – Red Sea Mimic Blenny
Ecsenius namiyei – Black Combtooth Blenny
Ecsenius stigmatura – Tailspot Blenny
Ecsenius bicolor – Bicolor Blenny
Ecsenius midas – Midas Blenny

Other – Miscellaneous Genera

Enchelyurus flavipes – Flametail Blenny
Petroscirtes mitratus – Floral Blenny
Exallias brevis – Leopard Blenny
Blenniella chrysospilos – Orange Spotted Blenny
Scartella cristata – Molly Miller Blenny
Hypleurochilus pseudoaequipinnis – Alantic Oyster Blenny

Sub-family: Salariinae

Salarias ramosus – Starry Blenny
Salarias fasciatus – Lawnmower Blenny

Sub-family: Chaenopsidae

Acanthemblemaria balanorum – Clubhead Barnacle Blenny
Acanthemblemaria paula – Dwarf Spinyhead Blenny