Species Spotlight- Spotted Mandarin

It is easy to see why the spotted mandarin (Synchiropus picturatus) is sometimes referred to as the psychedelic mandarin.  It's incredible color combinations, small size, and availability make it a fairly common addition to the home aquarium, but it is also one of the species that often doesn't survive past a few weeks after bringing it home.  This isn't because they are disease prone or especially fragile, but rather due to inadequate human care.  In their native western pacific reef habitat, they spend their time continuously foraging for copepods, worms, and other inverts.  Though some individuals can successfully be weaned onto frozen foods, many won't and they are best kept by someone committed to ensuring a sufficient quantity of live copepods.  But if you do your research and provide proper care, this fish is an incredibly interesting addition to a reef system.  Their beauty and habit of "climbing" around the rocks and corals make them fascinating to watch for hours.  

Florida Aquarium Partners With National Aquarium of Cuba

 

Another relevant and exciting article from an August issue of the Tampa Bay Times.  It discusses groundbreaking cooperation between the United States’ Florida Aquarium, and the National Aquarium of Cuba to protect the world’s coral reefs.   Hopefully the Florida Aquarium's aquaculture research combined with the great work being done at the National Aquarium of Cuba will result in a strong further understanding of our reef ecosystems and how to prevent further damage to these "underwater rainforests."  Click HERE to read the article.  Click HERE to visit the Florida Aquarium website.  Click HERE to visit the National Aquarium of Cuba.  

Coral Bleaching

I recently read this article about Florida's coral reefs by Chelsea Harvey of the Washington Post that was picked up by the Tampa Bay Times.  She discusses this being a particularly bad year for coral bleaching due to rising ocean temperatures and a disease outbreak that is affecting the state's Atlantic barrier reefs.  There is a good summary of what happens during bleaching and how the reefs are disrupted.  Some of the threatened corals are over 400 years old.  Click HERE to read the article.  

Some coral along the Florida reef is afflicted with "white plague disease." A widespread bleaching event on the Florida reef tract has left coral vulnerable to disease. [Photo by Brian Walker via Washington Post]

Tampa Bay Aquatics would love the opportunity to feature your original photographs of Florida's reef ecosystems, or any US marine environments (full credit to the photographer).  If you have something to share, please submit to TampaAquatics@gmail.com.