Butterfly fish belong to the Chaetodontidae family of fish. These fish are found in the reefs of the Indian Ocean, as well as in the warmer zones of the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The shape of the butterfly fish is unique and is disk shaped. There are a number of sub species of butterfly fish. Banner fish and the coral fish, for example, are included in the family of butterfly fish.

The size of the butterfly fish is around 7 to 9 inches. The species of fish called African butterfly fish is however, smaller in size. They are approximately 4 inches in size. These fish are known for their dull as well bright color. The pattern on the fish is similar to that on butterfly wings. Multicolored stripes, swirls, etc. are often seen on the bodies of these fish. It is known to have splashes of white, yellow, red, orange, blue, and black color on the scales. The look of these fish often attracts a number of fish lovers. However, it is important to know about butterfly fish care before one gets it as a pet.

How to Care for Butterfly Fish?

The butterfly fish are normally good community fish. However, there can be times, when they may become intolerant. They are normally intolerant towards the surface swimming fish. Butterfly fish are known to nip the fins, which is why butterfly fish care is important. At the same time, if they are kept with small fish, they may eat the small ones. It is best to keep them in the company of fish, which are known to either swim at the bottom of the tank or in the middle of it. This will ensure there is harmony in the aquarium. It is important to make some hiding place for the fish along with the swimming areas.

One of the important points in caring for butterfly fish is getting the right type of fish tank for them. It is best to keep them in saltwater aquariums, which are shallow. The aquariums should be about 6 to 8 inches deep. It is best to keep them in aquariums, which are more in length and width as opposed to depth. This will ensure they have more surface area to swim. The temperature suitable for butterfly fish is between 77 to 82 degree Fahrenheit. The pH of water needs to be balanced at 6.5 to 7.0. Read the rest of this entry »

Stargazer fish is a bony fish that belongs to the family of Uranoscopidae. In all, there are almost 50 species of stargazers found in 8 different genera. They live in shallow waters of seas and oceans and are quite commonly found in Mediterranean sea and Atlantic Ocean. It can be described as a benthic species that prefers either to remain buried under the sand or mud or stay on the bottom of the sea or ocean bodies. When they bury themselves in the sand or mud, the eyes and the mouth are the only two parts of the fish that are visible. Thus it got its name as stargazer fish.

Stargazer Fish Classification

The scientific classification of the stargazer fish are as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Uranoscopidae

Stargazer Fish Information

Stargazer fish has an elongated round shaped body with a dull brown color. The upper section of the body has a slightly darker shade of brown as compared to its under part. It has a large head which is slightly flattened on the sides and consist of rough, bony plates. On an average, the usual size of the stargazer fish varies from 18-25 cm. However, there are certain species of giant stargazer that can be as long as 90 cm.

The eyes of stargazer fish are very small in size and are mounted at the top of the body. It has a large mouth which is faced in the upward direction. At the tip of its lower jaw, there is a small projection that looks like a worm. Most species have both the dorsal fins and anal fins. However, in some of the species, the dorsal spines are missing. Stargazers are poisonous in nature. This is because of presence of two large poison spines that are located on each of its pectoral fins behind the gill cover. These spines can produce electricity and also deliver electric shocks. Read the rest of this entry »

The most fascinating and mesmerizing world is the underwater world, with its spectacular appearance. Diving deep into the ocean’s bed will introduce a number of species of the aquatic kingdom. The flora and fauna of this world is completely different with vibrantly colored bodies and unique characteristics. The longnose hawkfish is one such intriguing species of fish that inhabits the oceans across the world. This fish is mainly found in the Indo-Pacific strip, namely from the Red Sea in Africa to the Sea of Cortez in Eastern Pacific Ocean. One can also come across this saltwater fish in the tropical waters of North Columbia and Galapagos Islands. These fish survive in deep waters among the coral reefs. Other kinds of fish found in the hawkfish genus are coral hawkfish, dwarf hawkfish and black sided hawkfish. Let us take a look at some interesting facts about the longnose hawkfish.

Taxonomic Classification of Longnose Hawkfish

The longnose hawkfish can be scientifically classified as under:

Kingdom:     Animalia
Phylum:     Chordata
Class:     Actinopterygil
Order:     Perciformes
Family:     Cirrhitidae
Genus:     Oxycirrhites
Species:     O. typus
Binomial Name:     Oxycirrhites typus

Longnose Hawkfish Information

Popular as an aquarium fish, the longnose hawkfish is fish tank owner’s delight. Here are some fascinating facts about this ornamental fish.

•     Longnose hawkfish, whose scientific name is Oxycirrhites typus belongs to the hawkfish family which has about thirty two species of different types of fish. This fish is so named because of its characteristic snout.
•     The fish has a streamlined body, with a white background and a red pattern. This fish can grow up to a maximum size of 5 inches. The male is larger and more colorful than its female counterpart. Another striking feature of the male longnose hawkfish is the black margin that is present on the caudal fins. This fish also has large jaws which houses a set of sharp, pointed teeth.
•     They are a dominating fish and are very particular about their territory. A single male normally presides over a territory, having about 2 to 8 female species. Read the rest of this entry »