Few would argue that the Moorish idol is among the most handsome and graceful of fishes. Representations of this highly distinctive animal have served as marine iconography on everything from fine art pieces to shower curtains.…
Kenneth Wingerter
Recent Content
Aquarium Fish: Reconsidering the Molly Miller Blenny
One could scarcely refer to the Molly Miller blenny as an “ornamental fish.” To be sure, it is one of the most hideous animals that an aquarist’s money can buy. With its bulbous, bony head, huge eyes and a crown of bristlelike appendages, it bears the visage of something out of a Dr.…
Aquaculture: Ornamental Fishkeeping in Republican and Imperial Rome
Note: The principal source of information found in the following piece comes from James Higginbotham’s Piscinae: Artificial Fishponds in Roman Italy (University of North Carolina Press, 1997).…
Aquarium Fish: Prospective Fishes for the New Zealand Rocky Reef Aquarium: A Multimedia Overview
There may be scores of distinct biogeographic regions that have yet to be adequately represented in public aquaria, much less in the aquarium trade. A great many of them lay claim to a multitude of interesting, beautiful and diverse species.…
Aquarium Fish: An Overview of Fang Blennies of the genus Meiacanthus
At present, the selection of tank bred marine aquarium fishes is modest, but growing. Accordingly, more and more conscientious hobbyists are choosing cultured over wild caught animals. A handful of particularly good (though frequently overlooked) tank bred candidates for the home aquarium belong to the genus Meiacanthus, the fang blennies.…
Aquarium Fish: An Overview of the Maroon Clownfish and Clownfishes of the Percula Complex
Subfamily Amphiprioninae, the clownfishes, is a diverse group. It is divided into six species complexes, including the Clarkii Complex, the Skunk Complex, the Tomato Complex, the Saddleback Complex, the Percula Complex, and the maroons.…
Aquarium Fish: An Overview of Clownfish of the Saddleback Complex
There is a considerable amount of variation within the subfamily Amphiprioninae, the clownfishes. These fishes are customarily divided into five groups, or species complexes. These include (in descending order with respect to number of member species) the Clarkii Complex, the Skunk Complex, the Tomato complex, the Saddleback Complex, the Percula Complex, and the Maroons.…
Aquarium Fish: An Overview of Clownfish of the Tomato Complex
Clownfish (Subfamily Amphiprioninae) have for long held a special interest among marine aquarium hobbyists. Due in large part to the increasing availability of rare species, as well as novel strains of more familiar species, clownfish are every bit as popular today as ever before.…
Aquarium Fish: An Overview of Clownfish of the Skunk Complex
The 28 recognized species of clownfish (Subfamily Amphiprioninae) share a considerable number of highly recognizable physical and behavioral attributes. That notwithstanding, they may be divided into basic groups to reflect (presumably on the basis of lineage) certain distinguishing characteristics.…
Aquarium Fish: An Overview of Clownfish of the Clarkii Complex
As anyone with any familiarity of the marine aquarium hobby would know, clownfish (Subfamily Amphiprioninae) are a staple of the ornamental fish trade. The popularity of these fishes has persisted through the years even while the availability of other marine fish species steadily increased.…