We all know of the relationship between anemone species and fish of the Amphiprion genus, but there are other species that associate with anemones as well, some for just part of their lives. It’s widely believed that these mutualistic relationships are only found in tropical waters, but [...]
In this edition of Inverts We Wish We Could Have, which showcases unique invertebrates that are rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade, we spotlight the Dendronephthya Crab, Hoplophrys oatesi. The genus Hoplophrys is monotypic, containing the single species H. oatesi. These minute, true crabs [...]
There are two genera of coral guard crabs commonly found in the aquarium trade – Trapezia and Tetralia – that are symbiotic with small polyp stony corals such as Acropora, Pocillopora, Stylophora, and Seriatopora corals. These corals attract and feed their tiny symbionts with special [...]
We all love hermit crabs, right? Full of character, useful (mainly), and available in an assortment of colors, these crustaceans are found in all the world’s oceans. Most hermits are content to adopt shells in which they will be the sole occupant. And while some may oust another hermit [...]
The relationship between coral polyps and algae is something we as aquarists have been well aware for a long time, but a joint study between James Cook University and The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University creates a link between the inception of symbiosis in coral [...]
The pairing of pistol shrimps with watchman gobies is a common sight on Indo-Pacific coral reefs, as well as in the home aquarium, but few aquarists are aware of the strange relationship that exists along the Western African coastline between an altogether different goby and shrimp. [...]
Coral reefs are full of intimate interspecies relationships—from the well-known dalliance of clownfishes with anemones, to the more obscure romance of Epizoanthus and eunicids, or the awkward ambling of Heteropsammia and its sipunculan courtesan—the ocean, it would seem, is full of odd couples. [...]