Aquarium Care Guides
2820 articles- Bobbit Worm (Eunice aphroditois): Reproduction and Pest NotesEunice aphroditois is not a cultivated species but a feared live-rock hitchhiker. This guide outlines the limited published biology of its b
- Bispira brunnea Breeding GuideHow the social feather duster Bispira brunnea forms colonies and reproduces both sexually by broadcast spawning and asexually by architomy,
- Bispira variegata Breeding GuideHow the cluster duster Bispira variegata reproduces sexually by broadcast spawning and asexually by architomy; WoRMS treats variegata as a s
- Spirobranchus giganteus Breeding GuideHow the Christmas tree worm Spirobranchus giganteus reproduces by broadcast spawning with larvae that settle into living coral, and why it c
- Sabellastarte indica Breeding GuideHow the giant feather duster Sabellastarte indica reproduces sexually by broadcast spawning and asexually by fragmentation; WoRMS treats ind
- Sabellastarte magnifica Breeding GuideHow the magnificent feather duster Sabellastarte magnifica reproduces sexually by broadcast spawning and asexually by fragmentation, regener
- Sabellastarte spectabilis Breeding GuideHow the Hawaiian feather duster Sabellastarte spectabilis reproduces sexually by broadcast spawning with trochophore larvae and asexually by
- Holothuria impatiens Breeding GuideHow the burrowing sea cucumber Holothuria impatiens reproduces once a year by broadcast spawning into planktonic larvae, why it is not home-
- Pseudocolochirus (Sea Apple) Breeding GuideHow the filter-feeding sea apple Pseudocolochirus reproduces by broadcast spawning, why it is not home-bred, and the serious holothurin toxi
- Holothuria edulis Breeding GuideHow the pinkfish sea cucumber Holothuria edulis reproduces by broadcast spawning with planktonic larvae and by transverse fission, and why i
- Mespilia globulus Breeding GuideHow the tuxedo urchin Mespilia globulus reproduces as a gonochoric broadcast spawner, why its planktonic larvae are not raised in home tanks
- Echinometra mathaei Breeding GuideHow the rock-boring urchin Echinometra mathaei reproduces by releasing gametes into the water column, producing planktonic echinopluteus lar
- Tripneustes gratilla Breeding GuideHow the collector urchin Tripneustes gratilla reproduces by broadcast spawning into planktonic echinopluteus larvae, why it is not home-bred
- Diadema antillarum Breeding Guide: Caribbean Urchin & RestorationThe Caribbean long-spine urchin is a prolific broadcast spawner, key to reef health after its 1983 die-off. Not home-bred, but cultured for
- Diadema setosum Breeding Guide: Long-Spine Urchin SpawningThe long-spine sea urchin is a broadcast spawner with planktonic larvae; it is not bred in home aquaria. Handle its venomous spines with car
- Asterina Breeding Guide: Fission and the Pest QuestionAsterina stars reproduce asexually by fission, splitting and regenerating, and can proliferate rapidly in reef tanks; some species nibble co
- Protoreaster lincki Breeding Guide: Red Knob Sea StarThe red knob sea star is a large broadcast-spawning Protoreaster whose planktonic larval cycle is not reproduced in home aquaria.
- Protoreaster nodosus Breeding Guide: Chocolate Chip StarThe chocolate chip sea star is a large broadcast-spawning asteroid whose planktonic larval cycle is not reproduced in home aquaria.
- Fromia indica Breeding Guide: Indian Sea Star SpawningThe Indian sea star is a broadcast-spawning Fromia; its planktonic larval cycle is not reproduced in home aquaria.
- Fromia monilis Breeding Guide: Necklace Star SpawningThe necklace sea star is a broadcast-spawning asteroid; its planktonic larval development is not reproduced in home aquaria.
- Fromia milleporella Breeding Guide: Marble Star SpawningThe marble sea star is a broadcast-spawning asteroid whose planktonic larval cycle is not reproduced in home aquaria.
- Linckia guildingii Breeding Guide: Comet Star AutotomyThe common comet star sheds arms by autotomy; detached comets regenerate into new stars. Its broadcast spawning is not reproduced in home aq
- Linckia multifora Breeding Guide: Comet RegenerationLinckia multifora reproduces asexually by autotomy, shedding arms that grow into 'comets'. Its sexual broadcast spawning is not completed in
- Linckia laevigata Breeding Guide: Why It Is Not Home-BredThe blue Linckia sea star is a planktonic broadcast spawner that is not bred in home aquaria, though it may fragment via autotomy like its c
- Ricordea florida Breeding Guide: Asexual PropagationHow Ricordea florida, a Caribbean corallimorph, propagates in the reef aquarium: hobbyist fragging by fission and pedal laceration, plus its
- Ricordea yuma (Yuma Ricordea) Propagation & Fragging GuideHow to propagate the Pacific ricordea corallimorph Ricordea yuma: asexual growth into polyp colonies and mushroom fragging, with low-flow, m
- Rhodactis mussoides (Mussoides Mushroom) Propagation & Fragging GuideHow to propagate the Rhodactis mussoides hairy mushroom corallimorph: asexual reproduction including incomplete fission and fragging, with l
- Rhodactis (Hairy Mushroom) Propagation & Fragging GuideHow to propagate the hairy mushroom corallimorph Rhodactis: asexual reproduction and fragging by cutting and reattaching, with low-flow, mod
- Discosoma sanctithomae (St. Thomas Mushroom) Propagation & Fragging GuideHow to propagate the Caribbean mushroom corallimorph Discosoma sanctithomae: asexual reproduction and fragging by cutting and reattaching cu
- Discosoma neglecta (Common Mushroom) Propagation & Fragging GuideHow to propagate the mushroom corallimorph Discosoma neglecta: asexual fission and pedal laceration, deliberate fragging by cutting and reat
- Anemonia majano (Majano Anemone) Reproduction & Pest Control GuideHow the pest majano anemone Anemonia majano spreads by asexual fission and pedal laceration plus pelagic spawning, why it overruns reef tank
- Aiptasia pallida (Glass Anemone) Reproduction & Pest Control GuideHow the pest glass anemone Aiptasia pallida spreads explosively by pedal laceration and gonochoric spawning, why it harms reef tanks, and ho
- Cryptodendrum adhaesivum (Pizza Anemone) Breeding & Propagation GuideReproduction of the pizza anemone Cryptodendrum adhaesivum: pelagic sexual spawning unreachable at home and the rare asexual fission of sea
- Macrodactyla doreensis (Long Tentacle Anemone) Breeding & Propagation GuideReproduction of the long tentacle anemone Macrodactyla doreensis: pelagic sexual spawning unreachable at home and the occasional asexual fis
- Stichodactyla mertensii (Merten's Carpet Anemone) Breeding & Propagation GuideReproduction of Stichodactyla mertensii, the largest sea anemone: pelagic sexual spawning unreachable at home and the infrequent asexual fis
- Stichodactyla haddoni (Haddon's Carpet Anemone) Breeding & Propagation GuideReproduction of Stichodactyla haddoni: pelagic sexual spawning that cannot be done at home and the rare asexual fission of sea anemones. Wha
- Stichodactyla gigantea (Gigantic Carpet Anemone) Breeding & Propagation GuideHow Stichodactyla gigantea reproduces: pelagic sexual spawning that is not feasible at home, and the limited asexual fission seen in sea ane
- Beaded Anemone (Heteractis aurora) Breeding GuideHeteractis aurora is a sand-dwelling host anemone with bead-like tentacle swellings, hosting Clark's clownfish. Like other Heteractis it can
- Malu Anemone (Heteractis malu) Breeding GuideHeteractis malu is a sand-dwelling host anemone for Clark's clownfish. Like other Heteractis it can split by scissiparity, but its sexual re
- Sebae Anemone (Heteractis crispa) Breeding GuideHeteractis crispa reproduces both sexually, by releasing gametes into the water, and asexually by scissiparity. Its leathery column hosts ma
- Magnificent Anemone (Heteractis magnifica) Breeding GuideHeteractis magnifica reproduces mainly by sexual gamete transmission into the water, with rare asexual fission. Its long-lived pelagic larva
- Bubble-Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) Propagation GuideEntacmaea quadricolor, the bubble-tip anemone, multiplies in captivity mainly by asexual longitudinal fission, producing clonal aggregations
- Spanish Dancer (Hexabranchus sanguineus) Breeding GuideHexabranchus sanguineus is a large hermaphroditic nudibranch that lays spiral red egg ribbons defended by sponge-derived macrolides. As an o
- Phyllidia varicosa Breeding Guide: Toxic Sponge-Feeding NudibranchPhyllidia varicosa is a toxic dorid nudibranch that lacks a radula and sucks on sponges, sequestering the defensive compound 9-isocyanopupuk
- Chromodoris Nudibranch Breeding Guide: Why It Is Not Home-BredChromodoris are simultaneous hermaphrodite nudibranchs that lay eggs hatching into planktonic veliger larvae. As obligate sponge feeders tha
- Solar-Powered Sea Slug (Elysia chlorotica) Breeding GuideElysia chlorotica is a hermaphroditic sacoglossan that lays egg strings and hatches as a veliger larva. Its obligate diet of Vaucheria litor
- California Sea Hare (Aplysia californica) Breeding GuideAplysia californica is a hermaphroditic sea hare that mates in chains, lays vast egg cords and passes through a planktonic veliger stage. It
- Tridacna gigas Breeding Guide: Hatchery Mariculture of the Giant ClamTridacna gigas, the world's largest bivalve, reproduces by broadcast spawning and releases over 500 million eggs at once. It is CITES II lis
- Tridacna squamosa Breeding Guide: Farm Aquaculture, Not Home BreedingTridacna squamosa is a protandrous hermaphrodite that reproduces by broadcast spawning. It is not bred in home reef tanks; juveniles come fr
- Breeding the Maxima Clam (Tridacna maxima)Tridacna maxima is the most widely distributed giant clam, a broadcast-spawning sequential hermaphrodite. It does not reproduce in home reef