Aquarium Care Guides
2881 articles- 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
- Breeding the Derasa Clam (Tridacna derasa)Tridacna derasa is a large giant clam and one of the first species bred commercially. It is a broadcast-spawning hermaphrodite that does not
- Breeding the Crocea Clam (Tridacna crocea)Tridacna crocea is the smallest giant clam, a broadcast-spawning protandrous hermaphrodite. It does not reproduce in home aquariums but is w
- Breeding the Sally Lightfoot Crab (Percnon gibbesi)Percnon gibbesi is a fast herbivorous crab and a notorious Mediterranean invader. Females brood eggs and release long-lived planktonic larva
- Breeding the Pom-Pom Crab (Lybia tessellata)Lybia tessellata is a tiny Indo-Pacific crab that carries living sea anemones in its claws for defense. Females brood eggs under the abdomen
- Breeding the Yellowline Arrow Crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis)Stenorhynchus seticornis is a western Atlantic spider crab whose females brood fertilized eggs on their pleopods and release planktonic zoea
- Breeding the Rusty Guard Crab (Trapezia ferruginea)Trapezia ferruginea is a coral guard crab that lives in obligate symbiosis with Pocillopora, defending its host against predators. It broods
- Breeding the Coral Guard Crab (Trapezia cymodoce)Trapezia cymodoce is an obligate symbiont of Pocillopora corals that defends its host against predators. It broods eggs and releases plankto
- Breeding the Spotted Porcelain Anemone Crab (Neopetrolisthes maculatus)Neopetrolisthes maculatus is an Indo-Pacific porcelain crab that lives commensally inside sea anemones and filter-feeds. It broods eggs and
- Breeding the Red Spotted Porcelain Crab (Petrolisthes galathinus)Petrolisthes galathinus is a Caribbean porcelain crab that filter-feeds with feathery mouthparts. Females brood eggs as a sponge and release
- Breeding the Mexican Red-Leg Hermit Crab (Clibanarius digueti)Clibanarius digueti is a Gulf of California hermit crab that aggregates by the hundreds at low tide. It broods eggs and releases planktonic
- Breeding the Blue-Leg Hermit Crab (Clibanarius tricolor)Clibanarius tricolor is a Caribbean hermit crab whose females brood eggs on their pleopods and release planktonic zoea larvae. Captive breed
- Breeding the Polka Dot Hermit Crab (Calcinus tibicen)Calcinus tibicen is a western-Atlantic hermit crab whose females brood many eggs that hatch into planktonic zoea larvae. Dependent on empty
- Breeding the Zebra Hermit Crab (Calcinus laevimanus)Calcinus laevimanus is an Indo-Pacific hermit crab that carries eggs year-round; the larvae pass through six zoeal stages and a glaucothoe i
- Breeding the Halloween Hermit Crab (Calcinus elegans)Calcinus elegans is an Indo-Pacific hermit crab that lives in gastropod shells. Females carry eggs that hatch into planktonic zoea larvae, s
- Breeding the Banded Clinging Crab (Mithraculus cinctimanus)Mithraculus cinctimanus is a small Caribbean clinging crab that lives commensally with anemones. Females carry eggs that hatch into plankton
- Breeding the Red Mithrax Crab (Mithraculus forceps)Mithraculus forceps is a small Caribbean clinging crab whose egg-carrying females release planktonic zoea larvae. Lab studies have reared it
- Breeding the Emerald Crab (Mithraculus sculptus)The emerald crab Mithraculus sculptus is a Caribbean reef crab in which females carry eggs that hatch into planktonic zoea larvae. Larval re
- Breeding the Bleeding Tooth Nerite (Nerita peloronta)Nerita peloronta is a Caribbean intertidal nerite with a red aperture mark and separate sexes. It lays egg capsules on rock that release pla
- Breeding the Textile Nerite (Nerita textilis)Nerita textilis is a marine intertidal nerite with separate sexes that lay egg capsules on rock. The eggs release planktonic veliger larvae
- Breeding the Cerith Snail (Cerithium spp.)Cerithium snails lay gelatinous egg strings, but the eggs hatch into long-lived planktonic veliger larvae. They reproduce readily yet cannot
- Breeding the Brunneus Turbo Snail (Turbo brunneus)Turbo brunneus (bruneus) is a small Indo-Pacific dwarf turban snail with separate sexes that scatter eggs and sperm. Its planktonic larvae c
- Breeding the Tapestry Turbo Snail (Turbo petholatus)Turbo petholatus, the Indo-Pacific tapestry turban with a green cat's-eye operculum, has separate sexes and planktonic larvae. It is collect
- Breeding the Mexican Turbo Snail (Turbo fluctuosa)Turbo fluctuosa is an eastern Pacific turban snail with separate sexes and free-swimming planktonic larvae. It is essentially never bred in
- Atlantic Star Snail (Astraea phoebia): Breeding NotesAstraea phoebia (Lithopoma phoebium) is a long-spined Western Atlantic star snail and algae grazer. As a turbinid broadcast spawner with non
- Astraea Snail (Lithopoma tectum): Breeding NotesLithopoma tectum (Astraea tecta) is a Caribbean star/turban snail and algae grazer. Turbinids are broadcast spawners with separate sexes and
- West Indian Top Shell (Cittarium pica): Breeding NotesCittarium pica is a large Caribbean top shell with separate sexes and external fertilization. It produces short-lived planktonic larvae and
- Strawberry Trochus Snail (Trochus histrio): Breeding NotesTrochus histrio is an algae-grazing top snail. Like other trochids it is a gonochoristic broadcast spawner with short-lived non-feeding plan
- Banded Trochus Snail (Trochus maculatus): Breeding NotesTrochus maculatus is a top snail that grazes algae. Trochids are broadcast spawners with separate sexes and short-lived planktonic veligers,
- Sand Sifting Conch (Strombus maculatus): Breeding NotesStrombus maculatus is a small reef conch with separate sexes and gelatinous egg strands that hatch into planktonic veligers. Dwarf conchs ar
- Bumblebee Snail (Engina mendicaria): Breeding NotesThe marine bumblebee snail (Engina mendicaria) is a small carnivorous scavenger. As a neogastropod with separate sexes and planktonic velige
- Caribbean Nassarius Snail (Nassarius vibex): Breeding NotesNassarius vibex is a sand-bed scavenging snail with separate sexes. It deposits benthic egg capsules that release planktonic veliger larvae,
- Rock Mantis Shrimp (Gonodactylus chiragra): Breeding NotesGonodactylus chiragra is a small smasher mantis that shelters in rock cavities and often arrives as a live-rock hitchhiker. It is not home-b
- Zebra Mantis Shrimp (Lysiosquillina maculata): Breeding NotesLysiosquillina maculata is the world's largest mantis shrimp, a sand-burrowing spearer. In the wild it is socially monogamous with maternal
- Caribbean Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus havanensis): Breeding NotesOdontodactylus havanensis is a small Caribbean smasher mantis from sand-and-rubble burrows. It is not home-bred; like other stomatopods it t
- Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus): Breeding NotesOdontodactylus scyllarus is a burrowing Indo-Pacific smasher stomatopod. It is not bred in home aquaria; females tend eggs in the burrow and
- Common Saron Shrimp (Saron rectirostris) Breeding GuideSaron rectirostris is a nocturnal Indo-Pacific hippolytid shrimp. As an egg-carrying caridean with planktonic larvae, it is not reared in ho
- Sexy Shrimp (Thor amboinensis) Breeding GuideThor amboinensis is a tiny pantropical commensal shrimp on anemones and corals. Females brood eggs, but larvae pass through planktonic zoea
- Camel Shrimp (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis) Breeding GuideRhynchocinetes durbanensis is a gregarious Indo-Pacific shrimp. Females carry hundreds of eggs hatching in 9–18 days by temperature, but lar
- Harlequin Shrimp (Hymenocera picta) Breeding GuideHymenocera picta is a monogamous, starfish-eating shrimp that has been captive-bred. Females carry eggs and larvae rear over a roughly 60-da