Lionfish Pterois volitans Family: Scorpaenidae Original location: Tropical Indo-Pacific Description: The lionfish has a perchlike body with long, high pectoral fins and twelve dorsal-fin spines as long as the body. It has a pale reddish color with numerous broad brown vertical bars It can grow up to 8 inches (20 centimeters). Environment: Temperature: 75 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit; 24 to 26 degrees C pH: about 8 Salinity: 1.027 Lighting: Bright light Landscape: Stone structures with holes Feeding: Small fishes Small crustaceans The lionfish is a fiercely predatory fish-eater. It forces small fishes into a corner with the help of its spread pectoral fins and then sucks them in and swallows them. Although it prefers live fishes, the lionfish will soon get used to substitute food if it is moved about as if alive. Behavior: Reproduction is unknown in captivity. The lionfish should be kept only with fishes of the same size or larger. Several lionfishes of similar sizes can be kept together in a roomy tank. Snowflake Moray Eel Echidna nebulosa Family: Muraenidae Original location: Tropical Indo-Pacific Description: The snowflake moray eel has an elongated body wtih very thick, rough skin. It has no pectoral or pelvic fins. It has a wide-opening mouth with powerful teeth and small, round gills. It is light brown to orange on the back and white on the belly, with a group of two rows of star- or snowflake-shaped spots. It grows up to 30 inches long (75 centimeters). Environment: Temperature: 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit; 22 to 28 degrees C pH: over 8 Salinity: 1.025 Lighting: Subdued light Landscape: Flat areas in cracks, caves, and coral blocks with plenty of crevices. Feeding: Small fishes Small crustaceans The snowflake moray eel is a predatory lurker, crepuscular. It does well on aquarium food. Behavior: Reproduction is unknown in captivity. The snowflake moray eel is normally asleep during the day and not generally disturbed by sharing its tank with other types of fish. It easily grows accustomed to other occupants of the tank. It is territorial with other eels, and is best kept individually. Pufferfish Arothron hispidus Family: Tetraodontidae Original location: India, Indonesian archipelago, Philippines, New Guinea, northern Australia to the Fiji islands Description: The pufferfish has a clublike, elongated oval shape. It has a pair of nasal tentacles between the eyes and the tip of the snout. There are a few light markings on the brownish-gray skin. Usually, it has regular dark spots along its sides. It grows up to 17 inches (42 centimeters). Environment: Temperature: 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit; 24 to 28 degrees C pH: over 8 Salinity: 1.020 to 1.025 Lighting: Bright light Landscape: Sand; rocks and stones for hiding places. Feeding: Small corals and plants Small crustaceans Omnivorous Behavior: Reproduction is unknown in captivity The pufferfish is easy to acclimatize and to tame. It can be kept with other species. It is peaceful and sociable with other pufferfish. Emperor Angelfish Pomacanthus imperator Family: Chaetodontidae Original location: Wide areas of the tropical Indo-Pacific from East Africa and the Red Sea in the west to Polynesia in the east Description: The emperor angelfish is deep-bodied, compressed, with long dorsal and anal fins. When young, it is deep blue with white or light blue concentric bands. Adult fish have purple-brown to blue-green ground color, with a black patch behind the head and a similarly colored band over forehead, eye and cheek, both edged with bright blue. It has a number of yelllow horizontal lines along the flanks, with a bright orange caudal fin. It grows up to 14 inches (35 centimeters). Environment: Temperature: 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit; 24 to 28 degrees C pH: at least 8 Salinity: about 1.025 Lighting: Moderate to subdued light Landscape: Reef-dweller; rocks and stones for hiding places. Feeding: Small sponges and algae Small crustaceans It is best fed small amounts several times a day. It will more easily adapt to a substitute diet (like frozen or prepared food) when young. Behavior: Reproduction is unknown in captivity The emperor angelfish is territorial. Take care when introducting it to other species. It is aggresive towards other angelfish species, so it is best to keep it individually. Queen Triggerfish Balistes vetula Family: Balistidae Original location: Tropical Atlantic and Indian Ocean Description: The queen triggerfish has a compressed, elliptical body. The eyes are set very high, near the forehead. It has a small mouth, fleshy lips, and big teeth. It's ground color is yellowish, with two striking, curved light-blue stripes on either side of the head. It has light blue stripes on the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. It grows up to over 20 inches (50 centimeters). Environment: Temperature: 71 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit; 22 to 26 degrees C pH: about 8 Salinity: about 1.020 to 1.025 Lighting: Bright light Landscape: Needs plenty of swimming room; some hiding places. Feeding: Sea urchins Fish meat In the wild, it likes to crunch sea urchins. In the aquarium, it accepts various kinds of fish meat. It is best fed small amounts several times a day. Behavior: Reproduction is difficult in an aquarium. The queen triggerfish grows tame enough to hand-feed. It can be kept with a variety of other species. However, it will quarrel with members of its own species, so keep one triggerfish to a tank.