Dr. D. Ross Robertson, Panama
Info
Dr. Ross Robertson has discovered this particular small three-fin blenny, Enneanectes exsul, around the Revillagigedo Islands, here more specifically around the islands of Isla Socorro, Isla Clarion, and Isla San Benedicto, in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The Revillagigedo Islands are an archipelago that belongs to the Mexican state of Colima .
The small fish had a mirror egg-like patch of ctenoid scales on the operculum, and an enlarged scale covering upper 2 / 3 of the pectoral fin axis.
Around the nasal bones are a series of small spines on the second dorsal fin is a dark distal spot.
The first dorsal fin has the namesake "three spines"; the second dorsal fin has 12 spines; and the third dorsal fin with 8 - 9 pieces.
Anal fin with two spines and 15 -16 segmented rays. pectoral fins each with 15 rays.
lateral line discontinuous with 14 -16 scales in the upper part and 17-19 notched scales in the lower part.
Coloration of Enneanectes exsul is brown and yellow or cream in most dark areas.
Radiating rust colored lines run across the iris.
Between the bands on the body are light areas of brown and a yellow pigment that partially outlines the scales.
The first dorsal fin is cream and mottled brown, the second dorsal fin shows a dark spot on the membrane between the anterior spines and a strong diagonal band of light pigment in the posterior region
The third dorsal fin is similarly banded.
The caudal fin has pale proximal and distal bands, with brown between them.
Anal fin has brown and yellow banding, pectoral fins have brown and cream bands.
Etymology. From Latin "exsul", an exile, in reference to the habitat of this species on an island.
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
The term "reef safe" is often used in marine aquaristics, especially when buying a new species people often ask if the new animal is "reef safe".
What exactly does reef safe mean?
To answer this question, you can ask target-oriented questions and inquire in forums, clubs, dealers and with aquarist friends:
- Are there already experiences and keeping reports that assure that the new animal can live in other suitably equipped aquariums without ever having caused problems?
- Is there any experience of invertebrates (crustaceans, hermits, mussels, snails) or corals being attacked by other inhabitants such as fish of the same or a different species?
- Is any information known or expected about a possible change in dietary habits, e.g., from a plant-based diet to a meat-based diet?
- Do the desired animals leave the reef structure "alone", do they constantly change it (boring starfish, digger gobies, parrotfish, triggerfish) and thus disturb or displace other co-inhabitants?
- do new animals tend to get diseases repeatedly and very quickly and can they be treated?
- Do known peaceful animals change their character in the course of their life and become aggressive?
- Can the death of a new animal possibly even lead to the death of the rest of the stock through poisoning (possible with some species of sea cucumbers)?
- Last but not least the keeper of the animals has to be included in the "reef safety", there are actively poisonous, passively poisonous animals, animals that have dangerous biting or stinging weapons, animals with extremely strong nettle poisons, these have to be (er)known and a plan of action should have been made in advance in case of an attack on the aquarist (e.g. telephone numbers of the poison control center, the treating doctor, the tropical institute etc.).
If all questions are evaluated positively in the sense of the animal(s) and the keeper, then one can assume a "reef safety".
The Revillagigedo Islands are an archipelago that belongs to the Mexican state of Colima .
The small fish had a mirror egg-like patch of ctenoid scales on the operculum, and an enlarged scale covering upper 2 / 3 of the pectoral fin axis.
Around the nasal bones are a series of small spines on the second dorsal fin is a dark distal spot.
The first dorsal fin has the namesake "three spines"; the second dorsal fin has 12 spines; and the third dorsal fin with 8 - 9 pieces.
Anal fin with two spines and 15 -16 segmented rays. pectoral fins each with 15 rays.
lateral line discontinuous with 14 -16 scales in the upper part and 17-19 notched scales in the lower part.
Coloration of Enneanectes exsul is brown and yellow or cream in most dark areas.
Radiating rust colored lines run across the iris.
Between the bands on the body are light areas of brown and a yellow pigment that partially outlines the scales.
The first dorsal fin is cream and mottled brown, the second dorsal fin shows a dark spot on the membrane between the anterior spines and a strong diagonal band of light pigment in the posterior region
The third dorsal fin is similarly banded.
The caudal fin has pale proximal and distal bands, with brown between them.
Anal fin has brown and yellow banding, pectoral fins have brown and cream bands.
Etymology. From Latin "exsul", an exile, in reference to the habitat of this species on an island.
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
The term "reef safe" is often used in marine aquaristics, especially when buying a new species people often ask if the new animal is "reef safe".
What exactly does reef safe mean?
To answer this question, you can ask target-oriented questions and inquire in forums, clubs, dealers and with aquarist friends:
- Are there already experiences and keeping reports that assure that the new animal can live in other suitably equipped aquariums without ever having caused problems?
- Is there any experience of invertebrates (crustaceans, hermits, mussels, snails) or corals being attacked by other inhabitants such as fish of the same or a different species?
- Is any information known or expected about a possible change in dietary habits, e.g., from a plant-based diet to a meat-based diet?
- Do the desired animals leave the reef structure "alone", do they constantly change it (boring starfish, digger gobies, parrotfish, triggerfish) and thus disturb or displace other co-inhabitants?
- do new animals tend to get diseases repeatedly and very quickly and can they be treated?
- Do known peaceful animals change their character in the course of their life and become aggressive?
- Can the death of a new animal possibly even lead to the death of the rest of the stock through poisoning (possible with some species of sea cucumbers)?
- Last but not least the keeper of the animals has to be included in the "reef safety", there are actively poisonous, passively poisonous animals, animals that have dangerous biting or stinging weapons, animals with extremely strong nettle poisons, these have to be (er)known and a plan of action should have been made in advance in case of an attack on the aquarist (e.g. telephone numbers of the poison control center, the treating doctor, the tropical institute etc.).
If all questions are evaluated positively in the sense of the animal(s) and the keeper, then one can assume a "reef safety".
