One of the most recognizable marine animals on the coral reefs and seagrass beds they call home, seahorses Hippocampus spp. fascinate children and adults alike, earning them a place among the most popular animals for saltwater aquaria. Although endangered in the wild, more and more seahorses are being captive-bred by hobbyists. This month, José María Cid Ruiz offers his perspective on the difficult but worthwhile project of breeding seahorses and raising their fry (pg. 90). Photograph by Kristian Sekulic/Shutterstock Feature Articles Aquarium Science: An Exciting New Micropoecilia Author: Rich Serva With a metallic and colorful tail, this diminutive fish is potentially a new Micropoecilia species... Read more»

In this March issue of cover photo is rasboras Trigonostoma sp. sailing over a beautiful aquascape, but the artistic effect is of a mossy glen. Each month another aspect of the Nature Aquarium concept, which draws inspiration from terrestrial landscapes, is discussed in Mr. Takashi Amano’s feature series. This month he focuses on aquatic mosses and how they can be used to naturalize a planted layout, emulating the look of moss-covered forest scenery (p. 62). Photograph by Takashi Amano     Feature Articles Anthias: Those Fancy Basses Author: Bob Goemans Among the most colorful fish on the reef with a wide range of personalities, there is a species of anthias to suit any reefer’s tastes. Aquatic... Read more»

These piranhas Pygocentrus piraya are often called San Francisco piranhas, a potentially misleading name given them based on their native range in Brazil’s Rio São Francisco. Piranhas are apex predators, and like many other predatory species they are extremely popular aquarium specimens. Unfortunately many myths abound about the nature and the proper care of these fish. Find out how they should actually be kept in this month’s look at predatory fish, “The Killer Instinct.” Photograph by Ed Wong     Feature Articles Composing a Nature Aquarium Layout with Stem Plants Author: Takashi Amano The visionary aquascaper focuses this month on using stem plants to produce a lush and captivating... Read more»

Bettas! The variety in color and finnage available in domestic strains of Betta splendens is truly astounding, as the beautiful male on this month’s cover reminds us, but there is an equally diverse variety among the many wild bettas—the other species in the genus Betta. Large and small, dazzling and drab, bubblenesting and mouthbrooding, there are bettas enough to appeal to anyone. This month, Stan Sung reviews these gems of the Orient in “Magnificent Bettas” (p. 70). Photograph by Ed Wong Feature Articles   Creating a Natural-Looking Iwagumi Nature Aquarium Layout Author: Takashi Amano The master of the planted tank reveals his method for translating natural scenery into realistic... Read more»

Gracing our shiny year-end cover this month is a group of Pacific sea nettles Chrysaora fuscescens featured in the “Jellies Invasion” exhibit at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Found mostly off the West Coast of the United States, these cnidarians represent one of many species that have recently caught the attention of progressive marine aquarists. Our cover story, “Feeding Jellyfish: Problems and Solutions” (p. 90) tells of the trial-and-error search for the best way to feed captive jellyfish—the type of research typical to any vanguard investigation in the aquarium hobby. Photograph Courtesy of National Aquarium, Baltimore Feature Articles Answers to Common Questions About Marine... Read more»

A flowerhorn on the cover of TFH? Love them or hate them, flowerhorns are extremely popular. These beautiful and expensive hybrid fish are nothing if not controversial. Although they are much more an Oriental phenomenon than a Western one (this specimen was photographed in an aquarium in the lobby of the Miracle Grande Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand), they have their proponents—and opponents—everywhere. The controversy surrounding these hybrid cichlids, as large and aggressive as they are ornamental and unusual, is discussed in Tom Lorenz’s article, “Flower Power.” Feature Articles A Caribbean Sea Biotope Aquarium Author: Jeremy J. Gosnell While many aquariums mix a variety of species coming... Read more»

Gracing TFH’s cover this month are a shrimp goby Stonogobiops nematodes and its pistol shrimp partner Alpheus randalli, a pair that lives in mutual symbiosis: The shrimp digs a tunnel in the substrate, which the shrimp and goby both share. When they leave the tunnel, the pistol shrimp (which has poor eyesight) keeps one of its antennae in constant contact with the ever-alert goby, and at the first sign of danger the pair quickly retreats into the tunnel. As author and photographer James Fatherree explains in his article “A Look at Invertebrates for the Non-Reef Aquarium” (p. 96), these animals make a wonderful addition to a marine/FOWLR system, and their activities and interactions... Read more»