Jul 2025 POTM : Survivor

[maroun.c]

Welcome to the Reef2Reef POTM Contest - Photo of the Month
Sponsored by Avast Marine!​

This month's subject - Survivor
Deadline to Enter: 25 Jul, 2025 at 11:59 pm (EST)

This thread is about fish that have a nice story: made it through disease or other mishaps and recovered to live a long time in your tank! Remember, the photo has to have been taken by you, and the subject has to be in your aquarium. No watermarks or captions are allowed in the pictures, and pictures with watermarks will be disqualified. A bit of info around your fish and what it went through that made it special, and what was the main thing that helped it survive or recover...

This is a photo contest after all, and we're looking for the best photograph. Yes, you can use a post-editing product to improve your pictures. We encourage it! Here are a few tips:

• Clean the tank glass a day in advance of the photoshoot.
• Compose your shot in a way that adds dynamics or interest to the picture.

As always, refer to the multiple photography articles or post any questions you might have on the photography forum for better support. You may also want to post a few pictures for suggestions and critique to improve your shots while preparing for this month's contest.

Prize: POTM Winner Banner, one year free Premium Membership, and an Avast Marine Porthole courtesy of Avast Marine. Details below. (Note: Winners located outside the United States will be responsible for applicable shipping costs)

How To Enter:
Entering is easy, just a few simple guidelines to follow:

1. Enter ONE photo, taken by you of the subject for the month before the deadline

Posting a second or more photo, for discussion purposes, you need to mark just above the picture: Not my submission. Failing to do so, your submission will be disqualified.

If you want to change your submission, ensure that you tag the first entry as above or delete it before posting the new submission. If you are unable to edit or delete, please PM me to have it done before you upload your new submission.

Here are some rules:

• Multiple entries, off-subject photos, or broken image links will be disqualified.
• Entries must be submitted before the deadline
• The photo must be taken by you and in your tank
• Pictures with watermarks will be disqualified
• You must have an avatar uploaded when you enter
• Prior winners (within the last 6 months) are welcome to enter, but not eligible for the prizes
• To qualify to win the Avast Marine Porthole, you must also like the Avast Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/avast.marine/

Winner Selection:
The mod team will select up to 15 finalists, and a poll will be created and posted in the Reef Discussion Forum. The Grand Prize Winner will be determined by Reef2Reef member voting. To be eligible to vote, you must have been a member for 30 days and have 25 meaningful posts. Votes cast by members who do not meet these criteria will be disregarded in the final count. In the case of a tie, the mod team will assist in choosing the winner. Rules, deadlines, and terms are subject to change without notice at any time. The winner will be posted and tagged in the voting poll and will have 48 hours to claim the prize.

Soliciting votes, non-constructive criticism of submissions in the POTM thread or in the voting thread, challenging the Moderators' choice for the 15 finalists or the votes of other members, identifying which picture is yours or another member's submission in the voting thread... will result in your comments being automatically deleted and your submission being disqualified. This is to ensure a smooth POTM and voting process. We welcome positive critique and suggestions; however, this has to wait till after the voting deadline and preferably in a separate thread in the photography forum.

As this is a photography competition, the goal is to recognize the highest quality picture. So take your time, do your post-shot editing, and submit your best image.

The Prize:




#POTM #POTMWinners #MODS

 

[tbrown]

So would my Clownfish count if, a little over 4 years ago I accidentally threw her about 5 feet in the air (she was latched onto my hand when I jerked it out of the tank, not my fault people!), scooped her up (covered in dog hair), rinsed her in tank water, and the plopped her back in the tank if she's still alive today???

 

[IntrinsicReef]

So would my Clownfish count if, a little over 4 years ago I accidentally threw her about 5 feet in the air (she was latched onto my hand when I jerked it out of the tank, not my fault people!), scooped her up (covered in dog hair), rinsed her in tank water, and the plopped her back in the tank if she's still alive today???

I'm guessing she didn't learn her lesson and still bites you?

 

[tbrown]

I'm guessing she didn't learn her lesson and still bites you?

Actually, she hasn't but me since that day. She's probably the most chill fish in the tank now. I think she hit her head.

 

[littlefoxx]

So would my Clownfish count if, a little over 4 years ago I accidentally threw her about 5 feet in the air (she was latched onto my hand when I jerked it out of the tank, not my fault people!), scooped her up (covered in dog hair), rinsed her in tank water, and the plopped her back in the tank if she's still alive today???

thats about as wack as my story about one of my clowns jumping out of the tank and biting me in the forehead!! Clowns are insane

 

[littlefoxx]

This entry made me immediately think of Ghost my snowflake moray eel. Oh boy where do I start…

About 2 years ago I opened the shipping bag to see a snowflake eel with 3 horrible slash marks on her head. Looked like she was cut with a knife! Who sends an eel like that? Like for real? But she was able to pull through.

During my tank transfer last year she jumped out of the holding tank. Got tangled up in cords. She had a horrible injury. I really wasnt sure she was going to make it, it was horrible. I kept such a close eye on her (and cried a few times because I felt like an awful eel owner). She made a recovery from that. She almost has all her color back on that side where she had the gash.

Ghost is a trooper and a little warrior. Been through a lot with that girl. I love her I picked this picture because it captures how yellow her eyes really are.

 

[littlefoxx]

For those curious about Ghost’s story and injuries I added these pictures. NOT MY ENTRY this is just to add context.

 

[jermzisurmom]

My entry is just one of these... I have always been a little scared to keep one as I was never confident my tank was established enough. Till one day I couldn't resist anymore. (Don't judge me we have all been there) Well I've had him for about six months now and he is a favorite now!!

 

[littlefoxx]

My entry is just one of these... I have always been a little scared to keep one as I was never confident my tank was established enough. Till one day I couldn't resist anymore. (Don't judge me we have all been there) Well I've had him for about six months now and he is a favorite now!!

He looks fat too

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Good luck to everyone!

 

[IntrinsicReef]

Last January, we had an delay in our house move because of a foundation issue. We moved into a house built in the 20s and had foundation repair done prior to the move. Unfortunately, it wasn't sufficient to hold my 165 gallon stable and I had to keep the livestock in troughs for an extra two days while the repairs were done. It cost me 2 of my 6 Dispar anthias( including the male) and a ton of coral. The rest of the fish struggled, but made it. This is one of the females who has since changed sex, taking the top spot through survival, and they are a happy group again.

 

[World Citizen]

I hope there is someone with a better fish pic who wins.

I am not a fish buying guy. I take them when people are in need of giving them "a home".. My fish are all leftovers or in need of a tank.

So.. My only story that I am emotional about is my Female Percula which doesn't know nature.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Since I restarted a tank after losing one, I have gotten with all the new stuff a couple of Percula. The seller told me it was a couple and were living in it's tank for about year.

I wasn't there for the fish.. I wanted the tank. So I took the fish with me and kept them.

It's a Snow Bullethole type of Percula, but I noticed the 2 where from different strains of breeding. They didn't look the same.

But it didn't work. My female Percula kept acting weird. She doesn't understand any natural behaviour. She is acting strange around the nems and doesn't know what to do with the male. She is tugging them male on his lip towards the nem's mouth, and she is removing food from the nem like it is hazardous waste.

It is clear all the breeding didn't do here well. She is lost in natural behaviour. I removed the male and once tried an older male, but it also didn't work. The males just get pulled around and dragged like a doll.

She now has 3 nems of here own. She pulls them all and annoys the hell out them when I feed them.. but all the nasty is split over 3 nems. 3 vs 1.

So the pic is my Percula which I am going to keep because I know here. She needs a tank on here own and is safe with me. She can tug and pull and jerk all she want's on everything she can find.

 

[maroun.c]

lets see some more !

 

[World Citizen]

There must be some great stories out there!

 

[IntrinsicReef]

There must be some great stories out there!

I agree. There must be some great stories, but it's a bit quiet this month. Everyone on summer vacation or what?

 

[exnisstech]

My Officially Entry.

One of four velvet survivors a few years back and also my oldest fish of 8.5 yrs.

 

[IntrinsicReef]

One of four velvet survivors a few years back and also my oldest fish of 8.5 yrs.

He's a tank. Nice photo. Did you take that with a flash or in sunlight?

 

[exnisstech]

He's a tank. Nice photo. Did you take that with a flash or in sunlight?

It was flash light. But thanks for asking. That means it wasn't a total failure lol.

 

[IntrinsicReef]

It was flash light. But thanks for asking. That means it wasn't a total failure lol.

It looks great. I like the contrast of the warm Naso colors with the blue background

 

[smitten with ocean life]

ok maybe ill try again. warning. i really stink at taking pics! this is sasquatch. a dusky jawfish. and i think my oldest fish. ive probably had him for around 5 years. hes lived thru my many mistakes, a tank transfer and a heater malfunction. i lost

a lot of stuff over the heater disaster and was terrified i had lost him too! but no, he hung on! and he has so much personality. i love how he meticulously keeps his cave all spiffy. he has to have all the shells and such just so. and dont gag. but he also cleans up his poo and spits it all outside of his cave. coolest fish ever. im limited to not having some smaller fish that i would like, because he eats them as fast as i add them. but thats ok. i wouldnt trade him for anything! in the last pic he had just snagged a piece of clam. SECOND PIC IN THIS POSTING IS NOT MY SUBMISSION