Chessmanmark
Well-Known Member
Decades ago I was walking through the aisles of the LFS store checking out fresh water fish when I came to a tank with blue damsels lit by PC lighting.
I had a moment.
What was that?
It took fish keeping to a newlevel.
From the blue damsel, to the clownfish, to the yellow tang. How many of us followed that progression stocking up our tanks with the most colorful fish? Bright colors are a huge attraction in this hobby.
Then it continues with the corals. We are a hobby obsessed with colors and florescence.
But if you are in this hobby long enough you start looking at marine life differently.
I have three, less colorful, more camouflaged fish in my tank right now that I love. I wouldn’t have given them a second look years ago, but now I can appreciate them.
My first is what I believe is a female yellow watchman goby. It’s not yellow, but more brown and white. It paired up instantly with a pistol shrimp and can be quite amusing.
The second fish I acquired is an aiptasia eating file fish. You have to really look for this fish. You can often find it swaying with the current in a Sinularia coral. It blends in and can be mistaken for the coral.
Recently I bought a Scopas tang. It’s basically a yellow tang (Zebrasoma), but it has black fins, a white face, and a shimmer of yellow from the body under white lights.
One more fish I had years ago was an lawnmower Blenny. When people came over they loved looking for “Waldo.” He was often hiding in plain sight.
So, how do you feel about these “dull” fish. What they lack in color they often make up
in personality.
Do you have any in your tank? What’s your favorite?
I had a moment.
What was that?
It took fish keeping to a newlevel.
From the blue damsel, to the clownfish, to the yellow tang. How many of us followed that progression stocking up our tanks with the most colorful fish? Bright colors are a huge attraction in this hobby.
Then it continues with the corals. We are a hobby obsessed with colors and florescence.
But if you are in this hobby long enough you start looking at marine life differently.
I have three, less colorful, more camouflaged fish in my tank right now that I love. I wouldn’t have given them a second look years ago, but now I can appreciate them.
My first is what I believe is a female yellow watchman goby. It’s not yellow, but more brown and white. It paired up instantly with a pistol shrimp and can be quite amusing.
The second fish I acquired is an aiptasia eating file fish. You have to really look for this fish. You can often find it swaying with the current in a Sinularia coral. It blends in and can be mistaken for the coral.
Recently I bought a Scopas tang. It’s basically a yellow tang (Zebrasoma), but it has black fins, a white face, and a shimmer of yellow from the body under white lights.
One more fish I had years ago was an lawnmower Blenny. When people came over they loved looking for “Waldo.” He was often hiding in plain sight.
So, how do you feel about these “dull” fish. What they lack in color they often make up
in personality.
Do you have any in your tank? What’s your favorite?
