Izuzuki Diver, Satoshi Yamamoto, Japan
Info
Helcogramma fuscopinna is the only member of the Helcogramma fuscopinna complex (a complex of 11 species described by Williams & McCormick (1990) and Williams & Howe (2003), occurring throughout the Indo-western Pacific Ocean) found in the western Indian Ocean
Helcogramma fuscopinna is a resident of wave-swept reef margins and is often found on rocks and under ledges.
Males of this species have an orange-pink body, scales with a row of small melanophores along the posterior margin, and small, dark rosettes scattered over the body, generally more densely below the midline.
Darkly pigmented specimens (sexually mature males) with 5 or 6 grayish-white spots studded above and below the midline with small melanophores that may form a faint, vertical banding or narrow, dark triangular spots, apex upward, along the ventral half of the body.
The head shows a broad black band extending from the mouth, below the eye, across the operculum and pectoral fin base, the throat is without color but with densely arranged melanophores extending to the venter, along the anal fin, and to the base of the caudal peduncle.
A distinct blue-white line with very fine speckles from the upper lip, running below the eye on the operculum, is well recognizable.
First dorsal fin dark mottled to almost black, second dorsal fin dark to black, often with darker margins, third dorsal fin dark to black.
Anal fin uniformly dark to black, pelvic fins finely speckled, darker basally.
Ventral rays of pectoral fins dark, caudal fin with uneven dark markings, mostly on membranes.
Females and immature specimens range from pale pinkish-orange with few melanophores to paler versions of the large males, but without the strong black on the lower half of the face.
Large females also have a blue-white line with micro-melanophores under the eye.
Adult males and large females are easily distinguished from all other species by the blue-white line that extends from the center of the upper lip across the eye to the operculum. Individuals of all sizes also generally have uniform dark to black median fins not found in any other species.
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".
Helcogramma fuscopinna is a resident of wave-swept reef margins and is often found on rocks and under ledges.
Males of this species have an orange-pink body, scales with a row of small melanophores along the posterior margin, and small, dark rosettes scattered over the body, generally more densely below the midline.
Darkly pigmented specimens (sexually mature males) with 5 or 6 grayish-white spots studded above and below the midline with small melanophores that may form a faint, vertical banding or narrow, dark triangular spots, apex upward, along the ventral half of the body.
The head shows a broad black band extending from the mouth, below the eye, across the operculum and pectoral fin base, the throat is without color but with densely arranged melanophores extending to the venter, along the anal fin, and to the base of the caudal peduncle.
A distinct blue-white line with very fine speckles from the upper lip, running below the eye on the operculum, is well recognizable.
First dorsal fin dark mottled to almost black, second dorsal fin dark to black, often with darker margins, third dorsal fin dark to black.
Anal fin uniformly dark to black, pelvic fins finely speckled, darker basally.
Ventral rays of pectoral fins dark, caudal fin with uneven dark markings, mostly on membranes.
Females and immature specimens range from pale pinkish-orange with few melanophores to paler versions of the large males, but without the strong black on the lower half of the face.
Large females also have a blue-white line with micro-melanophores under the eye.
Adult males and large females are easily distinguished from all other species by the blue-white line that extends from the center of the upper lip across the eye to the operculum. Individuals of all sizes also generally have uniform dark to black median fins not found in any other species.
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".
