Scott Fellman
Taking It One Species At a Time- The Joys of the "Single Species" Aquarium
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, 10-29-2011 at 03:10 AM (5142 Views)
Hey, kids- look! I’m not bashing something this week! Instead, I’ll try to convince you to try something a little different for your next aquarium!
If you’ve read my ramblings before, or have seen one of my talks, you know that I’m always trying to push you to create aquariums that are a bit out of the ordinary. So- how about a system based on the needs of just one animal? What would you keep if you could just keep one species of coral, invertebrate, or fish? Would you even be able to do it? Us “Postmodern” reefers have pretty short attention spans, huh? We like variety, we like diversity, and we like action! It seems that, short of hobbyists who breed certain fishes, you rarely see anyone keeping a tank devoted to just one species.
Imagine how cool it would be if you create a tank with just a large group of say, Gramma loreto, Chromis viridis, Assesor flavissimus, or some other species of fish that does well in groups. Not only would you really get to know your animals, you might be more likely to unlock some secrets about their husbandry and behavior that you can share with others. Sure, you might be known to some as “The kook with 200 Citron Gobies”, but you’ll probably know more about that species than just about anyone else out there!
There are a number of benefits to keeping a dedicated species aquarium. The fishes will not have to deal with the competitive stresses caused by the presence of others, They will be more likely to develop a natural social structure, feeding habits, and reproductive behaviors than they will in a typical captive “community” situation. It will become much easier to develop a “baseline” behavioral model for them. Deviations from what you will come to recognize as “normal” for the species will be readily apparent and obvious over time.
These days, breeding marine fishes is not only a fascinating specialty, it may be the key to survival for many fishes in the hobby, as wild collection becomes less and less sustainable for many. You hear it everywhere from hobbyists more familiar with this dynamic than I, but captive propagation is truly the future of the hobby. By devoting a tank to one species, and possibly creating conditions conducive to their reproduction, you’re potentially taking the first steps towards reducing the pressures off of wild populations, so that we’ll be able to enjoy them for generations to come.
Ok, so I’ve babbled about some reasons why you might want to try a monospecific aquarium, but what about some reasons that you might not want to? Well, could you handle looking at a tank of 14 Calloplesiops altivelis every day, while your buddies are rocking their community tanks with the latest trendy Fairy Wrasse or deepwater Basslet that they outbid some wealthy Japanese collector to land? Could you tolerate that you’re the only reefer in your local club who gets excited by the feeding behaviors of the Ocellated Dragonet? Let’s face it, there is a certain isolation those of us whom embrace the arcane feel. You’ll just have to gain satisfaction from the knowledge that comes from being the only one doing something.
In the end, it’s just another way to run a reef tank- one of many possible concepts you can try for interest, aesthetics- and just maybe- a chance to bring about the next hobby breakthrough! So here’s to you and your bravery as you take the “road less travelled!” See you en route.
Until next time…
Stay Wet
Scott Fellman
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