We lost the smallest fry a few days ago. That was the first since the early deaths in the first week, for 6/10 surviving overall. No idea what happened, but I’m guessing it was the runt because of hidden health problems and this probably was not a direct result of anything I did wrong. The rest have been acting perfectly fine, though so did that one before I found it dead one morning. Disappointing.
But, the remaining 6 babies seemed ready to move into the main tank anytime. They shouldn’t fit into anyone’s mouth now, and could use the extra space. I decided to go ahead and move them tonight.
Here, they’re in the small jar I’ve been using to transfer the male Endlers. It seemed like it might be better to release them into the big tank together, rather than one at a time. Toward a shaded corner with some cover, to feel more secure.
Hopefully more video upcoming, after they’ve settled in some and are less stressed. Two of them were already sitting out in the open shortly after the move, and more will hopefully come out for a meal in a while.
(Music: “Vespers” by Topher Mohr, YouTube Audio Library)
Another that I forgot to post here, from a few weeks ago.
There are some very noticeable size differences now, with a couple of them looking about half the size of some of the others. This is apparently not unusual, though.
The larger ones might be about ready to go into the main tank, but I’m thinking it’s probably better to keep them all together until everyone is big enough that I feel more comfortable moving them.
Better to play it safe, and they’re still getting extra feedings in the nursery tank. (Though down to 3-4x/day now, from the 5 or 6 starting out.)
Prickly dogfish (Oxynotus bruniensis). Look at this idiot.
Prickly dogfish are actually sharks, and we actually know very little about this species. Like, for instance, why their skin is so rough as to look furry. We do know these guys are one of the few sharks that give live birth! They’ve been found gestating up to seven pups at a time.
They live, somewhat appropriately, in the “Twilight Zone” (Mesopelagic Zone, 200-1000 meters below the surface) off the shores of Australia and New Zealand.
but don’t let the name fool you, like all sharks the prickly dogfish is smooth as hell
The new population could double the known numbers of these oddball creatures
by Briget Katz
The red handfishis a funny little critter that uses its fins to scuttle along the rocky seafloor. Dwelling exclusively in the waters off Tasmania, it is also one of the rarest fish in the world. So researchers were excited to find an entirely new population of red handfish hiding amidst Tasmania’s reefs. As Calla Wahlquist reports for the Guardian, the discovery may double the number of known red handfish.
Previously, scientists were aware of only one red handfish population of between 20 and 40 individuals, which swim along a stretch of reef in the Frederick Henry Bay. But a member of the public recently reported seeing a little handfish in a nearby area. So seven divers from the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies and the citizen science project Reef Life Survey set out to try and find these elusive marine creatures…
A large colony of garden eels sway and feed in the gentle currents off Dumaguete Philippines. Garden eels are extremely shy and harmless members of the conger eel family. They live in burrows on the sea floor and are very social creatures that form large colonies. The currents deliver a a continuous passing supply of plankton allowing the eels to feed in the comfort and safety of their sandy home. As our team approached this giant colony they quickly vanished into their burrows as if they never existed. I find these colonies to be hypnotic living gardens in the sea. Thank you to Leandro Blanco for video support. On assignment for @natgeo Philippines, Inside the Coral Triangle. #DiscoverOcean
Urocyon's Jaunts 2.0 
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