The Aquarium

This fish breeds between May and June. During this period, the male has white wattles (pustules) on the it ad. The female lays enormous quantities of small eggs (100 to 300,000) that cling to the vegetation of the territory of the males. Spawning is noisy and causes splashes.

This damselfish lives in shallow waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It feeds on algae and small invertebrates, and is recognized by its 5 black vertical stripes and the fluorescent yellow band under its dorsal fin.

The convict surgeonfish are common inhabitants of the lagoons and seagrass beds of the Indo-Pacific region. Fond of filamentous algae, these herbivorous fish are often found in mangroves and estuaries, at the edge of freshwater. They are easily recognizable by their vertical black stripes.

With an adult size that can exceed 70 cm, the yellowfin surgeonfish is one of the largest fish in its family. This species is found from the coasts of East Africa to the Galápagos Islands. It mainly feeds on diatoms, algae that make up plankton.

The skeleton of this sturgeon is made of cartilage. it barbs, on the front of it mouth, allow it to search for food in the sand. As it is the case for the larger species (beluga, Sevruga ...), its eggs are used for the production of caviar.

The European sturgeon is a migratory fish. The eggs are collected before they mature, they are used for the production of caviar. The sturgeon disappeared from many European rivers because of fishing and the construction of dams. For several years, it was raised in captivity in many countries.

This small fish detects alarm substances emitted by previous preys of a pike. This allows it to determine whether the predator is fasting or not. Breeding occurs from May to July. This species is frequently used as live bait to catch big fish (pike, perch).

Unlike its famous cousin from the movie Finding Nemo, this tomato clownfish is reddish with a darker body. It has a single white vertical stripe just behind the eye. Young individuals have one to two additional stripes which they lose as they grow.

This fish lives in a sea anemone. When two individuals move into the anemone, the dominant grows faster and becomes female. The pair become aggressive towards other clownfish, but they tolerate the presence of some invertebrates (shrimp, crab).

The European eel, A. anguilla, is a freshwater fish native to Europe. Abundant until the 1980s, it has been severely affected by overfishing. It is considered a critically endangered species in France and several neighboring countries.

It is found between 30 and 200 meters deep. It lives near cavities where it takes refuge in case of danger. The male has large pectoral fins and is surrounded by a harem of a dozen females. If it dies, the dominant female becomes a male (protogynous hermaphroditism).

Fertilization is internal. The male uses its anal fin to fertilize the female. The latter deposits a packet of eggs that the male will keep in the mouth until hatching. During the period, it does not eat and can starve to death if it has not accumulated enough reserves.

The body of this fish is almost completely covered with small spines. It can swell with water and triple in size to impress predators. Its flesh is toxic. In the aquarium, it is very voracious and grows rapidly. It can damage, with a bite, the decors, pipes, diffusers ...

It owes its name of "freshwater shark" only to the shape of its dorsal fin. It behavior and it food have nothing comparable. It acclimates easily to the aquarium.

Reproduction of this species occurs from May to July. The female, larger, is "courted" by several males. Its toxic eggs were traditionally used as an emetic. This fish is threatened by human activities (pollution, habitat degradation ...). Reintroduction operations are regularly carried out in the rivers of Wallonia.

The female has a broader abdomen than the male. To escape predators, it can make impressive leaps out of the water and "fly" by using its pectoral fins. That is why it is recommended to keep it in a covered aquarium.

The bicolor angelfish is a tropical fish found throughout much of the Indo-Pacific region. It is easily recognizable by its bicolor pattern, bright yellow on top, followed by blue. This omnivore frequents lagoons and protected reef slopes, either as a pair or in small scattered groups.

The coral beauty angelfish is always born female. As they grow, individuals change their sex to become male, a phenomenon known as protogynous sequential hermaphroditism. The difference between male and female is therefore visible. The adult male is larger and has an anal fin ending in a point.