Tessa will always remember the day when she fi rst brought

home the two clownfi sh. It was her twelfth birthday and her Dad had promised that she and her older brother Tom would be able to start stocking their new marine tank as a birthday treat for her. Tessa had been counting the days to when the tank would be fully mature and ready for these fi rst fi sh occupants. However, her Dad had explained that marine aquaria keeping can be a bit tricky as marine fi sh and other marine creatures are far more sensitive to poor aquarium water conditions than, say, hardy goldfi sh and easy types of freshwater tropical fi sh so maturing the tank properly before any fi sh were added was an essential starting point.

Over the previous two weeks, the tank fully equipped with heater, fi lter and lighting and with saltwater, coral sand and live rocks added, had slowly been maturing. The live rock is easily obtained from any marine’s retailer and is natural coral rock taken from the sea in areas in the tropics where coral reefs occur. Maturing occurs when natural bacteria benefi cial to fi sh are introduced into the tank, on the rock and start to coat all of the interior surfaces inside the tank, including coral sand, fi lter and the tank walls. The whole process could have been speeded up by adding a concentrated dose of

Nutrafi n Cycle bacteria supplement which helps the aquarium to mature more quickly and allows fi sh to be added after 48 hours but Tessa’s Dad decided to leave the tank to mature more naturally using the friendly bacteria in the live rock, only, even though it took a little longer. This, he reasoned, would ensure that any small life forms which had died on the rock during collecting and transporting would, rather than pollute the tank, act as food for the growing populations of bacteria.

The two clownfi sh looked really tiny as Tessa and all the other members of the family had decided to buy tank bred clowns rather than wild caught in order to help conserve the wild clownfi sh populations of natural coral reefs. Clowns bred in captivity usually come into the shops around about three months from when they hatch and become free swimming. At this age they are usually less than two centimetres long as compared with wild caught which are normally twice this size. These tiny replicas of ‘Nemo-like’ clownfi sh (Amphiprion ocellaris) are by far the easiest to breed in captivity and now it’s possible to buy fi sh that are from parents

which have been tank bred for three or four generations and are far hardier in the aquarium than those wild caught.

As further stocking of the tank took place the two little clowns were soon provided with a large pink anemone (Heteractis magnifi ca), a favourite home in the wild for this type of clownfi sh and they soon settled down weaving and bobbing amongst the anemone’s tentacles. Tank bred clowns, even if they have never seen an anemone before, will soon become accustomed to its embracing tentacles as by just following their instincts they instantly recognise the anemone makes a wonderful protective environment for them. Anemones, of course, have venomous tentacles which they use to sting their prey (including small fi sh) so the immunity clownfi sh enjoy from these is one of the wonders of nature. The clownfi sh acquires its immunity from the otherwise deadly stinging tentacles of the anemone by two ways. First by producing a sugar-based mucus to cover its fi shy tasting natural protein body composition and secondly by also covering itself with a layer of mucus from the

anemone. This dual strategy works well as the main trigger that activates the anemone to sting is the protein based mucus covering most fi sh so the clownfi sh is not recognised as a nice meal, especially as the anemone is also equipped to avoid stinging itself by recognising its own mucus.

Tessa and Tom’s marine tank soon began to look like a real natural coral reef as the stocking reached completion. Feathery white soft corals waved in the water currents contrasting with dark red sea whips and a deep blue mantled clam which snapped shut if any of the fi sh in the tank came too close. The colourful array of fi sh included two small Yellow tangs (Zebrasoma fl avescens) a large blue Regal tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) and a shoal of 9 Green chromis (Chromis caerulea).

Tessa though only had eyes for her favourites – the cheeky little clownfi shes. She had noticed though that now one clownfi sh seemed to becoming larger than the other and following a search on the web she discovered that all clownfi shes are born one sex (male in this case) and then the larger more dominant individuals change to become female on maturity.

Spring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring Competition

anemone. This dual strategy works well as the main trigger that activates the anemone to

Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!Win!To enter the competition: Colour in the picture on the competition page, include your name, age and address and send to: Winning Team Spring 2010 Colouring Competition, Rolf C. Hagen (UK) Ltd, California Drive, Whitwood Industrial Estate, Castleford, WF10 5QH Closing date: 11th June 2009

WIN AN AUTOMATIC FISH FEEDER!Spring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionSpring Colouring CompetitionWIN AN AUTOMATIC FISH FEEDER!

Here’s your chance to WIN a Nutrafi n Nutramatic Fish Feeder

by Les Holliday sting is the protein based mucus covering most fi sh so the clownfi sh

anemone. This dual strategy works well as the main trigger that activates the anemone to

by Les HollidayBRING IN THE CLOWNSBRING IN THE CLOWNSBRING IN THE CLOWNSBRING IN THE CLOWNSBRING IN THE CLOWNSBRING IN THE CLOWNS

Rolf C. Hagen (UK) Ltd, California Drive, West Yorkshire, WF10 5QH Telephone: 01977 556622 www.hagen.com

From Hagen and Practical Fishkeeping Magazine

Rolf C. Hagen (UK) Ltd, California Drive, West Yorkshire, WF10 5QH Telephone: 01977 556622 www.hagen.com

From Hagen and Practical Fishkeeping Magazine

SPRING 2010Rolf C. Hagen (UK) Ltd, California Drive, West Yorkshire, WF10 5QH Telephone: 01977 556622 www.hagen.com

HA

GEN

& PRACTICAL FISHKEEPIN

G

TH

E WNNING T

EAM

The Winning Team NewsletterPRACTIC

HE

WNN

HA

GEN

&PR

TH

E

Continued on page 2

WoRd ScRaMbLe PuZzLe

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!

Dear Max“Dear Max,” asks 14 year old Winning Team member Max Anderson of Norwich, “can you help me to cure a problem I have with one of my goldfi sh I call ‘Goldy’. He is a fantail goldfi sh with a big round body which looks like he eats too much. Recently he has had problems with swimming upright and often tumbles forward or rests upside down on the water surface. Can he be cured of this problem as he becomes very distressed?”

Max saysGoldfi sh have been selective bred over thousands of years to produce all sorts of different varieties. Many of the twin-tailed types like your Goldy have round marble shaped bodies and are not good swimmers. Goldfi shes in this group also commonly suffer from swim bladder problems as a result of their body shape, which is far from what nature intended. Goldy seems to be suffering from a defect in his gas-fi lled swim bladder, which because of a change in its shape, makes it diffi cult for him to swim upright.

There is no cure as such for this type of swim bladder complaint although some goldfi sh experts recommend you try placing the fi sh in a shallow treatment tank and increasing the temperature by around 5oC/9oF for a short period, after which lower the temperature back to normal tank conditions. Unfortunately there is no guarantee of success using this method which works on the principal that expanding the gases in the swim bladder by water temperature increase followed by lowering the temperature will correct the condition. If Goldy is managing okay most of the time it would be perhaps better to leave things as they are and hope the condition rights itself over time.

It was plain to see that her clownfi sh were one of each sex from the difference in size and this became abundantly clear when the pair began cleaning the rock onto which their anemone was attached. A number of eggs were then laid on this nest site and the two clowns were soon busy protecting the eggs and fanning the nest with their fi ns. Unfortunately this fi rst attempt at breeding wasn’t to be successful as the baby fry were not able to survive in community tank with all of the other fi sh.

It was quite a disappointment for Tessa but she was lucky to fi nd a marines hobbyist who was an expert breeder of clownfi shes living close by. He recommended isolating Tessa’s breeding pair of clownfi sh in a separate nursery tank of 10 to 30 ltrs in size. Ocellaris clowns will spawn with or without an anemone present and it’s best to leave the eggs in the care of the parents for the incubation period, which lasts for six or seven days after spawning. The fry can then be transferred to a rearing tank or the parents removed.

Rearing the fry is the biggest challenge. Soon after hatching the yolk-sac on which the fry rely for nourishment is quickly depleted and newly hatched rotifers (Branchionus plicatilis) are used as food for the newly hatched clowns. Culture kits for these tiny micro organisms together with similar kits for raising the algae used to rear rotifers are readily available and home culture is simple. With luck by two weeks after hatching the fry will be 9 millimetres in length and able to feed on freshly hatched brine shrimp naupli. At this point they are over the critical period when most failures occur and quickly grow to maturity.

Tessa could not wait to try breeding her clowns now that she had a method that was likely to be successful. It was time therefore to save her pocket money to buy a nursery/fry rearing tank and the rotifer and algae culture kits to help in rearing the fry.

See in the next Winning Team Newsletter if Tessa achieves her goal and successfully breeds her clownfi shes and rears the fry.

A clownfi sh nestles in an anemone’s protective arms

The Angel FishFamily: CichlidaeHabitat: South AmericaType: Freshwater tropical

Instantly recognisable, the angelfi sh (Pterophyllum scalare) is one of the most popular of all tropical aquarium fi shes. This easy to keep freshwater fi sh prefers soft water in keeping with its origins in the river Amazon and its tributaries and is best kept in a shoal in a roomy deep tank, well planted but with plenty of space for swimming.

Mature angelfi sh often form into pairs and are likely to spawn, laying up to 1000 eggs on previously cleaned plant leaves. This larvae and the fry are carefully guarded by the parents who lead them around the tank in small schools once they become free swimming. Many decorative forms have evolved by selective breeding including a golden morph and decoratively marked, marbled, veil tail and half-black varieties.

General care involves maintaining a temperature of 24-28oC/75-82oF and pH of between 5.8 – 6.2. Feeding includes all types of live foods or dried food (Nutrafi n Max Complete fl ake or pellets) supplemented with lettuce and spinach. In a mixed community aquarium small fi sh like baby guppies cannot be regarded safe with adult angelfi shes.

The Angel FishFamily: Cichlidae

FISH OF THE MONTH

THE FISH WITH ALL THE ANSWERS ON YOUR FISHY PETS

It may seem obvious but the most effective way to deal with health problems with your fi sh is to prevent them rather than wait to fi nd a cure once such a dilemma arises. Treating a diseased fi sh in a stocked aquarium can be a hard nut to crack and cause quite an upheaval if medication is necessary not to mention the possible damage the treatment might have on the other fi sh and plants and friendly bacteria.

Follow these tips to prevent disease problems when purchasing fi sh.

Choose only healthy fi sh from 1. a dealer who quarantines new stock and avoid purchases from aquariums containing dead or ailing fi sh.When buying fi sh look closely 2. for telltale signs of health problems. Make sure your purchase has clear eyes, erect undamaged fi ns, no signs of damage on the body such as scales missing or red blotches, ulcers or holes and an alert, natural swimming action.Look out also for signs of 3. disease such as white spots or cottony growths on the skin and fi ns.Gills should be red on the 4. inside and not puffy and distended. Breathing should be regular and fi sh should not be gasping.Try to ascertain whether your 5. purchase is actively feeding.Buy fi sh singly or in small 6. groups with a two week interval between to allow the bacteria in the fi lter to adjust to the new additions.

A big thank you to everyone who entered our Winter competition! The winners of Marina L.E.D. Lights are:

Jodie Hodgeson (5)Won our 6 and under group, with this colourful picture.

Erika Jacques (7)Won the 7-10 year old groupwith this detailed picture

Sophie Kenmore (11)Won our 11 and over group with this pretty picture

CARING FOR POORLY FISH “COME AND JOIN US!”SAYS POND CONSERVATION

Pond Conservation wants you to become a Pond Conservation supporter and help with their work to protect the wildlife of ponds and other freshwater Initiatives like Pond Conservation’s Big Pond Dip.

An ongoing national garden and school pond survey can provide lots of information to help in deciding what shape the wildlife in your pond is and in ponds all over the country.

To take part all you need is an ordinary kitchen sieve or a Marina fi sh net and a white tray. Pond Conservation recommends you can either make your own dipping tray by sticking a sheet of white paper to an ordinary plastic or metal dish, or you can buy a specially made tray.

The next stage is to download the Big Pond Dip form which shows exactly what to record. Its then time to get dipping using your sieve and tray to check out the life in your pond using your Dip form to record simple information about your fi nds.

The fi nal step is to enter your results on the website atwww.pondconservation.org.uk

Safety First Take care around water! Children, you should never go pond

surveying on your own so always make sure you have a parent or guardian to help you. Remember also to wash your hands after pond dipping, especially before eating.

THE MILLION PONDS PROJECTPond Conservation is a national British charity dedicated

to protecting the wildlife of ponds from the countryside or deteriorating through pollution or bad management. The hope is that once again the U.K. will have over a million countryside ponds and a critical element will be that new ponds will be managed properly to ensure they will have clean water. The Pond Conservation group comment on their website (www.pondconservation.org.uk) that ‘making clean new ponds is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect freshwater wildlife.’

Some 80 or more species of pond wildlife are regarded a national priority for conservation action under the UK. Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and details of these can be found on the website together with information on creating a pond for BAP species.

FISH OF THE MONTH

SPOTTING DISEASE OR ILLNESSIf you don’t have a quarantine tank, especially keep an eye on new fi sh additions to spot disease or illness before it becomes un-treatable. Seek advice from your local supplier if any symptoms are displayed for advice on treatment.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!

Come and check out our new Winning Team Facebook page. Just search for ‘The Winning Team’ and click on Max’s picture! Make sure you click the ‘Like’ button to add us to your list.

Why not upload a fi shy picture, a photo of your aquarium or ask Max a question, he’ll get right back to you!You must be 13 or older to register on Facebook. You must ask your parent’s permission before you post anything on the internet, regardless of your age.

WINTER COMPETITION RESULTS

SPRING PUZZLE CORNERSPRING PUZZLE CORNERSPRING PUZZLE CORNERSPRING PUZZLE CORNERSPRING PUZZLE CORNERSPRING PUZZLE CORNERFind the Fish: Angel, Clown, Puffer, Wrasse, Trigger, Tang What Do You Know About Your Pets?: Q1. Whale Shark, Q2. Mosquito Fish. Q3. Piranha.

Word Scramble Puzzle: Swim Bladder Problems

SPRING PUZZLE CORNERSPRING PUZZLE CORNERSPRING PUZZLE CORNERWord Scramble Puzzle: Swim Bladder Problems

The Walrus is a large marine animal which may weigh over a tonne (2200 lbs) - that’s about the weight of 13 adult men! This male has survived many past battles.many past battles.many past battles.

We have hidden the names of six popular marine aquarium fi shes. Names can be read up and down, backwards and forwards and even corner to corner. Answers at foot of page

C L O W N W R

L O W L O R E

E W L C E A G

G N C F I S G

N I F I H S I

A U R E O E R

P R E G N A T

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR PETS?Q1. What is the largest fi sh

in the world?Q2. What is the smallest fi sh

(Clue: troublesome insect)?

Q3. South American fi sh with deadly jaws?

(Answers at foot of page)

WoRd ScRaMbLe PuZzLeWoRd ScRaMbLe PuZzLeUnscramble the words below to give the name of a common illness suffered by some types of goldfi sh.(Answer at foot of page)

WSIM DDALBRE SMELBORP

Tiddler, what shakes with fright on the sea bed?

I don’t know mum, what does shake with fright on the sea bed?

A nervous wreck of course!

TIDDLER

Find the Fish: Angel, Clown, Puffer, Wrasse, Trigger, Tang What Do You Know About Your Pets?: Q1. Whale Shark, Q2. Mosquito Fish. Q3. Piranha.

A nervous wreck of course!

Find the Fish: Angel, Clown, Puffer, Wrasse, Trigger, Tang What Do You Know About Your Pets?: Q1. Whale Shark, Q2. Mosquito Fish. Q3. Piranha.

A nervous wreck of course!