Is a electric scallop an invert

korbynlehr · #1 11/13/2006, 05:11 PM

And what do they do in the tank? I mean do they clean, filter, move around, what is their daily function? Are the okay for a reef tank?

Spracklcat · #2 11/13/2006, 05:22 PM

Yes, it is an invert. Vertebrates are things with spines, thus any animal that is spineless (insert joke here) is an invertebrate.

It is a filter feeder, though I think they don't survive for long periods in home aquaria (or at least as long as they could in the wild. They won't hurt anyone in a mixed reef tank. They generally stay in one spot once they find someplace comfortable, though they can move by shooting water.

Billsreef should chime in here--he'll know, as well as others.

Welcome aboard!

pham411 · #3 11/13/2006, 05:32 PM

mollusc?

korbynlehr · #4 11/13/2006, 05:38 PM

So since they do not live long in captivity this is something that should be avoided right?

Spracklcat · #5 11/13/2006, 07:10 PM

Mollusk, yes. You will get different opinions on flame scallops I am sure, but no, it's not something I'd buy, as attractive as they are. There's just no way to replicate their natural food sources in captivity. I've heard it suggested yous hould target feed DT's Phytoplankton or Cyclopeeze daily for any chance of success--but even then it's not so good. Best to go with another beautiful creature

korbynlehr · #6 11/13/2006, 07:20 PM

What is your avatar? Is it in your tank?

Spracklcat · #7 11/13/2006, 11:29 PM

I wish

It is a leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques), photo taken by a much better aquarist and photographer than I:

korbynlehr · #8 11/14/2006, 07:28 AM

Do they live in aquariums? THAT IS AWESOME!

Spracklcat · #9 11/14/2006, 09:37 AM

I don't know a huge amount about them, but yes, they are indeed incredible looking. They have been kepts in public aquaria for quite some time (I'm pretty sure this particular critter was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, I'll ask the photographer) but until recently there hasn't been great success keeping them in home aquaria. They get big (20"), require cooler temperatures and chillers, and are notorious for only eating live foods. Even public aquaria have to put forth a considerable amount of effort creating special tanks and environments for these guys.

korbynlehr · #10 11/14/2006, 11:15 AM

Thanks for the information.

Spracklcat · #11 11/14/2006, 11:26 AM

No problem--glad to help.

WinkeyWoneye · #12 11/15/2006, 12:29 AM

New England Aquarium (Boston) has them too. You are very accurate with your summary of them also. Boston had tried them before only to do away with them as they didnt have much success. I just went on a behind the scenes tour of NEA about 3 weeks ago. They did bring back the Sea dragons, and have done extensive research and put alot of effort into making the new suitable tank for them. They are a cooler water species, and I'm pretty sure that tank is the only tank in NEA with a chiller on it. They said they tend to stay away from chillers due to the fact you need a place to vent the hot air they create, and that would be unacceptable to be venting into the small cramped and already hot/humid work spaces they have to work with. Besides they use the natural chiller available to them....the Boston Harbor water! Here is the best pic I could get of the sea dragons at Boston, not the greatest but............
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This pic does no justice, if you want to see the true beauty and elegance of them in the water you must visit the display at NEA in person.

Spracklcat · #13 11/15/2006, 09:39 AM

Sweet--thanks for the pic! They are truly amazing.

iansilv · #14 11/16/2006, 04:05 AM

If you want to see them in full glory on display, go to the Aquarium of the pacific- in Long Beach. They breed them there.

Me No Nemo · #15 11/16/2006, 04:24 AM

These guys are fascinating, but unfortunately very rare as well. In the early 1990's In the Australian government declared the leafy sea dragon a totally protected species. They can't be taken or sold. There was a guy somewhere, the only one I've ever read about, and this was a while ago, who did have a breeding pair, but apparently he can only sell them to aquariums (educational purposes) or such and I think the price for each was about $35,000. They are very fragile, are only found in Australia I believe and are from cooler waters.

FloridaFishMan · #16 11/19/2006, 08:23 PM

I picked this baby up at a LFS...

J/k this is a photo from the GA aquarium

caynus · #17 11/20/2006, 07:42 PM

I'm an Aussie and have swum with leafy sea dragons before.
They are one of the many creatures where pictures dont do it justice. To see them floating and swimming around completely camoflaged is amazing. The male looks after the young and 'gives birth' to them out of a special stomach sac. Which is quite an amazing site.

The Sydney Darling Harbour Aquarium has a few specimens and are generally seen as the world experts on keeping them in captivity.
They are a protected species and only certified zoos, aquariums and zoological institutes are allowed to keep them.

Local fish stores sometimes appear to have collections. But from what i have read and seen they are merely a species of sea horse which has similiar but less impressive body camoflage.
Caynus

Sectoid · #18 02/24/2007, 07:35 PM

Here's a pic I took of one of them in the New England Aquarium last year. I love this pic.

poo-tang · #19 02/27/2007, 05:36 PM

we got em in chicago at the shedd...freakin awesome.