Live Coral and Saltwater Fish

Assorted Encrusting Coral Frag Pack

$ 39.99

How to Care for Encrusting Coral Frags:

(written by Dave Burr)

The corals in our assorted encrusting frag pack are easy to keep and grow well in most reef aquariums. They are a great choice for adding a splash of color to lower flow, lower light areas of your reef aquarium.

Placement: Mount the encrusting corals using IC gel glue, or putty, on an exposed rock or ledge in the lower two- thirds of the aquarium where they will receive moderate currents moderate lighting. 

Feeding: Although symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae hosted within them supply most of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis they do benefit from supplemental feedings of Oyster-Feast, mysis shrimp, or finely chopped meaty foods.

Lighting & Flow Requirements: Encrusting corals require moderate water flow and moderate lighting (PAR 150-250). T5's, Metal Halides, or LED's can all grow Corals when the proper PAR levels are provided. We recommend a 14-20K color spectrum for best coloration.

Care Level: Easy
Lighting Requirements: Low to moderate (PAR 120-250)
Water Flow: Moderate
Aggressiveness: Semi-aggressive
Range: Australia, Indo Pacific
Family: Assorted
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Water Chemistry: It is important that proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) are maintained. Raising magnesium levels gradually up to 1400-1600 ppm can help to combat algae outbreaks, just keep CA and Alk in line as you raise the Mg. Nitrates should be below 10 ppm and phosphates should be below .10 ppm. We recommend doing a water change when Nitrate levels rise to 10 ppm. It is important to replace your phosphate media when phosphates rise to .10 ppm. Media Reactors make the most efficient use of your phosphate media by fluidizing it.

Dosing: Vivid Aquariums uses and recommends dosing pumps to automate the dosing of additives and keep your levels more constant. A dosing pump can alleviate the chore of manually dosing your aquarium with Ca, Alk, & Mg 2,3, or 4 times per week and will benefit your aquarium by keeping your levels constant through frequent small additions of Ca, Alk, & Mg. Our tanks all progressed when we switched from 3 manual dosings per week to 70 automatic dosings per week and we got a lot more work done.

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ORA Lemon Damselfish - Captive Bred

$ 14.99

How to Care for Lemon Damselfish

This hardy, mild-mannered Damselfish is a great candidate for nearly any reef aquarium. Lacking most of the obnoxious personality of other Damsel species, these fish get along with others in a variety of aquatic settings. Staying quite small, our broodstock have maxed out at just 3 inches in length, making them a good choice even for smaller tanks. If you start with two young individuals you will likely end up with a pair, but they can be kept in any sized group as long as the tank is large enough. We have successfully housed the Lemon Damsel in groups with Yellowtail Blue Damsels, Sapphire Damsels and various other Clownfish species. This species will actively swim around searching crevices for potential food items. Their diet should include crustacean meat/meal and algae meals to maintain their bright yellow coloration – any of the commercially available krill-based pelleted diets, gel diets, flake foods, frozen Artemia and Mysis shrimp will be readily accepted.

The ORA Lemon Damsel is our best candidate for a “starter fish” in a newly set up aquarium.

Maximum Length: 3"
Care Level: Easy
Family: Pomacentridae
Reef Compatibility: Excellent
Minimum Aquarium Size: 30 gal.
Range: Captive Bred ORA Farms
Diet: Omnivore
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Water Chemistry: Maintaining Ammonia at 0 ppm, Nitrites at 0 ppm, and Nitrates below 10ppm will help to keep your Percula Clownfish happy and healthy. We recommend doing a water change soon after Nitrates rise above 10 ppm. Maintaining proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) will help to keep pH stable in the 8.1-8.4 range. We recommend a specific gravity of 1.024-1.026 with 1.025 being ideal for fish. Temperature should remain stable as well and should stay within a 2 degree range.

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ORA Neon Goby - Captive Bred

$ 29.99

How to Care for Neon Goby

Neon Gobies are found in Florida and the Caribbean Sea, and are one of the most recognizable and popular saltwater aquarium fish. It is well documented that this fish is a cleaner species that picks parasites and other debris from the mouth, gills and skin of larger fish. ORA frequently provides Neon Gobies in large quantities to public aquariums for disease control in their displays.  They are small fish, reaching about 2 inches in length.

Neon gobies are easy to keep in aquariums, and are especially well suited to reef tanks. They will eat small bits of frozen and dry aquarium foods although in nature they are almost exclusively parasite pickers. Normally, they are not bothered by larger fish because they are recognized as cleaners. They can fall victim to mantis shrimp, pistol shrimp and other ambush feeders sometimes present in the live rock of reef tanks.

Spawning of this species is well documented, and pairing and spawning are often observed in aquaria. This species can lay 500-800 eggs every 10 days, hatching in about 8-9 days. They spend about 25-28 days as larva until metamorphosis.

Be sure to check out the Hybrid Cleaner Goby that is produced when this fish mates with a Yellowline Goby.

Feeding: Offer the Neon Goby a mixed diet of mysis shrimp and finely chopped meaty foods 4-6 times per week. Soaking all fish food with vitamins will help keep your fish healthier and make them less susceptible to disease. We recommend soaking food in garlic as well when adding new fish and whenever your notice ich or other disease in the aquarium. Garlic will help repel external parasites and will boost the fishes immunity.

Feeding Tips: Remember to feed slowly. Leftover food will cause nitrates and phosphates to rise. If you see food falling to the sand bed and into the rocks, you should feed slower and give the fish a chance to eat before adding a little more. Using a turkey baster allows you to target food to different fish. For example you can feed the aggressive fish on one side of the tank and then squirt a little bit on the other side for the less aggressive fish. This way all the fish get a chance to eat enough.

Maximum Length: 2"
Care Level: Easy
Family: Gobiidae
Reef Compatibility: Excellent
Minimum Aquarium Size: 10 gal.
Range: Captive Bred ORA Farms
Diet: Carnivore
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Water Chemistry: Maintaining Ammonia at 0 ppm, Nitrites at 0 ppm, and Nitrates below 10ppm will help to keep your Percula Clownfish happy and healthy. We recommend doing a water change soon after Nitrates rise above 10 ppm. Maintaining proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) will help to keep pH stable in the 8.1-8.4 range. We recommend a specific gravity of 1.024-1.026 with 1.025 being ideal for fish. Temperature should remain stable as well and should stay within a 2 degree range.

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ORA Pajama Cardinal - Captive Bred

$ 29.99

How to Care for Pajama Cardinal

The Pajama Cardinal is one of the most popular marine aquarium fish, not to be confused with the similar but less-attractive Orbic Cardinal (Sphaeramia orbicularis). ORA is the first hatchery to successfully commercially breed this colorful Cardinal.

Like other Cardinals they are mouth brooders however the larvae do not develop in the mouth.  They are released upon hatch and are among the most challenging larvae we work with.  Most hobbyists assume that all Cardinals reproduce just like a Banggai Cardinal and often overlook the significance of the availability of other species.

As with most cardinals, they are generally docile in aquariums and should not be housed with overly aggressive tankmates.

They are a great fish for reef tanks, and swim freely in full view. They will eat a variety of aquarium foods including frozen foods and pellets.

Maximum Length: 3.5"
Care Level: Easy
Family: Apogonidae
Reef Compatibility: Excellent
Minimum Aquarium Size: 20 gal.
Range: Captive Bred ORA Farms
Diet: Carnivore
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Water Chemistry: Maintaining Ammonia at 0 ppm, Nitrites at 0 ppm, and Nitrates below 10ppm will help to keep your Percula Clownfish happy and healthy. We recommend doing a water change soon after Nitrates rise above 10 ppm. Maintaining proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) will help to keep pH stable in the 8.1-8.4 range. We recommend a specific gravity of 1.024-1.026 with 1.025 being ideal for fish. Temperature should remain stable as well and should stay within a 2 degree range.

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ORA Percula Clownfish - Captive Bred

$ 29.99

How to Care for Percula Clownfish

written by Dave Burr

Behavior: The Percula Clownfish is often confused with the Ocellaris Clownfish which has a similar orange and white color scheme. The easiest way to tell them apart is to remember that the Percula Clownfish has thick bands of black between his white stripes while the Ocellaris Clownfish has only a thin black line along the edge of its stripes.

As with most clownfish, the Percula Clownfish is best kept singly unless a pair is introduced together. It may attack other clownfishes and nip at passive tank-mates who wander near its host anemone or territory. Generally, it is a great fish for the reef aquarium and spends much of its time nestled peacefully in its anemone. If you plan to keep other clownfish, it is best to do it in a larger aquarium of 100 gallons or more and provide each clownfish, or pair of clownfish, with their own anemone. That way each fish has a comfortable home and quarrels will be reduced. Adding all of the clownfish at the same time will also help to reduce territorial disputes.

Symbiotic Relationship: The Percula Clownfish does not require a host anemone for survival; however it is a real treat for any hobbyist to observe the symbiotic relationship between the clownfish and its host anemone. The anemone provides a safe haven for the clownfish because its tentacles will inflict a painful sting on all but other clownfish. The clownfish, in return, chases off fish that threaten to pick at the anemone and brings it scraps of food. The Percula Clownfish prefers the Long Tentacle Anemone, Rose Bubble Tip Anemone, or Bubble Tip Anemone.

Feeding: Offer the Percula Clownfish mysis shrimp and frozen herbivore preparations 4-5 times per week. Their diet consists mostly of meaty foods, however they will accept some algae based foods as well. Soaking all fish food with vitamins will help keep your fish healthier and make them less susceptible to disease. We recommend soaking food in garlic as well when adding new fish and whenever your notice ich or other disease in the aquarium. Garlic will help repel external parasites and will boost the fishes immunity.

Feeding Tips: Remember to feed slowly. Leftover food will cause nitrates and phosphates to rise. If you see food falling to the sand bed and into the rocks, you should feed slower and give the fish a chance to eat before adding a little more. Using a turkey baster allows you to target food to different fish. For example you can feed the aggressive fish on one side of the tank and then squirt a little bit on the other side for the less aggressive fish. This way all the fish get a chance to eat enough.

Maximum Length: 3"
Care Level: Easy
Family: Pomacentridae
Reef Compatibility: Excellent
Minimum Aquarium Size: 30 gal.
Range: Indo Pacific, Australia, Solomon Islands
Diet: Omnivore
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Water Chemistry: Maintaining Ammonia at 0 ppm, Nitrites at 0 ppm, and Nitrates below 10ppm will help to keep your Percula Clownfish happy and healthy. We recommend doing a water change soon after Nitrates rise above 10 ppm. Maintaining proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) will help to keep pH stable in the 8.1-8.4 range. We recommend a specific gravity of 1.024-1.026 with 1.025 being ideal for fish. Temperature should remain stable as well and should stay within a 2 degree range.

Video

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ORA Striped Blenny - Captive Bred

$ 39.99

How to Care for Striped Blenny

Meiacanthus grammistes is a Fang Blenny species that ranges in the Western Pacific from Indochina to Papua New Guinea, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to Australia.  They have a yellow head and alternating black and white stripes that end in dots towards the tail. These beautiful Fang Blennies attain a maximum length of 4.5” in the wild, although in the aquarium they will mostly grow to 3.5”.

All Fang Blennies have high metabolisms and should be fed small amounts at least 2-3 times a day. They will accept a wide assortment of prepared foods and make themselves visible in the water column most of the time. The Striped Blenny should be provided with ample rockwork in which to hunt and hide when threatened.

In the wild they’re usually solitary and they’re often peaceful towards tankmates unless presented with conspecifics or similar looking fish.

Maximum Length: 4.5"
Care Level: Moderate
Family: Blenniidae
Reef Compatibility: Excellent
Minimum Aquarium Size: 30 gal.
Range: Indo Pacific, Australia, Solomon Islands
Diet: Omnivore
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Water Chemistry: Maintaining Ammonia at 0 ppm, Nitrites at 0 ppm, and Nitrates below 10ppm will help to keep your Percula Clownfish happy and healthy. We recommend doing a water change soon after Nitrates rise above 10 ppm. Maintaining proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) will help to keep pH stable in the 8.1-8.4 range. We recommend a specific gravity of 1.024-1.026 with 1.025 being ideal for fish. Temperature should remain stable as well and should stay within a 2 degree range.

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ORA Watchman Goby - Captive Bred

$ 29.99

How to Care for Watchman Goby

Yellow Watchman Gobies are fascinating reef fish. The Watchman name comes from their symbiotic relationship with pistol shrimp. The gobies are the lookouts and the shrimp are the burrow diggers/keepers. While the shrimp is digging it keeps one antenna on the fish’s tail. When a predator approaches, the goby wiggles its tail as a warning and the fish and shrimp duck into their shared burrow.

Each of the Watchman Goby’s eyes move independently which allows them to see predators approaching from behind. Their charming faces sport a perpetual pout. They usually have beautiful golden yellow bodies with small turquoise dots around the head and dorsal area. It is not easy to distinguish a male from a female but there is some speculation that the females are normally grayer in color.

Alas, the Yellow Watchman juveniles that we offer are not always yellow. They are typically a beautiful shade of steel blue. We’re not quite sure if this is an environmental influence or a sexual phase.

Watchman Gobies are peaceful with other fish but may fight with each other as they mature. They are easy to feed, and readily take frozen mysis and brine shrimp as well as pellets.

Feeding: Offer the Watchman Goby a mixed diet of mysis shrimp and finely chopped meaty foods 4-6 times per week. Soaking all fish food with vitamins will help keep your fish healthier and make them less susceptible to disease. We recommend soaking food in garlic as well when adding new fish and whenever your notice ich or other disease in the aquarium. Garlic will help repel external parasites and will boost the fishes immunity.

Feeding Tips: Remember to feed slowly. Leftover food will cause nitrates and phosphates to rise. If you see food falling to the sand bed and into the rocks, you should feed slower and give the fish a chance to eat before adding a little more. Using a turkey baster allows you to target food to different fish. For example you can feed the aggressive fish on one side of the tank and then squirt a little bit on the other side for the less aggressive fish. This way all the fish get a chance to eat enough.

Maximum Length: 4"
Care Level: Easy
Family: Gobiidae
Reef Compatibility: Excellent
Minimum Aquarium Size: 10 gal.
Range: Captive Bred ORA Farms
Diet: Carnivore
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Water Chemistry: Maintaining Ammonia at 0 ppm, Nitrites at 0 ppm, and Nitrates below 10ppm will help to keep your Percula Clownfish happy and healthy. We recommend doing a water change soon after Nitrates rise above 10 ppm. Maintaining proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) will help to keep pH stable in the 8.1-8.4 range. We recommend a specific gravity of 1.024-1.026 with 1.025 being ideal for fish. Temperature should remain stable as well and should stay within a 2 degree range.

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