Where can I get the RPI Reef Fish Guide?
Where can I provide feedback or suggestions to RPI?
How were the species for the RPI Reef Fish Guide selected?
Why is the “website companion” incomplete?
Are all the fish on the “Take it Home” list compatible with one another?
What are some other good sites to learn more about the marine aquarium hobby?
I’ve seen Banggai cardinalfish at my local fish store; why are they on the “Keep it Wild” list?
Where can I get the RPI Reef Fish Guide?
You can download a printable version here or you may check your local public aquarium, local pet store or complete our contact form to make a request for copies in the mail. (update - we have run out of printed versions of the Reef Fish Guide and are currently seeking funding for a second printing. If you would like to contribute to this effort, please make a donation).
Where can I provide feedback or suggestions to RPI?
Easy, by contacting us . RPI values your opinion and will do our best to utilize your feedback in future updates to the Reef Fish Guide and the website companion.
How were the species for the RPI Reef Fish Guide selected?
The marine aquarium trade has little or no institutional mechanisms that mandate reliable data collection. This makes it difficult for us to assess important variables like mortality, population levels and even collection methods are not always reported. The good news is that hobbyists have been keeping track of their successes and failures for decades. As a result, many books and articles have been published that provide excellent insight into perhaps the most important criteria of all for the responsible hobbyist - survivability in the home aquarium. The methodology RPI used to determine the two lists for the Reef Fish Guide were based on answering questions from the following four criteria:
- Survivability
- Abundance/productivity (to gauge population and potential for sustainable collection)
- Captive bred/reared availability and potential
- Collection Methods
To view the list of sources for the Reef Fish Guide, click here
I see many fish at my local fish store that is not on the RPI Reef Fish Guide, are they okay to purchase for my home aquarium?
There are nearly 1,500 species of coral reef fish that have been collected for the marine aquarium trade! Obviously, the Reef Fish Guide is unable to include all these fish in something designed to fit in your pocket. RPI took a sample of the most commonly seen fish to provide a useful and comprehensive tool that you may use to make coral reef fish purchases. The 29 entries on the Reef Fish Guide represents over 250 individual species, which correspond to the majority of coral reef fish one might encounter at the local fish store. Over time, RPI will add more fish to the "website companion" that will expand the "Take it Home" and "Keep it Wild" lists found on the Reef Fish Guide. In the meantime, here are some books RPI recommends to help with coral reef fish choices:
Fenner, Robert M. The Conscientious Marine Aquarist. TFH Publications. 1997.
Michael, Scott. Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species. Microcosm Ltd. 1999.
Nilsen, Alf Jacob and Fossa, Svein A. Reef Secrets: Starting Right, Selecting Fishes & Invertebrates,
Advanced Biotope Techniques. TFH Publications. 2003.
Paletta, Michael S. (et al). The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide.
TFH Publications. 1999.
Tullock, John H. Natural Reef Aquariums: Simplified Approaches to Creating Living Saltwater Microcosms. TFH Publications. 1997.
Your local marine fish retailer may also be a good source for this type of information. .
Why is the “website companion” incomplete?
The "website companion" is a work in progress. We will eventually fill out the balance of fish from the Reef Fish Guide for the website companion. And, since RPI is operated by volunteers, sometimes it can be difficult to to find adequate resources to do all that we aspire to do. If you would like to help, please consider a donation or working as a volunteer.
Are all the fish on the “Take it Home” list compatible with one another?Are all the fish on the “Take it Home” list compatible with one another?
This is a very good question. The short answer is "no." Coral reef fish all have different temperaments and it is important to understand how each fish reacts with one another in the wild to ensure that all your aquarium pets may co-exist with one another. For example, damselfishes are very territorial and some may not get along with other damselfishes in the same aquarium.
Eventually, information about compatibility will be included on the RPI website. For the time being, we encourage you to use the books referenced above to make sure your fish choices will work well in your home aquarium. Another good source of this type of information is to consult with a local, trustworthy pet store that sells marine fish.
I have heard that many coral reef fish are collected using “cyanide.” What is this and why is it bad?
Sodium Cyanide (NaCN) is a common chemical used in metal plating and chemical applications such as dyes and pharmaceuticals. It is also used in the gold mining industry to extract gold from gold bearing ore. In the marine aquarium trade, cyanide is used, to stun and capture fish. Cyanide collection is a technique used primarily by collectors in the Philippines and Indonesia. The preferred method of collection is to use hand nets. Fortunately, in areas such as Florida, Hawaii, South America and the Maldives, specimens are collected using nets. The use of hand nets is much safer on the fish, the surrounding coral reef, and increases the likelihood that the fish will survive the shipping process.
Collecting aquarium fish using cyanide is a wasteful and fatal practice — both to the target fish and non-target coral reef community. Nearly all fish caught using cyanide eventually perish; due to their immune systems being devastated by the toxic chemical. Organizations like the Marine Aquarium Council are working with collection communities and exporters to reduce and eliminate the use of cyanide in the marine aquarium trade. By purchasing fish recommended on the “Take it Home” list, you can help reduce the number of fish caught using this destructive method.
I love butterflyfishes and see they are indicated as “Keep it Wild” on the RPI Reef Fish Guide. What does “corallivorous” mean and why should I avoid these fish?
Many butterflyfishes feed only on the individual coral polyps that make up a living coral, thus the term “corallivorous,” meaning “coral eating.” Butterflyfishes cover large areas to feed, which minimizes their impact on corals by eating only a small amount which allows corals to regrow. This is called a ‘feeding strategy." Corallivorous butterflyfishes will rarely eat commercially available food (i.e. flakes, pellets, etc.). Even though public aquariums have displays large enough to support adequate populations of living coral, it is nearly impossible to replicate an environment that can support this type of feeding strategy in the home aquarium. Because most home aquariums are small(er) and can only support a limited amount of living coral, the majority of corallivorous butterflyfishes starve, and eventually die.
What are some other good sites to learn more about the marine aquarium hobby?
There are many sources of information on the internet where one can learn more about the hobby. RPI recommends visiting the following sites for more useful information:
Another great source of information is your local hobbyist club. To find a hobbyist club near you, visit the
Marine Aquarium Societies of North America website.
I’m interested in setting up a reef aquarium and am wondering what the right choices are for live coral and other animals for this type of system.
Setting up a reef aquarium is a natural progression for any marine hobbyist. The ability to replicate a living coral reef in one’s home is an amazing and challenging endeavor. As with fish, most live coral and other reef species are also collected from reefs in the wild. As with fish, these animals are also affected by harmful collection techniques and mortality in shipping. And, as with fish, some species of live coral and other invertebrates are inappropriate for the home aquarium.
In the near future, RPI will create tools to help provide people with responsible buying choices for these animals as well. Many species of live coral can now be cultivated in captivity and are widely available in the consumer market. Until buying choices are available for these species, RPI recommends that your best bet
is to buy live coral, invertebrates (shrimps, etc) and live rock that are propagated in captivity.
I have a fish that has outgrown my tank and is also acting aggressively towards other tankmates and I no longer want it — what should I do with it?
This is a big problem as most hobbyists have little idea as to how big a fish may get once it reaches adult size. The RPI Reef Fish Guide includes fish on the "Keep it Wild" list that should be avoided for this very reason (i.e. Panther grouper, etc).
If you have a fish that you no longer want in your aquarium, please call your local fish store and ask them if they would be willing to take it off your hands. Depending on their ability to sell it, they may even be willing to offer you some compensation in trade at the store. If the retailer is not able to take the fish, ask them if they could recommend someone who may have a large enough aquarium to accept your fish. Another idea is to post a classified advertisement (i.e. on craigslist or your local newspaper) offering the fish to a good home.
Many people believe that their local public aquarium will accept fish from the public. This is not always true as all public aquariums are required to follow strict guidelines for specimens on display and the majority of fish kept in home aquariums are not acceptable under the rules.
The best thing to do is avoid buying fish that will outgrow your aquarium. FIND OUT how big the fish will be at adult size and plan accordingly. Whatever you do, DO NOT release the fish into the ocean, rivers or lakes!
I’ve seen Banggai cardinalfish at my local fish store; why are they on the “Keep it Wild” list?
The population of Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) in the wild has declined dramatically due to collection for the marine aquarium trade. In addition, it has been well-documented wild collected specimens have had very low survivability in the recent past. Because of these reasons, RPI believes that it is imperative to make wild-collected Banggai cardinalfish an entry on the "Keep it Wild" list.
Commercial captive-breeding of the Banggai cardinalfish is increasing and captive-bred specimens are becoming more widely available at pet stores around the country. Captive-bred specimens make great candidates to "take home" as they are born and bred in captivity. Not only will they typically make hardier pets for your home aquarium, but by purchasing captive-bred specimens, you will contribute to coral reef conservation.
Reef Protection International © 2008