Coldwater North Atlantic Marine Tank

[SkiFletch]

Heh, only time I went fishing around your area SH I pulled up lots of Flounder and spider crabs. Too bad they're prolly too big for your tank

 

[nmonks]

steelhealr --

I'd skip Asterias rubens; while hardy enough in a cold tank, it doesn't do very well at room temperature. Far better is Asterina gibbosa, a corpse-green cushion star that is extremely hardy. Not sure if you have that species in the US; it is common as heck in rock pools and the like, but its small size (couple of inches across) mean that it isn't always obvious. It isn't so large as the common starfish either, and considerably less predatory, too.

Otherwise your list looks good. Tompot blennies are large and predatory though, so watch those. Shannies are superb fish for any aquarium. If you can contrive some "above the waterline" rocks, you'll see them jump out to cool down in summer. Very cute and unexpected for a fish I suppose.

Cheers, Neale

 

[steelhealr]

And, indeed Neale...you are totally right and already keeping me on my toes.

Coldwater Corals

• Lophelia pertusa, found at great depth
• Caryphyllia smithii, indeed, the Devonshire Cup Coral, which looks like an anemone but is actually a coral
• Paramuricea placomus, off the coast of Norway
• Paragorgia arborea, off US/Canada
• Primnoa resedaeformis...off US/Canada
• Oculina varicosae, ivory tree coral, off the coast of Florida
• Gorgonocephalus caputmedusae, Gorgon's head coral, off of Norway

SH

 

[nmonks]

I can tell a story about this species. When I was at Aberdeen University, I looked after a couple of 200 gallon display tanks in the zoology building foyer. While rummaging about in a store room I came across a couple of dusty old heads of coral. I cleaned 'em up and stuck them in one of the tanks. A few months later there was a big fuss because some nationally important zoological specimens had gone missing. Apparently among the first specimens of an ultra-rare deep-water British coral dating to the beginning of deep sea research. No-one could find them. Of course, you know where they are -- those are the ones I'd put in the aquarium! In front of everyone's eyes of course, but no-one had noticed them!

Cheers, Neale

• Lophelia pertusa, found at great depth

 

[steelhealr]

It might be fun this weekend to wander around the shore and see what gives. Great anecdote Neale...I'll bet they were scratching their heads for a bit. LOL. SH

 

[steelhealr]

Homing in a little closer to home. These are creatures of the Long Island Sound and it's watershed. Not all creatures here would be suitable, simply starting to list some of the locals.

Fish

• White Spotted Filefish -- Cantherhines macrocerus
• Porcupine Pufferfish -- Didon hystrix
• Oyster Toadfish -- Opsanus tau
• Striped Bass -- Morone saxatitis
• Scup -- Stenotomus chrysops
• Winter Flounder -- Scophthalmus aquasus
• Sea Robin -- Prinotus carolinus
• Mummichog -- Fudulus heteroclitus
• Cunner -- Tautogolabrus adspersus
• Cunner -- Tautogolabrus adspersus
• Sculpin -- Myoxocephalus scorpius
• Black Sea Bass -- Centropristis striata
• Tautog -- Tautoga onitis
• Lined Seahorse -- Hippocampus erectus
• Northern Pipefish -- Syngnathus fuscus

Crustaceans

• Atlantic HorseShoe Crab -- Limulus polyphemus
• Northern Lobster -- Homarus americanus
• Asian Shore Crab -- Hemigrapsus sanguineus
• Green Crab -- Carcinus maenas
• Flat-Clawed Hermit Crab -- Pagurus pollicaris
• Long-Clawed Hermit Crab -- Pagurus longicarpus
• Atlantic Mud Crab -- Panopeus herbstii
• Rock Crab -- Cancer irroratus
• Spider Crab -- Libinia emarginata

Echinoderms

• Purple Sea Urchin -- Arbacia punctulata
• Asteriid Sea Starfish -- Asterias forbesii

Mollusks

• Northern Quahog -- Mercenaria mercenaria
• Periwinkle -- Littorina littorea
• Ribbed Mussels -- Geukensia demissa
• Transverse Arc -- Anadara transversa

Reptiles

• DiamondBack-Terrapin -- Malaclemys terrapin

Whew. SH

 

[nckate]

Oyster toadfish can tolerate higher temps -- I caught one (in a seine net) in a southeastern NC salt marsh years ago. In July.

But dear lord, are they ugly!

(ahh, summer camp memories ...)

 

[steelhealr]

Mummichog -- Fundulus heteroclitus, seems small and tolerates wide temp swings:

Mummichog

I am researching to see if there are local tidepool areas for collection.

SH

 

[Miss Wiggle]

sounds really interesting, my dad said he kept a 'rock pool tank' about 40 years ago, would probably now be called a nano coldwater brackish/marine set up. he said it was great, one of his most rewarding set up's. it's as close as he ever got to keeping marine and it was when he lived near the beach, think he just went and got a couple of buckets of sea water for water changes and stuff.

anyway it looks really interesting SH, i'll be interested to see what you come up with

 

[Mr Miagi]

I have a single Pico running temperate. I do collect specimens found around here in the temperate regions, but as mentioned, rcok pool specimens make for highly adapting creatures. They should do well in varying temps and salinities. I have no heater, dont feed, and dont clean my small pico. It contains a Mushroom (which has grown), rock pool shrimp, and macro-algae. I look forward to hearing how you get on.

 

[steelhealr]

I fired off the following email today to a large 4 year University Center here on L.I.

Hi Dr. XXX....I am a year old physician here on Long Island and an 'XX alumnus of XXX and founder of the Lacrosse program there. I hope you can direct my email to either a student or interested faculty member. I am a moderator on a large fish forum and I am interested in starting a marine tank with a local biotope if possible, i.e. , a coldwater marine tank with locals from Long Island. I don't want to violate any collection restrictions or violate any state or federal laws. Do you know of any students or faculty on your staff who could point me in the right direction re: areas on Long Island to collect specimens that are legal and not threatened? what specimens might do well?

I thank you for your time and consideration.

SH

 

[steelhealr]

Wow...rapid response:

Dear steelhealr,

Our marine lab manager, Cap'n Ahab, is an expert on how and where to
collect local species. I am copying him on this message. He will respond to
your questions. You can call him at 555-5555.

Thanks.

Mr. Prez, Dean and Director
Marine Sciences Research Center
XXX University

 

[Danno]

Where on Long Island do you think your going to catch fish/inverts? Or are ya going to go more north?