Web hosting Custom Email SiteBuilder

Cod, Gadus morhua

The Cod, G. morhua is probably one of most common fish in the North European waters. Belonging to the order Gadiformes family GADIDAE. It has an elongate body, with small cycloid scales and a barbel on its lower jaw. It is mottled golden brown above, the lateral line and belly is white. Up to 150 cm (60 inches) and approximately 25 kilograms. Keeping the cod in an aquarium requires cooling. Representatives of this species should not be too large, partly from a well-being objective, but also due to the fact, that if they thrive they'll eat anything, including smaller members of the same species.

Sandgoby, Pomatoschistus minutus

The Sandgoby, P. minutus belongs to the order Perciformes family GOBIIDAE. It's fusiform body is covered with small ctenoid scales which extend to the head. It has two dorsal fins and an anal fin with three spines. Its pelvic fins are thoracic, with one spine and five rays. It has a small head, approximately one fourth of its total length, with a protrusable mouth. It is sandy brown above, with darker specles. First dorsal fin often with a dark spot on its posterior. It is found inshore on soft bottoms and sandy shores from 2-200 meters depth, and can grow to 11 cm. In the summer, the male lures the female into an empty seashell, where she lays her eggs. The male guards them for a week, until the 3 mm fry emerge from the eggs. The fry are pelagic until they become approximately 2 cm. Requires cooling during hot periods.

Bull rout, Myoxocephalus scorpius

The Bull rout, M. scorpius is a member of the order Scorpaen iformes family COTTIDAE and is also known as the "Father lasher". Its preoperculum (flat bone constituting gill cover) has two posterior spines. Its skin is smooth, and its lateral line is unarmoured, but usually with small spiny plates above and below it. Lives inshore and in shallow water. It is light brown with bark bands and blotches with a white belly. Up to app. 30 cm, in arctic areas up to 60 cm. Lives between rocks and plants from very shallow water to 200 meters depth. During mating, the female is held by the males ventral and pelvic fins. The female lays up to 2.500 eggs which the male guards, until they hatch 5 weeks later. The larvae are pelagic until they are 15 millimeters long.

Greater weaver, Trachinus draco

The Greater weaver, T. draco belongs to the order Perciformes family TRACHINIDAE and is a benthic species with an elongate compressed body and an oblique mouth. The dorsal fin is short and spiny with black membrane covering. Its scales are small cycloid ones arranged in intricate rows. The lateral line is high on the flank. The fin spines are poisonous and the sting is very painful. It is yllowish brown above and paler below. Lives offshore, unlike its smaller sibling, The Lesser weaver, Echiichthys vipera, which lives from the low water mark, buried in sand with only the head and dorsal fins uncovered. The Lesser weaver is a nocturnal species when it also occasionally swims up in the pelagic zone.

Three-spined stickleback, Gastoresteus aculeatus

The Three-spined stickleback, G. aculeatus is, from an aquarium perspective one of the most interesting fish, especially if they thrive in the aquarium environment. Belonging to the order Gasterosteiformes family GASTEROSTIDAE it is characterized by its elongate body and spiny fins. The second dorsal fin is preceded by a series of spines, two long and one short. Its back is green or dark, its flanks silver and its belly white.

In the spring, the male changes colors, becoming copper green on the rear and red on the chest. He builds a nest with plant material which he glues together with mucus seccenated from his kidneys. Females are lured to the nest, where they lay 100-400 eggs each. The female is chased away, and the male deathdefiantly guards the eggs, fanning water acroos them. Depending on the water temperature, the eggs are hatched after 4-27 days. The male guards the fry for a week, whereafter they spread in the vegetation. The stickleback can attain 11 cm in saltwater and is a coastal species. Does not require cooling.

Fifteen-spined stickleback, Spinachia spinachia

The Fifteen-spined stickleback, S. spinachia like the Three-spined stickleback belongs to the order Gasterosteiformes family GASTEROSTIDAE Although this species is slightly longer, having 14-17 short spines in front of the dorsal fin, it is many ways like G. aculeatus,- the male builds a nest in the vegetation. The female lays 150-200 eggs and dies shortly after. The male guards the eggs, and dies after they hatch.

The Fifteen- spined stickleback is a coastal species and can attain 22 cm. Requiring a certain amount of vegetation it is a less suitable species for the home aquarium, considering the difficuties in keeping collected macro-algae alive. Requires cooling.

Lumpsucker, Cyclopterus lumpus

The Lumpsucker, Cyclopterus lumpus is one of the more unusual looking fishes in the north european waters. Belonging to the order Scorpaeniformes family CYCLOPTERIDAE they are characterized by having a plump body with protruding tubercles. The pelvic fins are fused, to form a suction cup. The first dorsal fin on the Lumpsucker is overgrown with thick skin. The female is the larger, attaining more than 50 cms length and 5 kilos, while the male rarely grows larger than 30-40 cms. The Lumpsucker lives on hard stony substrate from 20 to 200 meters depth. In Febuary through May, the fish breed in the shallow waters. The female lays 100.000 - 350.000 eggs, approximately 2.5 mm in diameter, which the male guards until hatching. The fry, resembling tadpoles, attach themselves to the surrounding seaweed. At the age of 3-5 years they seek deeper waters.

Turbot, Psetta maxima

The Turbot, P. maxima belongs to the order Pleuronectiformes family SCOPTHALMIDAE , its body is almost circular , with the eyes on the left side of the head. It has no scales, but prominent tubercles scattered over its right ("dorsal") side. Its lateral line is strongly arched over its pectoral fin. The Turbot lives at 20-70 metres depth, on sandy, rocky or mixed bottom, where it feeds mainly on smaller fish, crustaceans and bivalves.

Plaice, Pleuronectes platessa

The Plaice, P. platessa belongs to the order Pleuronectiformes family PLEURONECTIDAE , having an oval body with a fairly small mouth, smooth skin, and a lateral line that curves sligthly above the pectoral fin. A line of 4-7 tubercles extend between the lateral line and the eyes.

Flounder, Platichtys flesus

The Flounder, P. flesus belongs to the order Pleuronectiformes family PLEURONECTIDAE , having an oval body with a large head and small mouth. It has smooth skin, except for a band of prickles along the lateral line and a row of tubercles along the base of the dorsal and anal fins.