Soft Corals

Coral reefs are important environments for the animals that live there, as they serve as a reproduction, food, shelter and protection area. And they are also important for us, the population that lives close to the coast, as they provide protection from storms and the impact of waves. The beauty of these environments makes them tourist spots, generating more income and jobs.

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They can be considered large neighborhoods, having many important inhabitants to maintain the balance of this environment, an example that we can mention is the herbivorous fish that act in the control of the growth of algae, giving the corals more space for growth.

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Wrasse yellow coris - Halichoeres chrysus

Found in the Indian Ocean, at a depth of 15 to 60 meters. They usually live in groups and are protogynous hermaphrodites (they are born female and after some time become male), if the male of the group dies, the dominant female becomes male. They feed on molluscs, worms and crustaceans. Its maximum size is 12 cm.

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African coris - Coris gaimard

Found in the Pacific Ocean, between 1 to 50 meters deep. They live alone in coral reefs and can reach 40 cm. Its diet is based on molluscs, crabs and sometimes others invertebrates. In this species there is also a color change from juvenile (orange with white spots) to adult (orange with blue spots and yellow tail).

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Rabbitfish foxface - Siganus vulpinus

They are common Pacific fish, which can be found in coral reefs up to 30 meters deep. They are found singly or in pairs, their maximum recorded size was 25 cm. Its diet is based on algae.

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Goby firefish - Nemateleotris magnifica

Common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs, as it is an environment with burrows for shelter, and can be seen at a depth of 6 to 70 meters. It can live in groups, its maximum size is 9 cm. Males take care of the eggs and young (fry), this care time can take 1 month. Their food is based on zooplankton, in aquariums they can feed on artemia, small shrimp and feed.

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Elegant firefish - Nemateleotris decora

It lives in coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific, at a depth of 25 to 70 meters. Its maximum length is 9 cm. It lives in rougher waters, always looking for zooplankton (copepods and crustacean larvae) to feed on. In this species, monogamy is also observed and the males take care of the eggs and young (fry). When it feels threatened, it tends to hide, so it's important to have dens available in the tank.

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Tail-spot wrasse - Halichoeres melanurus

They live in the Indo-Pacific, in reefs with a maximum depth of 15 meters. It feeds on zooplankton, reaching a maximum size of 12 cm. To rest, it burrows into the sand near corals and creates a slime cocoon to protect itself from predation and parasites.

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Peppermint shrimp - Lysmata wurdemanni

Found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, they live in areas up to 37 meters deep. They can reach 7 cm. They feed on zooplankton and are great reef cleaners, also helping to clean the aiptasia anemone (Aiptasia pallida), which is a species that spreads throughout the aquarium very easily, which can affect the well-being of corals, causing damage to their tissues. or leaving them stressed and leading to bleaching.

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Jewelled blenny - Salarias fasciatus

This species is found in the Indo-Pacific: in the Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. They inhabit coral reefs, shallow lagoons and estuaries rich in algae, as this is their diet. They can be found solitary in up to 8 meters of depth, after much observation because they camouflage themselves very well. Its maximum size is 14 cm.

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Sixline wrasse - Pseudocheilinus hexataenia

These individuals inhabit the Indo-Pacific. Taking shelter and swimming among the branches of coral reefs and coastal environments with clear water up to 20 meters deep. They can reach 10 cm and feed mainly on small crustaceans.

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Arc-eye hawkfish - Paracirrhites arcatus

It is one of the species that inhabit lagoons and coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific. At a depth of up to 33 meters, they live alone on branches of corals of the Stylohora, Pocillopora and Acropora species. They mainly eat shrimp, small fish and crustaceans (crabs and others). They can reach 20 cm in length.