The family Chaetodontidae is well represented by ten genera. Of which, the most populous Chaetodon is home to several subgenera, one of which is the eternally fascinating Roaops. This small subgenus comprises of five handsome species, including the dapper, monochromatic Chaetodon…
Neon green Psammocora discovered living as a rollolith in Australia
A couple of neon green Psammocora have just been discovered to be living unattached, as free living coral colonies known as ‘rolloliths’. Psammocora is just the latest stony coral genus to be documented living as a rollolith, a growth form in…
Distribution of the Trochocopus subgenus with a new range extension for the neopercularis complex
The largely puerile and often intimidating Bodianus is a large genus of labrid most noted for their belligerent and mischevious behaviour. While a large portion of the genus are often teeth bearing invertebrate hunters, a handful are minimally problematic and…
Brilliant yellow branching flowerpot lands at Unique Corals
Flowerpot corals of the Goniopora genus is not usually a coral to get really excited about, but a new type/strain just landed at Unique Corals which is making us want to set up a field of them. The new corals are a…
Reef Builders x Cairns Marine: A visit to the facility
If you’ve been following our recent posts and our Facebook updates judiciously, you’d know that we had the greatest pleasure of visiting Cairns Marine and their wonderful team just a few weeks back. Apart from touring the facility and seeing how…
The Coral Sea Pseudanthias cf. aurulentus looks even more amazing in a reef
A few days ago we wrote about a potentially new Pseudanthias species from Cairns Marine that has been coming out of the Coral Sea. This remarkable fish has been dubbed temporarily as Pseudanthias cf. aurulentus and is a member of the…
Pseudanthias cf. aurulentus from the Coral Sea may turn out to be a new species
The genus Pseudanthias is growing at a rate of at least one new member per year as the reefs of the Pacific continue to drip feed us with brand new, never before seen species. In 2013 we saw the appearance of the…
Carolina Aquatics scores an extreme growth form of Turbinaria heronensis
It’s no secret that we hold the uniquely special Hero coral, Turbinaria heronensis, in a special place of our reef aquarium heart. That’s why it warms us to learn that our good friends at Carolina Aquatics, purveyor of our beloved Turbinaria…
Aberration reversion of Ctenochaetus documented by Cairns Marine
We’re not unfamiliar to the sight of “xanthic-koi” type aberrants that plague various fishes. Vitiligo and other forms of patchy off-coloured specimens appear from time to time, and seem to be particularly prevalent in surgeonfish of the genus Ctenochaetus as…
Our Top 5 favorite stories from Cairns Marine
For twenty years Cairns Marine has been a leading collector and supplier of sustainably harvested marine aquarium livestock and for most of Reef Builders’ existence Cairns Marine has been an invaluable partner in helping us get the word out about…
