Tide Pool Exhibit

They organize themselves into harems where there is a dominant male that overlooks a territory that has individual territories of females. They have two modes of defense. The first is that they contain a toxin in their skin that comes from the bacteria that they ingest in food. The second defense is that they will swallow water to fill their stomachs making them puffed up. This makes them look intimidating and hard to swallow however they have a harder time swimming and steering.

The Foxface Rabbitfish has stout venomous spines which allows it to protect itself and causes the other fish to not want to harass them.

During spawning the male will turn more yellowish and will build a nest in sand or rock to share amongst several females. He will guard and ventilates the nest until 2-3 days later they hatch. The male will eat the unhatched eggs to prevent them from being breeding grounds to the microorganisms that cause sicknesses.

Damsels are very territorial and aggressive towards other damsels that enter into that territory. They spend most of their time foraging for food in the water column.

During the courting process, the males will do a signal jump which is when they rise in the water column and then rapidly swims downward. This causes a pulsed sound. Females will choose the males depending on the vigor they show while swimming and on the number and rates of the pulses they create.

Characteristic features of wrasses are thick lips, smooth scales, long dorsal and anal fins and large, often protruding canine teeth in the front of the jaw. When they under stress they have the potential to burrow into the sand. These are set apart from other wrasses because of their elongated noses.

Characteristic features of wrasses are thick lips, smooth scales, long dorsal and anal fins and large, often protruding canine teeth in the front of the jaw. When they under stress they have the potential to burrow into the sand.

Characteristic features of wrasses are thick lips, smooth scales, long dorsal and anal fins and large, often protruding canine teeth in the front of the jaw. When they under stress they have the potential to burrow into the sand.

The Regal Blue Tang is known by many names among which is the Blue Tang and Blue Hippo Tang.  They are part of the surgeon fish family which the defining characteristic is the scalpel-like spine on the base of their tail.  For the Blue Tang, the spine is yellow and located on the yellow part of their tail.  It is used as a mode of defense towards threatening fish.

They eat algae which is instrumental in coral reefs because it keeps algae at low levels so that they don’t choke out corals.  The Regal Blue Tang has a small mouth and a single row of teeth to help them get into the tight crevices of rocks and corals.

Regal Blue Tangs live in pairs or in small groups or schools of 8 to 14 individuals.  Males will aggressively court the femals and they can quickly spawn.  They release the eggs and sperm in the evening time where they float near the surface of the water because of a tiny droplet of oil in each egg.  The eggs will hatch within 24 hours of being fertilized.

We don’t recommend eating them.  It is used as bait fish in commercial fishing because of the strong odor on the flesh from certain toxins.  If consumed by people, then it causes ciguatera poisoning. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, numbness, itchiness, temperature sensitivity, dizziness, and weakness.

Tangs are part of the surgeon fish family with the distinctive characteristic of the scalpel-like modified scale at the base of the tail that they are able to extend from the body. This scale is sharp and helps protect them from danger.

At night the yellow coloring slightly fades and a brownish parch develops with a horizontal white band.  In the daylight their bright yellow color returns.

Yellow Tangs can provide a cleaning service for sea turtles by removing the algae on their shells.

 Blond Naso Tang is otherwise known as the Orange Spine Unicorn fish. These fish are herbivorous fish that feed on algae that grows on rocks. The reason they seem to have kissy lips is for reaching into tight spots in the rocks to grab food. When they mature the males tend to get a little more fancy in their design. Males tend to become darker and their tail fins grow strands off the top and the bottom having a smaller back fin compared to the female. This is not present in females or young Naso tangs.

These tangs are a crowd favorite when it comes to reef systems. This is due to their love for algae and their beautiful color. They can be dangerous though with a strong bite from what seems like soft kissy lips and a spine that is along the caudal peduncle, which is the back of the tail.

In Hawaii, this fish is called kala which means thorn.  It has two blue spines on each side of the base of the tail that is scapel like.  This allows them to defend themselves against predators.  Unicorn Tangs also have a shrot rostrum or a bony horn on their forehead that develops only after the tang has grown to about 6 inches.  Their skin is leatherlike instead of scales.

 Raccoon Butterflyfish have a black and white band over their eyes and face much like the raccoon mask. The name butterfly fish references the brightly colored and strikingly patterned bodies with eyespots on their flanks and dark bands across the eyes like a butterfly wing.  They are similar to angelfish but they don’t have the spines at their gill covers.  Their tails are never forked.

 Squirrel fish are nocturnal so they have large eyes to help them see well.  During the day they will hide in crevices and caves.

Damsels are very territorial and aggressive towards other damsels that enter into that territory.  They spend most of their time foraging for food in the water column.  

During the courting process, the males will do a signal jump which is when they rise in the water column and then rapidly swims downward.  This causes a pulsed sound. Females will choose the males depending on the vigor they show while swimming and on the number and rates of the pulses they create.

Purple Tangs can grow to a max size of about 25 cm (9.8 in.). They have a purple body with a yellow tail and black spots covering their faces.  Some have black horizontal lines that run along their bodies. The center of their bodies can sometimes be a darker shade of purple relative to the rest of their body. Most have yellow tips on their pectoral fins. Like all fish of the genus Zebrasoma, they have a large dorsal fin and anal fins and an extended snout used to forage for algae within rocks. When their dorsal and anal fins are fully extended, these fish often look like disks.

Purple tangs inhabit coral reef ecosystems. They can be found between 2-20 meters (6-65.5 ft.) deep. Adults typically swim in shoals while juveniles are solitary.  

Purple Tang secrete a type of mucus, or slime, from their skin. This slime provides protection against parasites and infections and helps the Purple Tang to move through the water faster. Some fish species also release toxins in their slime which ward off enemy attacks and can make fish or even humans sick.

The Scopas Tang is also known as the Brown Tang because of its coloration.  

They have specialized pharyngeal teeth for them to graze on algae in rock crevices and surfaces.

They are part of the surgeonfish family.  A defining characteristic is the scalpel-like spine on the base of the tail which are very sharp.  This is easy to see on the Scopus Tang because it is a white scapel on a brown body.  They are able to extend this spine outwards as a method to defend itself from predators.

The Sailfin Tang has larger but fewer pharyngeal teeth compared to other members of its family.  These teeth are used for them to graze on algae in rock crevices and surfaces.

They are part of the surgeonfish family.  A defining characteristic is the scalpel-like spine on the base of the tail which are very sharp.  

Pacer Angelfish are also known as King Angelfish.  In the Caribbean coral reefs the angelfish primarily eats sponges which aids in preventing the sponge from overgrowing on the corals.

Many angelfish shifts color from the juvenile stage to adult stage.  They are also known to be protogenos hermaphrodites which means that they are all born female and then when they are mature and the dominant angelfish, they turn male.

In the Caribbean coral reefs the angelfish primarily eats sponges which aids in preventing the sponge from overgrowing on the corals.

Many angelfish shifts color from the juvenile stage to adult stage.  They are also known to be protogenos hermaphrodites which means that they are all born female and then when they are mature and the dominant angelfish, they turn male.  

Sometimes they act as cleaner fish by cleaning the ectoparasites off of larger fish.  When they are frightened they can produce a knocking sound.

In the Caribbean coral reefs the angelfish primarily eats sponges which aids in preventing the sponge from overgrowing on the corals.

Many angelfish shifts color from the juvenile stage to adult stage.  They are also known to be protogenos hermaphrodites which means that they are all born female and then when they are mature and the dominant angelfish, they turn male.

 As is characteristic to the surgeonfish family, the Powder Brown Tang has the sharp scapel at the base of their tail.  They may become a little aggressive to Powder Blue Tangs if they are introduced into the tank at different times.

 The Orange Shoulder Tang gets its name from the orange stripe right above their gill cover that looks like it is on their shoulder.  As is characteristic to the surgeonfish family, the Orange Shoulder Tang has the sharp scapel at the base of their tail.  

As is characteristic to the surgeonfish family, the Lieutenant Tang has the sharp scapel at the base of their tail that they are able to use to defend themselves.

As is characteristic to the surgeonfish family, the Sohal Tang has the sharp scapel at the base of their tail that they are able to use to defend themselves.  The Sohal Tang is one of the most aggressive tangs because of its large size.

Clown Triggerfish are solitary and defends a territory from other fish.

They have two spines on top. Through erecting the second spine, they are able to lock the first spine into place.  This helps them wedge themselves into crevices of rock so that they are not carried away by current or predator fish.

Parrotfish are closely related to wrasses as they share many characteristics as well as similar body and biology shape.  They will also build themselves mucus cocoons to protect themselves while they sleep at night.  Parrotfish have a specialized beak like teeth to scrape algae off of coral skeletons and rocks.  Through the digestive system they absorb algae but the skeleton or rock will be crushed apart and become new sand when excreted.  They can create tons of sand a year.

Parrotfish are closely related to wrasses as they share many characteristics as well as similar body and biology shape.  They will also build themselves mucus cocoons to protect themselves while they sleep at night.  Parrotfish have a specialized beak like teeth to scrape algae off of coral skeletons and rocks.  Through the digestive system they absorb algae but the skeleton or rock will be crushed apart and become new sand when excreted.  They can create tons of sand a year.

Rabbitfish are active during the day and live in schools.  As they grow older these schools break apart as they start to divide into pairs.  This may be a reproductive nature but may also be used as a defense against predators.  When they pair together it may not even be between a male and female.  This also allows for them to graze safely so that one is always on the lookout while the other is eating.  Rabbitfish have venomous spines in the dorsal and pelvic fins.

Sand is a loose granular material made of many different components, covering the beaches, riverbeds, and deserts around the world. It is essential for our ocean life, and provides a shelter for many animals and corals. Sand is between 0.06 and 2 millimeters in diameter. The size and shape of sand can actually give scientists an estimate of its age!  Since sand particles are so small, tiny liquid bridges form when being combined with water, which is how we make sandcastles and shaped designs! Due to sand being composed of many different materials that vary depending on location, sand comes in many different colors like white, tan, brown, black, red, and even pink!

The most common component in sand is silicon dioxide in the form of quartz, coming from the earth’s rocks and minerals. Sand is made various ways, the most common is weather erosion. Weather erosion breaks down rocks and large boulders.  But minerals such as quartz, and feldspar are strong and don’t break down completely, leaving tiny grains. Streams, rivers and wind transport the particles to seashores. That’s where we get our bright tan sand! 

Some tropical islands such as the Hawaiian Islands don’t have a high source of quartz, so sand forms when the reefs break down. Along with reefs breaking down, mollusks, shells, and skeletons also breakdown. Tropical beaches may also be formed from black volcanic glass. Tons of volcanos are in the Hawaiian region, and due to the humidity in the air erosion can take place forcing the separation of minerals and other volcanic fragments.

Harbor Island in the Bahamas is one of the most famous beaches in the world. Wondering why? Because of its pink sand! The pink hue comes from bits of coral, broken shells, calcium carbonate from tiny marine invertebrates and Foraminifera. Foraminifera’s are a microscopic shelled animal known for their bright pink and red shells. They live on the bottom of the sea floor and also up in corals and caves, they are ending up being washed up onto shore as a result of waves or fish who knocking them off of their home. The shade of pink can vary from weather and the season. When it’s colder, the sand tends to be less pink since the ocean tends to be calmer so less erosion occurs. Also, the water colder, so there isn’t as many Foraminifera’s being washed up onto the shore.

Tide pools are pools of water left behind from when oceans recede at a low tide. They are found at intertidal zone (where land and sea meet), typically around hard rocks and rocks that have eroded to form depressions in the rock. Many marine species such a starfish, snails, barnacles, crabs, mussels, sea urchins, plants and coral are found in tide pools and depend on them to live. The plants living in tide pools are essential to organisms, they provide them shelter and food. Algae, sea lettuce, and moss typically lay over rocks and starfish and snails are able to eat it over time. 

Animals that live in tidepools are very adaptable and have to deal with constant changing moistures, temperature, PH, and water salinity. Some of the adaptions that these animals have to help them survive include shells, clinging to rocks, and camouflage. Animals such as snails, barnacles, crabs and mussels have hard exoskeletons. They help protect the animals from predators such as birds. These structures also help animals keep their body moist in dry conditions, and help them stay at a steady temperature, when it starts to change. Starfish and sea urchins cling to rocks, seaweed and even each other with their tube feet at the bottom. This protects them from being washed away, when the tide gets high. Crowding together can also provide protection and warmth for them. Most sea urchins and octopuses are able to camouflage by sticking to rocks and weeds. Crabs also submerge themselves deep into the sand. Camouflaging protects predators from seeing them, and can also make it easer to catch food.  Altogether, living in a tide pool can be safer for some animals, especially starfish. Many fish like to pick at starfish, and since they don’t have very many defense mechanisms, they end up getting hurt or ate. 

The animals living in tide pools need fresh water and oxygen, that’s why they are so compatible with tide pools! If you ever come across a tidepool yourself, the best thing to do is not take them out of their habitat, best thing to do is admire them from a distance. If you do pick up one of the creatures you should put them back in the same place you found them, most likely they have adapted to that specific area and moving them can stress them out.