Episode 59 - Plug and Play Sustainability: Biota Aquariums with Kevin Gaines

Many decades ago, keeping marine aquariums was a logistical nightmare, a feat only for the most advanced hobbyists. Over time, technology and science overcame many of the original environmental challenges, and aquaculture offered a few alternatives to wild capture fisheries. And now, Biota Aquariums plans to take the marine aquarium hobby to a more sustainable next level.

In the upcoming Episode 59, my guest is Kevin Gaines, CEO and co-founder of Biota Aquariums. Kevin has strong roots in the aquarium hobby, and a passion for aquaculture and conservation.

Join us, as Kevin shares his and his co-founder Tom Bowling's hopes and dreams, and the story behind Biota Aquariums. Here are some photos to "wet" your appetite:

Photos of marine sustainable livestock,

being conditioned prior to shipping:

 

Amazing shots of the Biota Aquarium-

beauty, sustainability, and education, all-in-one!

Episode 59 is coming soon!!!

http://www.petliferadio.com/aquariumania.html

Episode 54 - The Hypnotic New Wave of Aquarium Keeping: Jellyfish Art 

Ever thought of keeping jellyfish before? No? Well think again! 

Check out the podcast at:

http://www.petliferadio.com/aquariumaniaep54.html

Some amazing shots of jellyfish tanks by Jellyfish Art

Coming Soon to Aquariumania - Episode 53: Diving into Aquatic Beetles with Dr. Jiri Hulcr

Aquariumania listeners-  Keep a look out, this episode is coming soon!

When you think of an aquarium, you don’t usually think of aquatic beetles. Dr. Jiri Hulcr, Assistant Professor of Forest Entomology at the University of Florida, and long time aquatic beetle hobbyist, however, thinks people have things all wrong.  He says that beetles are much more interesting than fish!   

So why is a forest insect expert such a big bug lover?  Dr. Hulcr explains where his love of "wet bugs" comes from, and will discuss some of the amazing biology and ecology of aquatic beetles that can be kept in aquaria, including the following species:

In the Family Dytiscidae

Cybister – common in the Southern US – easy to keep and impressive.

Dytiscus – common in more northern latitudes. Big, beautiful. The most beautiful larva.

Thermonectus – common in the south, but most species are note very interesting. 

Thermonectus marmoratus from Arizona is cool.

In the Family  Hydrophilidae

Water scavenger beetle:  

Hydrophilus – huge, pig.

Tropisternus – super common, kind of frantic.

After you download/stream and listen to the episode, and/or if you want any more information on aquatic beetles RIGHT NOW (!), feel free to contact Dr. Hulcr at:  hulcr@ufl.edu 

And check out some of Dr. Hulcr's cool aquatic beetle photographs:

Cybister lateralimarginalis  

 (photo credit: J. Hulcr)

Cybister lateralimarginalis  

(photo credit: J. Hulcr)

Dytiscus circumflexus  

(photo credit: J. Hulcr)

Dytiscus circumflexus  

(photo credit: J. Hulcr)

Dytiscus circumflexus 

(photo credit: J. Hulcr)

 Hypydrus  ovatus   

(photo credit: J. Hulcr)

 Sunburst diving beetle (Thermonectus marmoratus)
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)

Sunburst diving beetle larva 
(photo credit: J. Hulcr)

Thanks for stopping by!
-Dr. Roy (DrRoy@petliferadio.com)

Episode 51 - Picasso, Snowflake, Black Ice, and Lightning: The Art and Science of Designer Clownfish - PART 1

Episode 51: Designer Clownfish:
A picture is worth a thousand words. . . . .check out these pictures courtesy of Matt Carberry of Sustainable Aquatics and Matt Pedersen (Reef to Rainforest LLC).  Just a small sampling of amazing "designs"!

If you haven't checked out the podcast yet, please do so!
Go to: http://www.petliferadio.com/aquariumaniaep51.html

Amphiprion-ocellaris Sustainable Aquatics White

Amphiprion-ocellaris Sustainable Aquatics -Black-Ice-Extreme

Amphiprion-ocellaris -Sustainable Aquatics-Black

Amphiprion-ocellaris-Sustainable Aquatics Fancy-Snowflake

Amphiprion-ocellaris- Sustainable Aquatics-Fancy-White-Extreme

Amphiprion-ocellaris-Sustainable Aquaticss-.Fancy

Amphiprion-ocellaris- Sustainable Aquatics-White

Amphiprion-percula,-Sustainable Aquatics-Onyx

Amphiprion-percula,-Sustainable Aquatics-Picasso-Special

Amphiprion-percula,-Sustainable Aquatics-Platinum

Longfin Clownfish

Lighting_Maroon (F0)

Lightning Maroon (F1)

Episode 36: Angelic Mysteries: Unlocking the Secrets of Angelfish Species and Varieties

This podcast episode delves into some of the "mysteries" of angelfish species and genetics. There are so many established and new varieties of angelfish, all beautiful in their own right, it can be difficult to keep track of them all! And beyond appearance, for you "CSI" types, what makes an angelfish "blushing" or "veiled" at the genetic level? Matt Pedersen, Senior Editor of AMAZONAS and CORAL Magazine, and Associate Publisher with their parent company, Reef To Rainforest Media, LLC, discusses these "mysteries" with us. His article in the most recent issue of AMAZONAS goes into more detail, but this podcast is a great primer! Here are some angelfish pics courtesy of Matt Pedersen, to whet your appetite:

Koi Angelfish (c) Matt Pedersen

Pair of Silver Angelfish (c) Matt Pedersen Who hasn't ever watched a pair of angelfish and/or had one or two in their own tank?

Aquariumania Musings--Dec 18, 2012

Friends, 

Thanks for all your interest, and hopefully you are enjoying the most recent podcasts of Aquariumania at http://www.petliferadio.com/aquariumania.html . Our next podcast will focus on freshwater angelfish--so keep an eye out for it, and follow us!

I wanted to update you on some interesting goings-on here at the University of Florida's Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory and beyond. . . . .

1. Some of you may have listened to "Episode 34: Banggai Cardinalfish Adventures with Journalist Ret Talbot" and learned about the work being done with the Banggai cardinalfish.  Well, the troops involved are getting closer to finalizing our information and we hope to have the "Banggai Rescue" book available sometime within the next few months next year, so stay tuned.  The Banggai Rescue project has been a fascinating adventure, and hopefully our findings will help spark renewed interest in this remarkable species.  Go to: https://www.facebook.com/BanggaiRescue for the latest information.

2. The "Rising Tide Conservation Initiative" spearheaded by SeaWorld-Busch Gardens Foundation (http://www.seaworld.org/rising-tide/index.htm) is still going strong, with the help of our numerous academic, industry, AZA, and other partners. As research into breeding these more challenging marine aquarium species--to help increase sustainable options for the hobby and industry--continues, we will have our first graduate student joining the team to begin work on butterflyfish.  Stay tuned to Dr. Matt Wittenrich's blog at: http://risingtideconservation.blogspot.com/ and become a follower!

3. Although I am an aquatic veterinarian, I did start my journey in veterinary school with a great group of colleagues who shared a common love for helping maintain the health of animals, people, and our environment. Three friends and I recently published a novel inspired by our time in veterinary school--where we had to learn everything about all animals--dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, and for many of us with "wilder" interests, many exotic terrestrial and aquatic animals as well!  

An Animal Life: The Beginning is a scientific medical mystery (animals and people are dying) and a quest for True Love (with a real cowboy) that unfolds as newbie first-year students struggle to survive the academic gauntlet of veterinary school.  If you love animals and ever wondered about going to vet school, here’s your chance to experience the joys and challenges without being kicked, scratched or bitten and at 0.00001% the cost of tuition. Go to: AnAnimalLife.com to find out more about our book and our lives as students!  The book is also available as an ePub.  Enjoy!

More to come. . . . .
Dr. Roy Yanong, VMD

Episode 25: Matt Wittenrich’s Psychedelic Approaches to Mandarin Goby Breeding

For many years, marine aquarium fish were only available from the wild. Then, in the 1970s, pioneering scientists developed methods for commercial production of clownfish. Over the years, other species including neon gobies, dottybacks, and seahorses also became available from fish farms. Most recently Dr. Matt Wittenrich “cracked the breeding code” for the mandarin goby, one of the more popular marine fish species. Dr. Matt is a well-known marine biologist, a highly sought after speaker, a nature photographer, and the author of The Complete Illustrated Breeder’s Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes.  Matt recently earned his PhD at Florida Institute of Technology studying how larval reef fish feed. Join us, as Matt shares his psychedelic approach to breeding mandarin gobies.