Worst Marine Invertebrates

From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer

So-called "Green Death Brittlestar," Ophiarachna incrassata. Scott W. Michael

Blue-Ringed Octopus, Hapalochlaena lunulata. Scott W. Michael

Cone Snails, Conus geographus. Scott W. Michael

Magnificent Sea Anemone, Heteractis magnifica. Scott W. Michael

Sally Lightfoot Crab, Percnon gibbesi. Scott W. Michael

[edit] Species to Avoid: Our Red List Criteria

This list of Invertebrates to Avoid (or to Buy with Eyes Wide Open) is designed to help the beginning to intermediate aquarist avoid bringing home the wrong reef animals.

Some of the livestock listed in this section can, in fact, make good aquarium inhabitants, but only under specific environmental conditions and/or in very large systems. The criteria we use in placing these species and groups on a red list include:

• Grows too large for most home aquariums;
• Is highly predatory or territorial and likely to kill and/or eat other fishes;
• Is hard to feed or has a poor survival record in captivity;
• Is banned in some areas and a threat to local native populations;
• Finally, there are those animals that are a threat to their keepers and that do not make safe aquarium subjects under any circumstances.

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[edit] Sea Anemones

• Magnificent Sea Anemone
  
• Aiptasia
  

[edit] Soft Corals

• Carnation Corals
• Colored Tree Corals

[edit] Stony Corals

• Flowerpot Corals
• Yellow Sun Coral

[edit] Crustaceans

• Horseshoe Crab
• Sally Lightfoot Crab

[edit] Echinoderms

• Green Brittle Star
• Feather Stars
• Crown-of-Thorns Starfish

[edit] Mollusks

• Cone Snails
• Spanish Dancer
• Flamingo Tongue
• Blue-Ringed Octopus

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[edit] More to Come

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Best Marine Invertebrates

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