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Marine invertebrates are incredibly sensitive to water quality, more so than fish. This makes them one of the most rewarding groups of animals that you can keep in an aquarium. They come in many guises and many are often mistaken for plants; some, however, do possess a symbiotic algae (zooanthellae), which generates food for the animals.
Below we have shown just a few of the huge array of species available today, many of which are now cultivated in aquariums so as to protect their natural habitats.
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| A Nudibranch (order Nudibranchia), 8-30cm, worldwide. Sea slugs or nudibranchs (meaning naked gill) are beautiful but deadly. Their colouration warns potential predators of their toxicity. |
 | | An anemone, probably an Atlantic or Malu. These animals can attain sizes of 30cm plus and inhabit the world's oceans. Their tentacles carry stinging cells. |
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A sun coral (tubastrea aurea) requires lower light levels than many corals as it lacks zooanthellae (symbiotic algae), meaning it must be well fed in the aquarium. This one has its polyps extended during feeding. |
 | | A dendronephthya, soft coral species. It has spines throughout its body to give support. This one has a small pipefish resting on its branches. |
 | | A Hermit crab (Dardanus Sp.), 1-10cm, found worldwide. Excellent scavengers for the aquarium, they occupy empty shells that they may find or in some cases, steal! |
 | | A bubble coral (Plerogyra sinuosa), like all hard corals this one requires excellent water quality to thrive. Despite its appearance this one has a hard calcareous skeleton |
 | | A Fire or Blood shrimp (Lysmata debelius), 4-5cm. A attractive, peaceful crustacean that will shed its exoskeleton in order to grow in size, it also cleans the tank! |
 | | The Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) is one of the true wonders of the ocean. Capable of exceeding 1m across, it looks stunning when its mantle (the blue part) is extended, as in this picture. |
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