5 Things I Learned about the Harlequin Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)

Adult harlequin sweetlips inhabit edges and caves can be found in lagoons and reefs of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. Although they live largely in solitude, sweetlips can benefit from symbiotic relationship with cleaner wrasse, a small, coral reef-dweller that dines on the parasites, food particles and dead tissue of other fish.

Here are 5 other interesting little tidbits about this fish with a romantic-sounding name:

See the harlequin sweetlips “sweet lips” for yourself at Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

– Sam Fryberger

JUVENILE PHOTO by Nhobgood/Wikimedia

MUSIC by Podington Bear, “Tropical Sunrise”

 

5 Things I Learned about the Ocellate River Stingray (Potamotrygon motoro)

The ocellate river stingray’s upper body is grayish-brown with black-lined yellowish orange spots and its underside is white. Its graceful undulations regularly stop young guests in their tracks. Unlike the ones you’ll see in the Aquarium’s touch pool and shark gallery, this stingray lives in fresh water. Here are 5 facts about this beautiful creature native to the basins of the Paraná-Paraguay, Orinoco and Amazon Rivers.

Visit the Greater Cleveland Aquarium to see this and other amazing animals up close.

– Sam Fryberger

5 Things I Learned about Candy Cane Coral

What I don’t know about underwater creatures could fill, well, an aquarium. That’s why I am on quest to learn more about the fascinating aquatic animals I now see every single day at work. Here’s what I learned about the colony-forming candy cane coral that is also sometimes called trumpet, torch or bullseye coral. (Of course, those names don’t sound quite as festive).

Population growth, pollution, weather events and rising temperatures are damaging and destroying coral reefs globally. Learn more about the benefits coral reefs provide and see living coral up close at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, where curiosity is natural.

— Sam F. 

5 Things I Learned about Emperor Angelfish

As you walk through Aquarium, you might notice that there is a variety of angelfish represented. This one, understandably, caught my eye. I set out to learn more about the richly colored fish native to the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Naturally curious yourself? You can get a closer look at Emperor, Blue, Queen, French and Gray Angelfish 363 days a year at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

– Sam Fryberger

It’s Turbo Time!

If you aren’t looking for them, sometimes it is easy to miss one of our fastest slow-moving gastropods. With a name like turbo snail there is an immediate fascination with the obvious contradiction. Are these snails really as fast as their moniker might imply?

Turbo snails can grow up to 2 inches. They do quickly eliminate large amounts of nuisance algae. They can consume mass quantities of it off of live rock and aquarium glass, which makes them a very popular addition to home aquariums. They thrive in crevices and holes in natural reefs and appreciate large spaces to graze.

But these snails do not get their name based off of their speed, but rather the SHAPE of their shells. They are also referred to as wavy turban or top crown snails because of their thick, turban-shaped shell which protects their soft, flexible body. Their scientific name Turbinidae is based on the genus name Turbo, which is Latin for spinning top (a children’s toy).

  

Look for them next time you are in our Coastal Gallery. There’s a good chance you will see one or two grazing right in the front of our Live Coral Exhibit. It’s an amazing view that illustrates how they move and how they use their mouths to suck up algae. Check out the video below to catch a glimpse of some in action.

5 Things I Learned About the Hi Fin Banded Shark

Each time I walk through the Aquarium I see an animal I haven’t noticed before. The hi fin banded shark, however, caught my attention from day one. Here’s a little of what I’ve learned about the distinctive fish:

Of course, you can see hi fin banded sharks in the Lakes & Rivers gallery at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium . . . where your curiosity is only natural.

5 Things I Learned About Sand Tiger Sharks

Big budget movies have encouraged us to be scared of sharks. In truth, there’s much more to revere than to fear when it comes to sharks. In fact, as their number one threat (humans kill an estimated 100 million sharks every year just for their fins), we need to protect these apex predators to keep aquatic ecosystems in balance. In honor of Fin Fest, our week-long celebration of sharks, I set out to learn more about sand tiger sharks.

You can see sand tiger sharks (and three other species of shark) in the 230,000-gallon shark exhibit at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, where curiosity is only natural.

5 Things I Learned About Toby

Ask anyone who has been to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium to share a few of the animals saw during their visit. Chances are they will rattle off a list of highlights—sharks, stingrays, eels, lionfish, puffers, seahorses and Toby. The only fish in the Aquarium with a name, Toby’s impressive size and willingness to tolerate a seemingly endless stream of humans posing for “kissing” photos have made the giant gourami the star of many social media feeds. There’s more to Toby than distinctive lips, though. Here are five fish facts about a fan favorite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN2EE7XrUmQ&t=7s

Giant gourami are native to Southeast Asia, but you can learn more about them (and snap a selfie with Toby) at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium—where curiosity is only natural.