Interactions Between Ecsenius bicolor and Gobiodon okinawae

1. Interactions Between Ecsenius bicolor and Gobiodonokinawae By Courtney Sherman Period 3 Marine Biology Mr. Dalke

2. Taxonomy (Escenius bicolor) • Animalia • Chordata • Actinopterygii • Perciformes • Blenniidae • Escenius • E. bicolor

3. Bicolor Blennies • small and quirky tropical fish • bodies are two colours: usually orangey-yellow tail and a purplish-grey torso • originate in the Indo-Pacific • vegetarian algae eaters • known to perch on rocks and sand • On tops of heads: “cirri”

4. Taxonomy (Gobiodonokinawae) • Animalia • Chordata • Actinopterygii • Perciformes • Gobiidae • Gobiodon • G. okinawae

5. Okinawa Gobies • known as "yellow clown gobies” • found in the western pacific (especially around Japan) • smaller than many other gobies • live primarily in corals • known to become aggressive towards members of own species if in the same tank • keeps predators at bay with a slightly poisonous mucus that covers its skin

6. Pictures • http://blennygobyinterractionscs.wiki.lovett.org/ • http://blennygobyinterractionscs.wiki.lovett.org/Images

7. Questions: 1. Will any of the fish react to another fish (their own species or the other) in a benevolent manner?2. If aggression appears, will it be to a degree that requires the fish to be separated?3. Will genders be altered as a result of same species interaction?4. Will the fish already dwelling in the tanks permit for the new fish to encroach on their established territories?5. If there is conflict between the two species, which species will have the upper hand?

8. Hypothesis: If a bicolor blenny or a Okinawa goby is introduced to a tank that already contains a bicolor blenny or a Okinawa goby, then the relationship will be territorial and mildly defensive.

9. Answers: • 1. Will any of the fish react to another fish (their own species or the other) in a benevolent manner? • While the yellower watchmen gobies were in tank 7, they seemed to have a very close relationship. The bicolor blenny in tank 5 did not appear to react in either way to the Okinawa gobies. The Okinawa gobies were not benevolent towards each other

10. Answers cont. 2. If aggression appears, will it be to a degree that requires the fish to be separated? • While there was aggression between the two Okinawa gobies, it was not to the extent to which they needed to be separated

11. Answers (cont.) 3. Will genders be altered as a result of same species interaction? • While the blennies did not get the chance to interact with each other, there was no mating and therefore little likelihood of gender change between the gobies

12. Answers cont. 4. Will the fish already dwelling in the tanks permit for the new fish to encroach on their established territories? • The bicolor blenny in tank 5 appeared to have no problems with the introduction of the Okinawa gobies

13. Answers cont. 5. If there is conflict between the two species, which species will have the upper hand? • There was no conflict between the two species; among the gobies, one was more aggressive than the other

14. Project • Observing interactions between fish in tanks 5 and 8 • Shifting liverock around to see if loss of perching places changes interactions • Placing mildly territorial fish in same tank as fellow species

15. Results: Bicolor Blenny Tank 5 • Bicolor Blenny of Tank 5 did not meet hypothesis • Little/no reaction to Okinawa gobies • Was not able to see it interact with other blennies • While it tends to perch in the same locations, not aggressive over “territory” • Most hyper fish in tank, particularly at feeding time (afternoon) • Did not use larger size against other fish

16. More Blenny Tank 5 • Tendency to bite at liverock/tank glass – cleaner fish (algae) • Most common perches are top of right liverock (fall semester, before liverock shifted), and center liverock (after liverock shift) • Very hyper around feeding time

17. Results: Okinawa Gobies Tank 5 • One much more aggressive than other • Yes, more aggressive goby was territorial • More aggressive goby hung out more in right/center tank • Less aggressive goby hung out more in left tank/ on powerheads • Aggressive goby took over non-aggressor’s perches • Lunging • More aggressive goby started pale while the other was more yellow

18. More Okinawa Gobies • Picked on goby fled to overflow, secluded perches in tank • Video: http://blennygobyinterractionscs.wiki.lovett.org/Videos • Aggressive goby became fat and vibrant, while other became pale and thin • Hypothesis correct in this case

19. Results: Bicolor Blenny Tank 8 • Originally perched on cabbage coral, then inside central and right caves of center piece of liverock • No interactions between blenny and BanggaiCardinalfish (tank mates) • Skittish at any activity outside tank • Impossible to remove from cave(s)

21. Project Problems • Death of Cortez Redhead Goby at start of year • Deaths of two yellow watchmen gobies middle of fall semester • Unable to combine the two bicolor blennies (impossible to catch)

22. Future Suggestions • Continue to watch aggression between yellow Okinawa gobies • Find some way to combine the bicolor blennies • How would Okinawa gobies or bicolor blennies interact with the shrimp in tank 7? • Find a way to get the blenny in tank 8 to emerge from liverock caves • What if gobies and blenny were in smaller tank?

23. Bibliography Allen, G. R. "Elacatinuspuncticulatus." Fishbase.org. 14 May 2009. Web. 2 Oct. 2009. <http://www.fishbase.org/Summary /SpeciesSummary.php?id=46894>. "Bicolor Blenny." SaltwaterFish. 2009. Web. 2 Oct. 2009. <http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/Bicolor-Blenny_208_61_4_4.html>. "Bicolor Blenny - Ecsenius bicolor." FreshMarine.com. 2008. Web. 1 Oct. 2009. <http://www.freshmarine.com/bicolor-blenny.html>. Borneman, Eric H. Aquarium Corals: Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History. Neptune City: TFH Publications, 2001. Print. Castro, Peter. Marine biology. Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print. "Clown Goby." FreshMarine.com. 2008. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. <http://www.freshmarine.com/yellow-clown-goby.html>. Hauter, Stan & Debbie. "Yellow Clown Goby (Gobiodonokinawae) Profile." About.com. New York Times Company, 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. <http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/blennygobyprofiles/p/pryellowclowngo.htm>. Michael, Scott W. "Yellow Clown Goby." Microcosm Aquarium Explorer. Mircroosm, Ltd, 2008. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. <http://en.microcosmaquariumexplorer.com/wiki/Yellow_Clown_Goby>. Sawada, Arai & Abe. "Gobiodonokinawae, Okinawa goby." Fishbase. 15 July 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. <http://fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=7217&genusname=Gobiodon&speciesname=okinawae&lang=English>. Springer, V. G. "Ecsenius bicolor." Fishbase.org. 14 May 2009. Web. 2 Oct. 2009. <http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=6033>. Tullock, John H. Your First Marine Aquarium: Everything About Setting Up a Marine Aquarium, Including Conditioning, Maintenance, Selecting Fish and Invertebrates, and More. Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s, 2008."Yellow Clown Goby (Gobiodonokinawae)." AboutFishOnline//. 2008. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. <http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/yellow-clown-goby.html>.