#algivore

[steal-fish]

he’s so beautiful

[steal-fish]

another issue of the guppy gazette is out!

the ocean’s best newspaper

guppy gazette issue #4 | beetroot

april 17 (ft blue guppy)

okayy so algivore seemed fine but i still wanted to feed him because he didn’t eat a whole lot for a couple says and i tried something new!

he gave it the side eye at first and ignored it, but he started nibbling on it after a few minutes. i think he's okay with it 😭

other fishies kinda nudged it too but they left it after a while. altogether pretty mediocre response 💀

the following rating has been awarded to zucchini:

5/10

[tearsofthedragon]

algivore draconic / dragon .

flags for algivore draconics / dragons ; draconics / dragons that ( exclusively ) eat algae .

tagging @radiomogai, @rwuffles, @daybreakflags, and @gendrakon . symbol from here .

[melabea]

algivore merfolk!

flags for algivore merfolk; merfolk that (exclusively) eat algae!

symbol from here (link)!

tagging; @radiomogai, @specieschive, & @seasulfur!

[aquariuminfobureau]

The dietary compositions of true or combtooth blennies, are in fact variable. Omitting from consideration the non-grazing species, such as Meiacanthus and Aspidontus, we are left with a number of benthic fishes, many of which are tropical reef associated, and turn up in aquarium imports. At the point of retail they may be identified to a species, or sold as 'assorted blenny'. For decades aquarists have bought blennies assuming them all algivorous, then found them sometimes to nip at corals or clam mantles. Furthermore most herbivorous blennies consume mostly detritus, rather than living algal growth.

Curiously they do not correlate precisely to evolutionary changes in their dentition, relating more closely to methods of feeding than to food sources. Thusly, the dentition of the corallivorous Exallias, which rasps living coral from its stony skeleton, resembles that of algivorous blennies that similarly graze upon hard substrates. This is perhaps a cautionary tale to bear in mind, that many blennies are equipped to be corallivorous.

Most complaints against blennies unexpectedly nipping coral colonies, are charged at the genus Ecsenius. Excluding the strangely planktivorous members of this genus, such as the Midas blenny (E. midas), these are in all grazers that prefer vegetable materials. However their diets in the wild are verified to include mucus of animal origins, similar to that consumed by Exallias. The only logical conclusion is that, despite their overall herbivorous niche, the grazing Ecsenius sp. do also eat coral tissues as natural behavior.

Another rather popular blenny genus that are considered herbivorous in the literature, the molly millers (Scartella sp.), are known to consume sessile animals such as barnacles, bivalves, sponges, tunicates, and bryozoans. I am not yet aware of Scartella sp. consuming any cnidarians, even incidentally, although their diets are broad and proven to include some animals.

Whereas members of the genera Cirripectes, Salarias, and Atrosalarias, are proved to be consumers of algae and detritus, to the exclusion of the deliberate consumption of sessile fauna. Another genus that might be worth considering as very low risk, is the intertidal Blenniella genus. These seem quite strictly non-carnivorous, yet are still reported to consume small arthropods and gastropods. Although not, or at least not yet, any anthozoan tissues or mucus.

[smorgasvoid]

Dato Project: Syndermates of Dato (Outdated, New Version coming soon)

The next Dato animals are the syndermates*, a phylum of animals also known as rotifers. While typical rotifers do exist, more basal forms descended from those from the Silurian Wave** have assumed various macroscopic forms, with many of the Scopalian syndermates being reef-builders alongside diatoms, annelids, bivalves, and sponges.

At the end of the Middle Carboniferous, Dato's Great Anoxic Event triggered a mass extinction that wiped out 94% of all marine life, including all anthozoans, crinoids, asterozoans, echinoids, stem-octopods, 70% of crustaceans and Pre-Triassic Wave actinopterygians. Among the survivors were a few macroscopic rotifers which replaced many of them in the subsequent Late Carboniferous Explosion.

Due to the constraints of diffusion at such a large size, many have evolved gills or pocket lungs, though Scopalians lack gills.

Syndermata includes the seisonids, a clade of basal rotifers not present on Dato, acanthocephalans, which are parasitic rotifers that can be found on Dato, and the clade Eurotatoria which includes forms such as bdelloids, monogononts and three special clades.

Superclass: Megarotifera includes the following:

The Class Aromavermida (name not on paper) or spiceworms, sand-dwelling worms that feed on plankton or other small organisms in the sand. They can be as small as an earthworm or as large as a saltwater crocodile if not slightly larger. The name stems from the highly valued substance known as Zaipu or "spice" obtained from the glands of some large species. Unfortunately, they tend to be very territorial.

Siphonovermidans (strawfishes) are a class of Megarotifers whose mouthparts have fused into a tube used for filter-feeding or sucking blood or algal fluids from larger animals/seaweeds, in the case of the former, such hosts may include Labroningyoids or true fish. They swim in a manner akin to cetaceans, with their foot repurposed as a fluke.

Paraxenocolia (clawfish) is a class of fish-like Megarotifers that dominated the oceans prior to the Late Triassic Rift that re-introduced the more efficient actinopterygians. Nowadays, they are mostly 41% of so-called fish, which isn't too bad considering how sarcopterygian fish are in present-day Earth.

Podorotifera is a class of six-limbed Megarotifers that converged with panarthropods which they were thought to be closely related to. The main differences are that Podorotifers have pocket lungs instead of spiracles, they also can't molt, their outer skin growing with them. Most Podorotifers are small algivores and detritivores.

The next superclass of syndermates are the Scopalians, which are more closely related to the monogononts. Many members of this clade are sessile. Despite being macroscopic, most don't have external respiratory organs (all but Shogosozoa lack respiratory organs and breathe through their skin while Shogosozoans have a pocket lungs derived from a section of their stomach). All non-Shogosozoan Scopalians are hermaphrodites while most Shogosozoans are gonochoric, meaning the male and female sexes are distinct.

Floroscopalia (anemonots and "true" scopals) is a class of Scopalians similar to corals and anemones. In the case of the former, they are colonial organisms that feed on small animals and sugar provided by algal symbionts. Unlike anthozoans, they cannot reproduce by budding. They make up a majority of reefs on Dato.

Class Crinoscopalia (feather scopals) includes many stalked and unstalked forms. All Crinoscopalians are suspension feeders that feed on detritus and plankton. Despite their sessile appearance and relation to the sessile Floroscopalia, Crinoscopalians are capable of locomotion, albeit very awkward. They also make up some reefs.

Class Calamozoa (pen scopals) includes many cosmopolitan clades characterized by their long bristly mouthparts that are adapted to pull in plankton and other small animals. Despite supposedly appearing immobile, they took are capable of relocating if needed.

Class Echinoscopalia (echinoscopals) contains motile forms resembling sea stars (Scopalasterae) and urchins (Hystricasterae). The former are predators of molluscs and sponges while the latter are primarily herbivores, much like their Earth counterparts. Some forms will integrate toxins from their diet into their own bodies.

The Class Shogosozoa (shoggoths) contains the most unusual forms on Dato, highly motile predators that are similar to octopodes. Due to being sensitive to light, they are found in locations with low amounts of light. Unlike octopodes, they can consume prey whole as their brain does not surround their esophagus. They live in habitats ranging from caves, deep sea floors, murky bodies of freshwater and dark forests.

As pelagic cephalopods such as ammonites and squids exist on Dato, they are mainly bottom-dwellers, though freshwater species are capable of swimming via paired fins.

The largest terrestrial forms are the apex predators of their- ST-ST-STAY BACK, I AM WARNING YOU! OH NO- (the sound of screaming and inaudible sounds can be heard)

The last clade we will go over are the Triffidia, an enigmatic class of plant-like syndermates related to Scopalia. Not much is known about them besides the fact that they are terrestrial and most likely photocarnivorous (a carnivore that can also substain itself via photosynthesis, what they eat is unclear). Despite having Megarotifer-like lungs, they are not closely related.

*Rotifera is technically paraphyletic IRL via the exclusion of Acanthocephala, so Syndermata will be used instead.

**This is older than the oldest possible Earth rotifers, which might have been from the Devonian.

Extra Notes: Shogosozoa were originally intended to be actual cephalopods when it was still Chortis, and then a clade of cephalochordates but I got some inspiration from this post so they are rotifers now. Scopalia is derived from Latin "scopulus" which means reef or crag. Triffidia and Scopalia were originally intended to be an entirely distinct clade of spiralian animals unrelated to rotifers.

The spiceworms are definitely not a reference to Dune /s.

[scary-yuri]

I need to suck on their brain dome like an algivore, as a display of affection

[szlachtas]

But they wouldn't usually consume a body like a sounder of pigs, which is the behaviour I'm talking about

Obligate herbivore isn't really a catagory of animal - still. Koalas, sloths, algivores

A couple of rabbits, some lobsters, butterflies. You could make anything into body eaters

[crevicedwelling]

hey do you have any tips on millipede keeping?

millipedes are an entire class of diverse animals, so I’m basing these very broad care tips on just the subtropical to tropical members of the orders Spirobolida and Spirostreptida, which covers the most commonly bred examples. you should consult a more comprehensive source if you are considering keeping any though! McMonigle's book on millipedes in captivity is my recommendation and probably what most people I know base their care guides on.

substrate as deep as the largest adult of the species is long, and deeper is better even than that. don’t dig in it except in emergencies. should be as much well-rotted hardwood as possible in the substrate, and leaf litter on top. rest can be topsoil of some sort, or coconut husk if you must. some species prefer wood over leaves or vice versa, but can't hurt to have both. keep them a bit drier than moist, so that the soil is soft and easy to burrow in but not waterlogged. slabs of bark or sticks can be good surfaces to climb and live under. spirobolidans lay eggs in wood-pulp pellets nearly indistinguishable from frass, so it might be wise to conserve old substrate to pick out any kids that hatch from it.

good treats include cucumber, other squashes, fish food (especially algivore pellets), and apple. remove any food that starts to mold.

I don't know much about heating them since I have not kept any species that demand heat. warm room temperatures and above are probably best for most species.

[majormeilani]

i just realized that a roomba is like the equivalent of an algivore

[speculative-world]

echinigo, more commonly called a yellow trout, are hypocarnivorous algivorous piscivorous omnivores, these ribless fish swim across subarctic rivers lakes, they eat primarily urchin algae due to the symbiotic relationship they share allowing them to eat the urchin algae in exchange for them assisting in pollination, theyve evolved a colour changing underbelly coated in a slime like substance which allows the spores expelled onto yellow trouts to stay on their belly, they were originally thought to be an entirely separate kind of fish that are very visibly similar with the only difference being the underbelly, but it was recently discovered that they can adjust the colour of their underbellies depending on their mood, yellow being the default colour but also being the colour they use for hunger, this allows for urchin algae to sense them and loosen up and be easier for them to eat, the spores survive on the slime and will even interact with spores from different urchin algae starting a development of new urchin algae which will then detach from the slime, the exact colours for every emotion on the yellow trouts underbelly isnt entirely known but a few emotions easy to document are easy to figure out, deep green being fear and a light blue being anger, black being happy and indigo being sexually ready, though their colours range throughout the visible spectrum so the amount of emotions they can feel and which colour they correlate too is hard to understand, records of specific breeding of echinigo have been found in one of the abandoned tunnels under garden city which was the place which the former king of the northern compound had meetings with high elites of the other cities in the northern compound, so it could be that it was known by some people that echinigo are a single species of fish but the status symbol of purple bellied yellow trouts has caused the elites of the northern compound to lie and breed them for the purple belly only, if you have any questions ask away

[steal-fish]

fish fed

algivore liked todays vegetable yayayayayay :DD

[see-anemone]

guppy gazette issue #2 | carrot

april 11

algivore still dosent like his pellets so it's time to try something new!

he was pretty interested in the steamed carrots, but not nearly as much as he liked his broccoli. i read that carrots are good for him, so it's cool that he likes it

the guppies didnt really care tho 💀

the following rating has been awarded to carrot:

7/10

[queerlump]

i’ve been seeing a lot of people talk abt animal nutrition lately and it was a big interest for me in middle school so i hope ya’ll will use this post to further your knowledge some.

rule of thumb: don’t act like you know about an animal’s ideal nutrition unless you can correctly answer yes/no to all of the following about the animal

is this animal an obligate carnivore? (can only digest meat etc, non-animal matter is harmful, most common example is all felines)

is this animal a hypercarnivore? (diet consists of more than 70% meat etc on average, includes obligate carnivores but is not limited to them)

is this animal a mesocarnivore? (diet consists of 50-70% meat etc on average)

is this animal a hypocarnivore? (diet consists of less than 30% meat etc, mostly omnivores, considered by some to include humans)

is this animal an omnivore? (can digest both plant and animal matter safely)

is this animal an insectivore? (primary food source is insects, includes both carnivores & omnivores)

is this animal an herbivore? (diet consists almost entirely of plant matter)

is this animal an algivore? (primary food source is algae)

is this animal a frugivore? (primary food source is fruits, includes both omnivores & herbivores)

is this animal a folivore? (primary food source is leaves)

is this animal a nectarivore? (primary food source is nectar, and fyi bees are actually palynivores - a good example of nectarivores are hummingbirds and lories) 

is this animal a granivore? (primary food source is seeds/grains, includes both omnivores & herbivores, generally accepted to include humans)

if you can’t identify, for 100% certain, and factually correctly, which of those the animal yr talking about falls into?

then read some science lit and try again later

[see-anemone]

guppy gazette issue #1 | broccoli

april 4

algivore refuses to eat his pellets so i've decided to feed him veggies instead 🙏

he went SICKO MODE on the steamed broccoli stem i gave him dude he would NOT LEAVE IT ALONE 💀 the guppies loved it too!

the following rating has been awarded to broccoli:

11/10

[aquariuminfobureau]

Our of the animals purchased for their use as biological control in reef aquariums, Mithraculus sculptus is one that has caused a great deal of worry to aquarists. This species is strongly algivorous, and is often purchased for the purpose of algal control. Subsequently the crab gets blamed for damaging corals, and even the deaths of fishes are attributed to the crab. Much confusion exists as to the riskiness versus 'reef safety' of this controversial species. To aquarists this species is known as the emerald crab or simply 'the' mithrax crab. Historically there was much debate about the distinction, or otherwise, of Mithraculus from its relative Mithrax.

Mithraculus is extremely similar to Mithrax, so close overall that observations about the general diet of one genus, also apply to the other. M. sculpta is also known as the green clinging crab in some literature Whatever we call it, this is a crab of the Caribbean and adjacent eastern Atlantic, from Florida and the Bahamas south to Brazil. It grows to about 4 centimeters, or about 1 and a 1/2 inches long.

Although ecological studies tend to stress the herbivory of Mithrax senso lato, both field and laboratory studies of these crabs in the 1970s, have demonstrated their omnivorous feedings, on macroalgae, cnidarians, and detritus. In an experiment, the captive Mithrax eagerly consumed pieces of fish and clam, as well as such marine animals as polychaetes, gastropods, and echinoderms. Mithrax consume Aiptasia anemones, so they are able to consume rather large polyps. The extent of their predation on fleshy polyps and colonies is not known.

Very motile animals such as fish, shrimp, and crabs, were consumed only by scavenging. Mithrax are clumsy foragers, certainly not hunters, and they do not detect prey well, merely consuming animal protein opportunistically. M. sculpta and similar crabs really are primarily herbivorous, although they preferentially take animal derived foodstuffs where they are available. In other words, they have evolved to exploit animal protein if it is encountered whilst feeding on algae. Mithrax crabs are able to extract live snails from their shells, but appear unable to crack hard shelled prey open.

In shallow seagrass beds, and the margins of reef flats, M. sculpta uses the branching, coralline macroalga Neogoniolithon strictum as a host, and the alga benefits from the effectiveness of M. sculpta at controlling epibionts. M. sculpta is also a facultative symbionts of Porites stony corals. The residence of M. sculpta among P. porites, reduces intrusive algal cover on the corals by more than 85%.

Such a statistic is proof of the efficiency of these craps. By day, these crabs shelter in crevices and beneath ledges. Although they are nocturnal, their algal diet restricts them to areas of sunshine. They avoid areas that are shaded during the day, which would impair the growth of their algal food. The claws of M. sculpta are spatulate, an evolutionary tendency among crabs deviating towards herbivorous lifestyles.

In the absence of appropriate algal growth, emerald crabs will consume such foods as nori. They will obviously accept defrosted meaty foods, and some dry preparations. But their natural diet, which is mostly herbivorous, ought to be replicated. Good reason exists to presume M. sculpta is a risk to slow, motile animals like gastropods and starfishes in the aquarium, as well as to large fleshy polyps. But they do not hunt fish, shrimp, or other crabs.

Aquarists should note there is some overlap between the macroalgal genera eaten by emerald crabs, and those purchased deliberately, for ornamental reasons. These crabs are also nocturnal by nature, and many aquarists never see theirs by day, sometimes fearing their pet crab is dead, only to discover the same animal alive, some period later. The species requires places to reside in the rockwork, where it will avoid bright light.

What is reef safety, anyway? A reef is a living ecosystem, and even those organisms that do not consume other organisms directly, are competing for sunlight or space. The idea of 'reef safety' implies a simplification of how organisms in an environment really interact, and is semantically meaningless. It is like saying an animal is 'forest safe' or 'prairie safe'. No one talks about any other biome, the way 'reefers' do about coral reefs.