Blue Reef welcomes Blue Reef shoal in Newquay!

The latest arrivals at Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium should feel very much at home as they are a shoal of tropical 'Blue Reef' fish.

It's the first time the award-winning aquarium has been able to display its namesake fish species and their arrival has delighted curator Matt Slater.

 

Found throughout the warm waters of the Caribbean, the fish gets its common name from its extraordinarily bright colouring and the fact that it spends most of its time living on or close to coral reefs.

 

"I have been hoping to put a shoal of blue reefs on display here at the aquarium for years and it's great that we're now finally able to do so," said Matt.

 

"At the moment we have nine individuals which are now making themselves at home in one of our coral reef displays alongside a group of clownfish.

 

"Like clownfish, blue reef chromis lay eggs and it is the male who looks after them and cares for them until they hatch," he added.

 

Capable of reaching lengths of up to 15cms when fully grown, the fish are sociable and can often be seen in large shoals chasing their main source of food which is tiny zooplankton.

 

Very little is known about the breeding habits of Blue Reef chromis and it is even difficult to differentiate between males and females.

 

Matt and his aquarists are hoping to study the fish's behaviour in the hope that they may one day be able to get them to breed.

 

"As far as I'm aware this particular species of chromis has not bred in captivity before so it would be wonderful if the aquarium which shares their name could be the first to get them to reproduce – although I think it will be quite a challenge!" he added.