Kids Today

Send a Father's Day eCard

The Ocean Conservancy allows you to send free marine-themed eCards to dads for Father's Day.

They have plenty of cool images to choose from, including Clownfish, Coral Reef, Crashing Waves, Flippers, Hudson Bay Canada, Sea Otters, Turtle Hatchlings or White Sails.

You can use or edit a pre-written note or even pen one of your own.

What the Fish? Enjoy!

Fish Fight! Enjoy!

Another Edition of Fact or Fiction

A while back, I posted a blog on the R2 fish school. Last week while surfing the World Wide Web, I came across a new video full of amazing, um, amazingness.

It seems someone has taken the expression "you can’t teach an old fish new tricks" to a whole new level (forget dog, people, we are a fish blog!).

Anyhoo… I leave this to you, reader, to watch and be amazed!

I will let you draw your own conclusions. Once again, this is beyond belief.

Fact or Fiction?


Marine Depot

A fish tank that is truly “Da Bomb”

While most hobbyists are conjuring up thoughts of their “dream” reef tank, I myself imagine an aquarium that is entirely … unique.

Like an aquarium made out of a bomb, for instance.

That’s right, a bomb.

Fabricated from the tail shells of a Vietnam-era MK-84 bomb, MotoArt’s Aquabomb is blowing away the notion that a nano aquarium be limited to a common cube shape.

“The Aquabomb was originally intended to be a big lava lamp,” admits MotoArt company co-founder Dave Hall. “But I was a little uneasy about making something that could tip over and burn a house down, so it evolved into an aquarium.”

From what limited information I could gather from net, these appear to be the specs:

• 10 gallon capacity
• Built-in pump, filter and lighting
• Stands 80” tall
• Aluminum top
• Plexi glass construction
• Available in seven colors

Considering most fish/reef tanks look pretty much the same, it’s nice to see a company taking risks to produce something artsy, retro and bit avant-garde.

Once they bust out a camouflage version, I’m buying one.

Battle for the Coral Reefs

While surfing through the blogs in our blogroll this morning, I stumbled upon a cool little video game I thought you reefers might get a kick out of.

Thanks to Mark over at blogfish for the find.

Oh, and Boss, if you're reading this, I only played it once just to make sure it was functional. ;-)

The game is called Battle for the Coral Reefs. Here's a little marketing blurb about the game:

Battle for the Coral Reefs is a classic shooter game set underwater. Choose from three unique ship designs and battle an ocean of waste. Jump in, master the high score, and restore the coral reefs!

It's a great time waster reminiscent of an 80s arcade classic, Asteroid. If you've read some of my earlier posts, you know I'm a sucker for anything that conjures up 80s nostalgia.

Tune in for my next post on slap bracelets, ghetto blasters and parachute pants.

Ha, just kidding. Enjoy the game!

World's Deepest Coral Reef Display

California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park announced it is constructing what will be the deepest coral reef display in the world.

At 25 feet deep at its max, this aquarium dwarfs the competition.

In preparation for the opening of the new exhibit, the Academy is currently growing corals in its temporary facility at 875 Howard Street. In one tank, which measures 18 feet deep, Academy biologists are growing corals on adjustable racks to determine which species grow best at different depths.

As most of you know, coral need light to live and grow. But light intensity diminishes quickly in water as depth increases. To counteract this challenge, the Academy is installing 120 metal halide lights over the tank. This will help replicate the energy of the tropical sun corals need for survival.

The display is set to open September 27, 2008. For more information about the aquarium and the Academy, click here.

Schooling fish and a fish going to school are not the same

Most of our regular readers are familiar with my Maroon Clown, Malcom, since he’s been featured in a few comic strips and blog posts. What you may not know about my favorite clownfish is that he also does tricks.

Yeah, that’s right. I said tricks.

Take, for example, our morning feedings. On days when I lag or outright forget to feed, Malcom will remind me of my oversight by gently tapping on the glass (don’t ask me how he does this; every time I look over, he’s just there staring at me with hungry eyes). Should further negligence occur, he’ll rear back, aim and spit water at me.

I also use food as an incentive to get Malcom to peform: many times I’ll have him swim backwards and wiggle his tail before I’ll drop food into the tank.

So all this trickery got me thinking: do other fish do this?

I decided I’d Google “fish tricks” to see if there were any other fish out there like Malcom. And, “Who knows?” I thought. Maybe I’d find some other circus performers out there and even some info to help me teach him a new act.

So that’s how I stumbled upon the R2 Fish School, brought to you by the same folks that manufacture R2 Aquarium Moonlighting.

After watching the videos, I was stunned. The myth about fish only having a 3-second memory was busted.

Immediately I began searching for the “Add to Cart” button only to discover that The R2 Fish School Complete Training Kit will be available “soon.”

Soon?!? When is soon? I want it now!

Well, I guess I’ll have to wait somewhat patiently until the messaging on R2’s site is updated.

In the meantime, you can join me by teaching your old fish some new tricks.

Here’s to education!