Sea Creatures
We have all sorts of aquatic life from fresh waters to the Bristish solent and exotic sea life from far off tropical waters.
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British Sea Life
Bass
There are many different species of both freshwater and marine species. The striped bass is a typical member of the Moronidae family in shape can grow to 200 cm and maximum recorded weight 57 kg.
Sea Bass
Many types of sea bass that live in the oceans of Europe Asia and America. European Sea Bass can grow to an average of between 50 - 70 cm depending on which waters they swim.
Brill
Found in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean, primarily in deeper offshore waters. Like other flatfish the brill has the ability to match its colour to the surroundings. Brills are on average between 40 cm to 75 cm in length and weigh up 3 kg.
Crab
Crabs typically walk sideways Crabs are mostly active animals with complex behaviour patterns. They can communicate by drumming or waving their pincers. Crabs tend to be aggressive towards one another and males often fight to gain access to females. Crabs are omnivores, feeding primarily on a mixed diet of plant and animal matter.
Edible Crabs
A robust crab of a reddish-brown colour, a mature adult may have a carapace width of up to 25 cm and weigh up to 3 kg. The edible crab or brown crab, is found in the North Sea, North Atlantic Ocean and perhaps in the Mediterranean Sea
Hermit Crabs
Species range in size, shape, from a few millimetres long to the size of a coconut. The shell-less hermit crab is the world's largest terrestrial invertebrate. As the hermit crab grows in size, it has to find a larger shell and abandon the previous one.
Dog Fish
The most common and well known British shark. The dogfish lives and feeds on the seabed, in the shallow coastal waters. it is nocturnal sleeping on the seabed during the day and feeds mainly at night on a variety of small sea creatures Dog figs can grow to 60-100 cm (2-3 feet) long.
Eel
There are approx. 800 species and can range in length from 5cm to 4 meters. The majority of eel species are nocturnal and therefore rarley seen.
Gurnard
Gurnards are very distinctive bottom-living fish with large heads and eyes. They live in british costal waters and eat small fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates living in the seabed. It is one of the smallest of the European gurnards reaching a maximum length of 40cm.
Prawn
They may reach a length of over 330 millimetres (13 in) and a mass of 450 grams (1.0 lb), and are widely fished and farmed for human consumption.
Lobster
Found in all oceans lobsters live on rocky, sandy, or muddy bottoms from the shoreline to beyond the edge of the continental shelf. They generally live singly in crevices or in burrows under rocks.
Smooth Hound Shark
There are various species of smooth-hound sharks found in oceans all over the world. They can grow up to approximately a meter and a half and weigh more than 13 kg. The common smooth-hound lives in large numbers like a pack of dogs this is why it is called a hound.
Thornback Ray
500 described species in thirteen families. They are closely related to sharks, from which they can be distinguished by their flattened bodies.
Tropical Fresh Water
Angel Fish
This Central and South American fresh water fish is made distinctive by its black bars on a silver body, They can grow to 15cm in length.
Arrowanna
The fish can obtain oxygen from air by sucking it into the swim bladder, which is lined with capillaries like lung tissue. The arowana is an "obligatory air breather
Axolotl
Found Exclusively in the lakes Xochimilco in Mexico this species of salamander possesses a distinctive laurel feature and It keeps its tadpole like dorsal fin which it retains throughout its adult life. Axolotls can reach up to 30cm in length and eat a diet of worms, insect larvae, crustaceans and some fish.
Bristle Nose
Bristlenose Plecos a freshwater fish its body is covered in bony plates and has a ventral suckermouth
Cat Fish
The Cat Fish is native to the rivers of Southeast Asia a migratory fish that moves upstream to spawn during the flood season while the waters are high and returns downstream to seek rearing habitats when the river water levels recede.
Convicts
Unusually for fish, the female is more highly coloured. Males are mostly gray with light black stripes along the body and larger than females. The average standard length of mature males in the wild ranged from 6.3–6.6 centimeters, while breeding–sized females ranged from 4.2 – 5.5 centimetres.
Clown Fish
Depending on species, clownfish are overall yellow, orange, reddish or blackish, and many show white bars or patches. The largest can reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in), while some barely can reach 10 centimetres (3.9 in). You may know of a famous clown fish who got lost in a well know animated film.
Eel
There are approx. 800 species and can range in length from 5cm to 4 meters. The majority of eel species are nocturnal and therefore rarley seen.
Large Giant Gourami
A fresh or brackish water fish, particularly slow-moving areas such as swamps, lakes and large rivers. It is capable of breathing moist air, so can survive out of water for long periods. It is much larger than most gouramis, growing to a maximum length of 70 cm.
Jade eyes
Named after the colour of its distinctive green eyes this wonderful fresh water fish comes from the rivers of Central America.
Kribemsis
Lay their eggs in any cave-like structure such as a clay pot, PVC pipe, coconut shell, etc. The female will initiate the spawning, often displaying or vibrating in front of the male. The female will deposit 50-300 eggs in the cave and the pair will guard the eggs.
Oscar
Found in the South American and Amazon Basin oscars can grow up to 33cm in length and are popular aquarium fish.
Parrot Fish
There are approximately 90 species are found in coral reefs, rocky coasts and seagrass beds. With a parrot-like beak packed with teeth parrot fish rasp algae from coral. Parrot fish can reach 30 - 50 centimetres (12–20 in) in length. Some species have been known to reach up to 1.3 metres (4.3 ft).
Pirahna
South American tribes men use the jaws and teeth of the piranha to make a tool used like scissors.
Platy Fish
One of the most commonly kept freshwater aquarium fish, prized for their unique shape, color and behavior. Many hobbyists consider angelfish to be a relatively intelligent fish, able to recognize their owners.
Plecs
Have a large dorsal fin with more than nine rays, prominent nasal flares and a prominent hump or crest anterior to the dorsal fin. Adult fish easily attain 20 cm in length and can live for more than 20 years.
Silver Dollars
Originating in the Tapajós River basin in South America will grow to a maximum length of 14 centimeters (5.5 inches). Their diet is almost exclusively vegetarian and in captivity they will often eat all the plants in a tank. They will also eat worms and small insects.
Tinfoil Barb
Distinguishable by its red dorsal fin with a black blotch at the tip. It grows up to 35 cm in length and have a lifespan of 8 to 10 years. Originating in the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins of Thailand.
Tropical Marine
Clown Fish
Depending on species, clownfish are overall yellow, orange, reddish or blackish, and many show white bars or patches. The largest can reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in), while some barely can reach 10 centimetres (3.9 in). You may know of a famous clown fish who got lost in a well know animated film.
Chromis
Generally bright active shoal fish is striking to watch. A dominant individual may occasionally bicker with the others.
Terrapin
The word “terrapin” is derived from an Indian word used mainly in the UK it means “a little turtle. ”There are approximately two hundred and fifty types of terrapins and turtles in the world. They make great pets in captivity.
Regal Tang (Dory)
This popular aquarium fish has a broad species range. It is seen in reefs of East Africa, Japan, Samoa, New Caledonia, and the Great Barrier Reef. This fish is rather flat, like a pancake, with a circular body shape, a pointed snout-like nose, and small scales.
Fresh Water
Koi Carp
Koi varieties are distinguished by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Some of the major colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream. Carp are a large group of fish originally found in Central Europe and Asia.
