Grammas, Family Grammatidae. Grammas are confusingly termed "Basslets", and though related to the Basses (same Suborder), make up their own distinct family. An indispensable, stock aquarium species, the Royal Gramma, Gramma loreto (1), is an archetypal aquarium species. Descending into greater depths in similar environments you’ll find the more expensive Blackcap Basslet, G. melacara (1) (60-400 feet) and Yellowcheek Basslet, G. lincki (2); the latter and one other grammatid rarely offered in the trade.

Ecotype: Vertical walls under overhangs and within caves, often upside-down.

Bigeyes, or Catalufas, Family Priacanthidae. These fishes are often listed by wholesalers and dealers as "Soldiers" or this and that "Squirrelfish", which they do resemble with their shiny reddish coloring, large eyes, and shy, nocturnal habits. But priacanthids are not really closely related to the holocentrids. Two species are commonly brought out from the TWA for our aquaristic interest. The Glasseye Snapper, Priacanthus cruentatus (2) is the larger, attaining a foot in length. The aptly named Short Bigeye, Pristigenys alta (2), grows to about four inches.

Ecotype: Reef and rocky areas with plenty of nooks and crannies to hide in.

Cardinalfishes, Family Apogonidae. Other authors list more than the two TWA Cardinal species that I’ve regularly across in the trade. The Flamefish, Apogon maculatus (2), and very similar Twospot, A. pseudomaculatus (2) are all I’ve seen on the U.S. west coast in any numbers. Both are quite hardy, especially given their timid, fragile appearance, and make good additions to peaceful marine set-ups of all kinds.

Ecotype: Reefs in crevices by day, coming out to feed at night.

Hawkfishes, Cirrhitidae. There is but one species in this family in the TWA, the Caribbean or Redspotted Hawkfish, Amblycirrhitus pinos (1). Like other hawks, this is a shy retiring animal that spends most of its time stationed on a prominence watching the world go by.

Ecotype: Coral reefs, resting on top of coral or hiding under.

Remoras, Family Echeneidae. The one common species in the TWA, the Sharksucker, Echeneis naucrates (2), is found worldwide and collected from the same. This is a really tough animal that does well without a "traveling companion" to stick to. In fact, one must take care to not constantly overfeed remoras, as they grow very quickly; and this species gets more than three feet in length.

Ecotype: Found attached to larger sharks, boats, swimming free for an opportunistic clean-up meal.

Sand Tilefishes, Family Malacanthidae:

Grunts, Family Haemulidae (Pomadasyidae). Named for the audible grunting noises they make, only two species of haemulids are regularly utilized from the TWA. Thank goodness, they’re more hardy stock than most of their non-Atlantic brethren. The French Grunt, Haemulon flavolineatum (2) and Porkfish, Anisotremus virginicus (2), should be familiar to you if you’ve been "in the life" for long. I’d like to give a "plug" to some of the other grunts hailing from the TWA if you don’t mind. IMO, the Cottonwick, H. melanurum, Bluestriped, H. sciurus, and White Grunts, H. plumieri deserve a try (all 2’s) … among others. They’re medium-hardy, good looking, there are bunches of them, and they’re easy to collect.

Haemulon melanurum Linnaeus 1758, the Cottonwick Grunt. Tropical West Atlantic. To thirteen inches in length. An image of a single and school of Cottonwick Grunts in Tobago.

Haemulon plumieri (Lacepede 1801), the White Grunt. Tropical West Atlantic. To eighteen inches in length. Again, another occasional ornamental aquatic out of the Caribbean.

To: Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11,