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Michael Janes |
Born in 1967, Michael grew up in Oregon where his passion for marine life developed at an early age. He set up his first mini reef aquarium in 1991 and has continued to remain actively involved with the hobby ever since that inaugural tank. His research in soft corals and specifically the family Xeniidae began in 1995. Michael has studied invertebrate microanatomy at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, Northern Arizona University and George Washington University, Washington, D.C. His publications include articles in the hobbyist magazines Freshwater and Marine Aquarium , Marine Fish Monthly , SeaScope , and Marine Fish and Reef Annual . He has also contributed research to papers published in professional journals and cataloged specimens in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard. Michael has been a guest speaker at aquarium clubs around the United States and has also given presentations at the Midwest Regional Aquarium Conference, the International Marine Aquarium Conference, the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America, the North East Ohio Marine Aquarium Conference, and the Marine Ornamentals Conference, 2004. His library contains over seven hundred papers and books relating to coral and fish research and he has an extensive collection of preserved xeniid and soft coral materials, with samples dating back to 1846.
Michael is the Senior Aquarist in charge of marine life at AquaTouch, Phoenix, Arizona where he has been employed for eight years. Michael's work includes the development of habitat aquariums, marine ornamental aquaculture programs, and investigations into soft coral microanatomy and taxonomy. Michael and his staff are responsible for the acquisition and care of a wide range of marine invertebrates and fish. He is also a member of the International Society for Reef Studies.
ABSTRACT
A NEW ERA FOR SEA FANS?
The amazing colors, shapes, and diversity of gorgonians have attracted the interest of aquarists for many years. There numbers enter the aquarium trade by the tens of thousands annually. Although often kept in captivity, their long-term success (measured in years) has been limited to but a few of the 1,200 described species. Why can gorgonians be difficult to keep? What factors influence their success in closed systems? This paper presents an introduction to the anatomy, physiology, and morphology of sea fans, the Scleraxonia group. Extensive habitat information is illustrated based on observation, published reports and underwater photography. Key elements of selecting healthy specimens and a variety of means to attach them to substrates will be addressed. Lastly, new aquarium system designs are presented that focus on displaying and maintaining gorgonians in captivity. This last component, system design is pivotal if sea fans are to become another thriving organism in the mini reef aquarium.
