Note: Once they are used to these, they will accept them readily, although some owners report never being successful with dry foods like flakes. Seaweed type foods can be offered in a suction cup clip or rubber banded onto a piece of live rock (use the same rock in the same place all the time).

CRYPTOCARYON - Cryptocaryon irritans is a parasitic infection where white spots appear on the body and fins. Fish will scratch themselves against rocks and breathing may become rapid if gills are affected. Treatment can be done by copper or other anti-parasite remedies, but this is incompatible with inverts. Cleaner shrimps and wrasses will remove the parasites, but may not keep up with a major infestation. Cryptocaryon is often referred to as the marine equivalent of the freshwater white spot disease, Ichthyophthirius, or Ich.

CYANOBACTERIA - Cyanobacteria is commonly referred to as red slime algae by hobbyists although it is not really an algae.  Poor water quality with excessive nutrients are the usual causes.  To combat, do frequent water changes, siphon out detritus, and use a good protein skimmer.

DETRITIVORES - Animals that eat detritus. Common detritivores are urchins, stars, hermits, etc.

DETRITUS - Piles of organic compounds that accumulate in the aquarium. Commonly will contain fish wastes, fragments of rock, leftover food, among other things. Usually detritus will accumulate in low water flow areas, sumps, etc.

DIATOM - A diatom is any of a class of microscopic one-celled algae having walls of silica consisting of two interlocking valves.

GENUS - In the taxonomy classification, the genus is the category ranking below a family and above a species.

HEAD AND LATERAL LINE EROSION - Also known as hole-in-head disease and lateral line disease. A fish with this condition will develop holes in it’s head and sometimes along it’s lateral line. The main cause is nutritional deficiency, especially vitamin C. Stress and poor water quality also play a role. Untreated cases will cause disfiguring or death. To combat and cure, ensure good water quality and provide vitamin enriched foods, especially vitamin C.

INVERTEBRATE - Commonly called inverts by many in the hobby. Invertebrates are animals without backbones like anemones, corals, shrimps, snails, and crabs.

LATERAL LINE - The lateral line is a line of perforated scales along the flanks of a fish which lead to a pressure-sensitive nervous system. This enables the fish to detect vibrations in the surrounding water caused by other fish and their own reflected vibrations against obstacles.

TAXONOMY - The classification of organisms in an ordered system that indicates natural relationships.

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