getting cleaned by Cleaner Shrimps

Subject: A Yellow-Edged Moray Eel (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus) is getting cleaned by two White-Banded Cleaner Shrimps (Lusmata amboinensis) and a juvenile Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus). These Indo-Pacific morays are very sensitive to the sounds emitted by injured or stressed fish (just like sharks). They are also one of the few natural predators of the Lionfish.

Technique: When examining the footage I noticed the mistake I made while filming; the camera’s focus setting was on ‘automatic’. Usually it’s a good idea to have this setting turned on but in this case, where several cardinalfish darted between the subject en my camera, it was clearly not. Every time a little fish swam in front of my lens the camera suddenly tried to focus on the spoilsports. As these fish moved quickly in and out the frame the camera never had the time to put them into focus. Yet they were present long enough to slightly blur the moray. When there are many items moving around and in front of your subject it is much better to put your camera’s focus setting on manual.

Plagued with Sea Lice

Subject: This Undulated Moray Eel (Gymnothorax undulatus) is plagued with Sea Lice. Copepods are small crustaceans that live in every aquatic habitat. Most of them are free-living species but some prefer a parasitic lifestyle and settle on the skin of a host. Although they’re not really harmful, most fish prefer to have them removed at different cleaning stations on the reef by cleaner shrimps and/or cleaner wrasses. Ironic detail; many of these small crustaceans are themselves infected with Dinoflagellates, a gut parasite.

Technique: It is a challenge to film such small critters under water. Tiny moving subjects easily cause focus fluctuations. So use a diopter and make sire you’ve got enough footage. Afterwards while editing just select the best shots.

Moray Eel scar tissue

Subject: Although Moray Eels are quite ferocious predators themselves, they do have powerful enemies. Sharks and Barracudas are known to prey on these eel-like fish. At first glance this Undulated Moray Eel (Gymnothorax undulatus) seemed to have a shell or a parasite attached to its neck. Once I examined the footage on a big screen I noticed the scar. So maybe (this is just an assumption) the thing looking like a parasite or mollusc is a fleshy lump that resulted from a predator’s attack.

Technique: I always like to start my video clips with the details to reveal the entire subject in a later phase. It’s a technique I often use to better engage the viewer by generating his/her curiosity.