Best Friends Barney's Barrier Reef

Australia, home of possum, surfers, lingo - no worries, fair dinkum -

lots of sunshine and the bonza Barrier Reef.

It's the biggest, most spectacular, coral reef in the world.

And what's more every creature is linked to another.

Just imagine one huge family tree dating back 18 million years.

The miniscule, mammoth and miraculous. They're all connected.

Yeah, tell me about it. Man United should never have let him go.

What's that? More sand? Sure.

That's just the good stuff. Just for you, that.

Gem, I'm getting really attached to these ocean creatures, you know.

-This is Colin, the sea cucumber.

-G'day, mate.

-He's got a name?

-Colin.

But he's not really a mate, is he, Barney?

Don't listen to her, Colin. Doesn't know what she's talking about.

I mean, he's not a real mate, that can give advice,

for you to hang out with and do cool stuff with like, ahem,

real friends.

I see where you're going. Don't worry, you're still my mate.

It's just that Colin needs my support now.

It's a sea cucumber. He eats and poos sand.

FARTING

It lives in the ocean. It's got loads of friends here.

Ah yes, the ocean is full of friendships.

It's very "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine".

Our fishy friends hook up because they need each other to survive.

But just like in the real world, some friends are closer than others

and some you can probably live without. Ahem, sea cucumbers.

Hey, you leave Colin out of this.

Yeah!

Ah, are you OK, wormy?

Wanna cup of tea? A piece of cake? Or do you want a Jammy Dodger.

TODDLER LAUGHS

Yee-hah!

Ooh, this is fun. Peekaboo.

Mine's better. I've got balloons.

Wha-hey!

Where you hiding?

Mum got me a pink one.

TODDLER LAUGHS

Now, show me someone who doesn't love a clownfish.

Clownfish? Now, they're not really very funny, though, are they?

No, not really. They are apparently called clownfish

because they bob around in a clownish fashion.

-Aah, they're so cute.

-Huh?

Meet our first best buddies, the anemone and clownfish.

-One is a stinging ball of tentacles...

-Rrrarrgh!

-..and one is a type of damsel fish.

-Yee-hah!

-They are unlikely best mates but that's what they are.

-Cool.

Clownfish have a clever way of making friends with this toughie.

They coat themselves in the anemone's mucus

which protects the clownfish from being stung by their tentacles.

It sounds like a bit of a one-sided relationship,

-OK for the clownfish with their bouncy castle anemone...

-Yay!

..but what does the anemone get out of it?

Well, this is a classic reef symbiotic friendship -

"I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine."

The clownfish help to scare away other fish like the butterfly fish.

They like to nibble on the anemone's tentacles.

So, it's a case of "I'll rub myself in your tentacles,

"cover myself in your snot,

"help chase off bigger fish and then I can live in you, sting-free."

Yeah, it's cool, innit?

What?!

The clownfish and the anemone have a fantastic friendship

as they stick up for and protect each other.

OK, Barney. I'll wash up all your dirty dishes

-if you spot a seahorse in that fan. I'll give you five seconds.

-Easy.

Starting...now.

He's over there, oh, no hang on, on the right.

OK top left, no, he's in the middle.

-Ha ha!

-Oh, man!

-Bad luck.

-Here he is.

-Isn't that just a piece of coral?

Hang on. The coral just moved!

Oh, when you said "seahorse", I was expecting one of these...

I know, he is a funny-looking seahorse

and part of the reason his seahorse face has been replaced by this snout

is because he has such a close friendship with this Gorgonian coral

that he has done whatever he can to look just like it!

That's too close a friendship!

A bit of dressing the same is understandable,

but if my mate dressed exactly like me, that'd freak me out...

OK! I'm officially freaked out.

They're so like the coral it's weird.

It would literally be like me turning into my home to the last detail.

Hang on a minute. They might want to look like their home

but are they really best mates? What does the coral get out of it?

Well, not much.

It's like your friend who eats all your sweets

and never gives you back any in return.

But the coral doesn't mind.

I guess some friendships are just like that. Barney! That's mine!

OK, there you go I don't want to be a pigmy-seahorse friend.

They were nice.

The connection between our clownfish gang

and pygmy seahorse and coral fan

is that they both live with their best friends.

Right then, who's our next chummy duo?

What has that crab got on his hands, oh, I mean, his pincers?

Put 'em up!

Well, he's got his hands full, OK?

Full of ready-made mini stinging anemones.

The boxer crab hasn't got his own sting -

he borrows little anemones to ward off enemies.

It can't be much fun being waved in the air like that.

Oh, ouch, be careful!

Actually there's more give-and-take in this friendship.

While the boxer crab has a ready-made weapon

he also uses his flowery hands to mop up leftovers

so the anemones get to eat as well.

Hang on, how does he get to eat when he's got his hands full?

He's got a hands-free so he calls for a takeaway! Only kidding.

His legs are specially adapted to rip off bits of food

from the sea floor and then bring them to the mouth. Clever, innit?

Ah. Well, he may be very clever

but he actually looks like he's cheerleading...

Ready? OK.

C R A B carrying the anemones, to keep away his enemies!

2, 4, 6, 8, who do I appreciate? The anemone!

I'm so good at cheerleading.

So, our bezzie mate boxer and anemone

are connected to our pygmy and coral buddies

because they each use each other for protection.

The mantis shrimp has never been

a very popular member of the ocean community.

A loner, he is often to be found underneath rocks, alone,

or spring cleaning his home, alone.

Some think his tidiness obsession is to occupy his time

-because he has...no friends.

-Ahh...poor mantis shrimp!

Never mind "poor mantis shrimp", Gem.

He's on his own for a reason.

Oi, mantis shrimp! Leave that crab alone.

Come on now, leave it out.

Stop it, you're bigger than he is.

Now look what you've done. You've broken his pincer. Meanie!

See, told you he's a big bully and that's why he has no friends.

Why's he beating that crab up, that was a bit unnecessary.

Well, to be fair, he has to eat something,

but he doesn't go for the easy kill. He likes a good punch-up first,

which is why he has a reputation as an ocean bully.

And with supersonic eyes that pick out his victims from miles away,

and a right-hook that can smash through glass,

he certainly has the right qualities.

So, he's friendless but it's easy to see why.

So, the mantis shrimp is a bully

and the boxer crab teams up with the anemones

to protect himself from bullies.

It's a bizarre bully connection.

So, who's our other connection to the boxer crab and his anemone friend?

Is that a fish prison, they look trapped!

This painful-looking spiky urchin and these cardinalfish are best buddies.

G'day, urchin, mate.

Hello.

Now the clownfish and their bouncy anemones I can understand.

Yee-hah!

But this can't be a comfortable place to hang out. What's the point?

What's the point... Cos it's got spikes...!

Yeah. I got it.

Ah, you're a wee man!

Actually it's a perfect hang-out.

-You see the black stripes on the cardinalfish?

-Yeah.

When these guys hang out in the urchins' long black spikes

their outline is disguised from predators!

Ooh-la-lah!

I see, they are very crafty fish

because they make friends with all the pointy and stingy animals.

Do the urchins get any benefit?

Well, actually no. They don't get anything in return.

It's another one-sided relationship.

-But I guess if you're a big, scary, spiky urchin...

-Raarrrgh!

..maybe you just need all the friends you can get.

In other words the sea urchins stick up for the cardinalfish!

Ha-ha... Stick up... Like the spikes.

I think you should be locked up for those jokes.

Anywhere but the fish prison, far too spiky for me.

Anyway, moving on, connection time.

The boxer crab gets protection from his stingy anemone gloves.

The cardinalfish protects himself from the big bad reef

by living in a spiky urchin fortress.

So, they both use their mates for protection.

I wish I had a fortress.

Ah, nice to see some real friends hanging out on the reef together.

And look, Barney, I've made you a little sand turtle.

Oh, that's nice. I'd have preferred a mountain bike though.

OK, it's time for a reef-cap.

Loads of animals on the reef hang out with their mates

We've met some of the bestest friends ever.

But how did we get all the way from the clownfish and his bouncy anemones

to the locked-up cardinalfish?

Well, our first magnificent mates were the clownfish and the anemone.

The clownfish gets a home, and the anemone gets protection

from those pesky butterfly fish.

Next up, the pygmy seahorse and his close coral fan.

A little too close, maybe,

as the pygmy seahorse completely copies the coral fan.

And if you're a little boxer crab who wants to be tougher than he is,

a portable anemone is just the trick to scare away enemies.

Luckily the anemones get fed on the way.

Unlike the badly-behaved mantis shrimp.

Pick on someone your own size, shrimpy!

-He's not all that bad.

-He doesn't need sticking up for.

Unlike the crafty cardinalfish hiding away in a spiky sea urchin.

-Ah, is that a shell for me?

-No, it's mine.

You're so shellfish.

The glass shrimp and the mushroom coral with their delicate tentacles.

Now, these pair are a match made in heaven.

Coral, you're my best friend.

They should be called invisible shrimps!

Well, the glass shrimp, as their name suggests,

are delicate little shrimps.

They're so see-through that sometimes you can only see them

by coloured dots on their bodies.

And, being so titchy, they need a nice comfy place to hang out.

And where better than this spongy mushroom coral?

-Hey, is that a camera?!

-Fish! Get out the way!

As I was saying, the mushroom coral

is also quite a sensitive little fellow. Fish! Out!

But it's happy with the glass shrimp because it weighs so little.

I'm guessing the mushroom coral might also protect the shrimp

from naughty fish who want their camera close-up?

OK, fish! Have your moment.

-Hi, Mum!

-Was that it? I've met caviar with more to say!

Our little glass shrimp hides and plays in the mushroom coral

and the cardinalfish hangs out with the sea urchin

because they're both camouflage buddies.

Now, who do these fellows remind you of?

Hmm! Look like Yoda, I do.

Hey, it's Yoda! I didn't know he could swim!

So, meet the spoilt brats of the reef - the remoras.

Remora fish hang out with the big boys of the reef

like the magnificent manta here.

They don't care that much about the manta.

All they're after is a free ride, a free meal and free protection.

They choose any big fish they can hitch a ride with.

I see, they're like those annoying friends you can't get rid of.

-Give me some space, go away.

-Back off, buster!

They're the mate who nicks your lunch,

borrows all your clothes and won't return them

and really doesn't do much to help you out at all.

-BOTH:

-Thank goodness, you're not like that.

Why don't the bigger fish just shrug them off?

You can do without friends like that, surely.

That's the problem.

When I said they were hangers-on, I wasn't kidding.

They have these Velcro-like pads on the top of their heads

that suck on to big fish meaning they can really hang on, and on, and on.

So, they get free lifts without having to lift a finger.

Well, fin without the ger.

You're no friend of mine.

They are such freeloaders, they don't miss a trick.

Oh, did that remora just eat shark poo.

Yeah. They don't turn down any freebie these guys, even poo.

Like the glass shrimp and his mushroom coral,

the remoras are not really mates with the mantas and the sharks.

They are just hanging out with them for the bonus benefits.

What? Poo?

Oh, no!

Get off. Get off my head. Get off. Give me some space.

Looks like this little fish has an unwanted hanger-on as well.

Yeah, that's a parasite and for fish these are pretty evil visitors.

This is one of those "I'm going to stick to your head

"and really annoy you" variety.

Can't the fish just brush it off?

They don't have brushes and this parasite is a bit like a leech.

Once it's on, it is difficult to shake of

and it can make the fish feel pretty poorly.

Usually fishes' mucus covered scales help put off parasites

but, sometimes, like all best laid plans, that doesn't always work.

And this sunfish is positively,

or should I say parasitely, covered in them.

This geezer is lucky because he has mates,

the banner fish, and they are around to help nibble on the parasites.

But our poor damsel fish

looks like he's stuck with this hanger-on for good.

-No!

-Ha-ha-ha! I'm not leaving.

Like our remoras who stick around with their so-called friends

purely for selfish reasons our parasites are one group of friends

our damsel fish could live without.

-There you go.

-Aah. Thank you.

Where are my sandwiches?

Well, I couldn't find any witches so I just got you sand.

I did a joke about sandwiches.

OK, it's time for reef-cap.

Ocean animals know a good friend when they see one, unlike Barney here.

Not true, I saw Colin and I said hello.

Our delicate little glass shrimp

knows the best place to stay safe is in his mushroom bouncy coral.

And they keep the coral pest free.

And they got on. Imagine having a load of friends

that you just can't get rid of, a bit like the sponging remora.

Very irritating but not as much as having

a giant parasite stuck to your head.

There are some mates that are really not much fun

and this bloodsucker is one of them.

I hope we are going to see some nice friendships in this half.

You see, I think the key to a good friendship is communication.

You talk to someone and you know they're listening.

-..Er, Tuesday...

-You weren't even listening, were you?

-..five o'clock.

-Oh, typical!

Luckily our next best mates are a little more considerate.

-Well, they are happy little chappies who are they?

-As I said,

"The key to a good friendship is communication," and these buddies

have it sussed. Let me introduce the cleaner wrasse.

As their name suggests they spend their time cleaning up,

nibbling nasties off the skin of fishes to stop them getting poorly.

Barney, look, he's doing a little dance.

Well, I'm glad he's enjoying himself, but why?

Well, this is his way of saying, "I'm free!

"Hello, fishes, anyone want a clean up? I'll clean you good."

Then why doesn't he just say that instead of showing off?

Barney, fish can't talk. D'oh! So they do a little dance instead.

-Oh, no!

-How do the cleaner wrasse know which fish wants cleaning?

-They strike a pose.

-Come clean me.

-I'm ready.

-Give me a clean, eh?

-I need a scrub.

-Don't forget my left fin.

Thanks mate.

Ready for a scrub down.

Hiya, mate, give us a scrub down will you?

This is a complete mutual appreciation friendship.

The fish love the cleaner wrasse and the wrasse love the fish.

You're my bezzie mate. About time we had a proper friendship.

-Oh, do you need a clean up?

-Your spots are looking good.

Your lips are looking good too.

Do you think?

-The wrasse have a real taste for the gnathiid isopods.

-I am sorry, what?

The gnathiid isopods, otherwise known as deadly parasites.

They can make the fish very ill indeed

but are a real tasty snack for the cleaner wrasse.

-OK, so the wrasse get a nice feast of the gnathiid...

-Gnathiid isopods.

Yes. And the fish get a nice clean skin without infection

-meaning that they can swim along and get on with their day.

-Exactly.

Ha-ha-ha!

They are linked through sickness and health.

-Wow, quite a display going on here.

-I know!

These schools of fish are amazing, aren't they?

They are so graceful and well co-ordinated.

I mean, how do they do that?

Is there a sergeant major fish going,

"And to the left, to the right, all together boys and girls!

"Let's make a crazy ball."

-But seriously, their timing is impeccable, isn't it?

-Yeah.

That's because this is one tight-knit group of friends, all right.

-You're telling me, they even look the same.

-I know.

They don't hang out with any old fish they choose their school mates well.

Oh, school mates, very clever, Gem.

Thank you.

They're like those cliquey gangs you can never get in with

but with the fish schools it's all about sticking together for survival.

If one fish finds a rich source of food, they all follow.

Follow that fish.

Doesn't it confuse their predators though?

It confuses and intimidates them.

Argh!

Predators may be fooled into thinking they are looking at one big fish

or it's just too much like hard work.

Aah, pesky fish balls.

There are also more eyes to watch for danger,

like a giant neighbourhood watch gang.

-What do you call a guy with loads of eyes?

-I don't know.

Seymour, because he can see more.

Like our cleaner wrasse and their fishy friends, our schools of fish

also have a fantastic friendship and stick together for survival.

Ah it is good to know there are

some nice friendships in the reef.

So, who's on next, bosom buddy.

It's another shrimp cleaning up. Get a life, mate, seriously.

Hey, don't shout at the shrimp or you may have to deal with the scary goby.

If you not from the burrow you're not coming in.

These fish are shrimp bodyguards. They live together with the shrimp.

While the shrimp tidies and builds the burrow, the gobies keep watch.

Sid, keep an eye on that dodgy geezer over there would you?

Ho-ho! Oh-ho!

They take their work very seriously, don't they?

Oh, yes, these gobies are not to be messed with.

You looking at me?

They're very protective over their mate shrimpy here.

Shrimpy, stay indoors it's not safe.

I'll just get rid of this rubble.

And they're in constant contact with their shrimpy buddies.

The shrimp keeps its antennae touching the body of the goby

who flicks the shrimp with its tail when it's alarmed.

Then they both scarper into the burrow and they are safe as houses.

So, Gem, salt and pepper, bucket and spade, egg and spoon.

I understand why they're pairs

but fish and shrimp?! That's got to be the most unlikely pairing ever.

Well, yeah I hear what you're saying

but like all good friendships I guess opposites attract.

Plus, they both get lots from being buddies.

The shrimp gets a warning of approaching danger and the goby

gets a nice and very clean home to lay its eggs.

Ah, how touching, another life-saving friendship.

Stay away from my shrimp friend.

Both the fish schools

and the shrimp and goby look after

each other to help stay alive.

So, who are our next chumsters?

These cute little fish are looking right at ya!

Meet the twinspot gobies, they have, well, twin spots.

And there's two of them, like twins.

-Here we are.

-Hello.

Hang on, which is their front and which is their back end?

That's a good question.

Their two-spotted fin is confusing to our eyes

and even more confusing to the underwater world.

In fact they are also named the crab-eye goby

because they pretend to be a crab to fool predators.

Oops.

And like twins, they obviously have a very close friendship,

they even move in sync.

They have a funny little swimming style,

not helped by the fact that those crafty eye spots

completely confuse the eye. Let's take a closer look.

Ah!

There's the real eye.

Hang on, or is that it?

They are very clever little gobies, aren't they?

Now you're saying.

They are what's known as bottom feeders. They spend

most of their time munching on sand to filter through any nibbles.

So, are they twins, or just bezzie mates?

Well, they are very, very close friends, if you get my meaning.

Um, no.

Brace yourself, Gem, romantic moments coming.

You see they are more than just friends, they are in lurve.

-You're kidding?

-No, gobies mate for life and are soul mates,

which may explain why they are so in sync.

Like our goby and shrimp our twinspot gobies are together for good,

looking after each other.

Ah, forever friends.

Well, hello there.

Er, talking of romance, wait until you hear about

this smooth customer.

Hi, I'm Napoleon, Napoleon wrasse. How delightful to meet you, Gemma.

Ooh, and you too, Napoleon.

You see this geezer's a real charmer.

See how he's surrounded by ladies.

They are the ones without the hump.

Only the males have humps.

It's though they need them to balance out their big mouths.

Yeah, what is that with the big old gob? Is it for all the kissing?

Oh, I don't want to know!

Well, actually, I can tell you.

He feeds on shells so he needs it to crush them up.

Yawn!

Anyway, back to the romance.

Ooh-la-la!

The Napoleon wrasse likes to make friends with the ladies.

In fact he has lots of girlfriends who all hang out together

under the protection of one macho male Napoleon. Like this one.

-Hi there, ladies.

-Ooh, hi, Napoleon. Hello!

I mean it seems a bit old-fashioned to me

but I guess some females just need protection.

-BUZZ!

-Oh, my...!

And what's more, when they're flirting the hump darkens.

Oh, so I guess they wear their heart on their hump then?

You know, like heart on sleeve?

So, just like our cute twinspot gobies

our Napoleon wrasse

has a group of friends

who are more than just friends.

It's tricky being friends in the ocean world.

Let's take a look back at all our bezzie mates.

From the clownfish all the way to the Napoleon wrasse

there's ocean buddies galore.

-Ah.

-Wha-hey!

It's great to be a clownfish.

Especially with their bouncy-castle anemone.

Imagine being so close to your friend you copy them down to their spots.

Well, that's exactly what our pygmy seahorses do.

Oh, that's touching.

Mr boxer crab carries his buddy anemone on his pincers

to use their sting as protection

but also for a spot of cheerleading.

Then there's Mr mantis shrimp no mates.

Well if you do insist on beating up crabs, shrimpy!

Yeah, those crabs need sticking up for.

Just like our cardinalfish, hiding

with their mates the spiky sea urchins.

And our fragile glass shrimp knows a good coral when he sees one.

The most annoying friend ever, the stick-on remoras, who decide

who they want to hang around with and then won't leave them alone.

Can't they take a hint? Hey, remora, leave me alone.

Apparently not. Like this infuriating parasite,

now that really is too close for comfort.

Leave him alone, you evil parasite.

Thank goodness for the cleaner wrasse and their fishy mates.

They even communicate through dance! What a nice gang.

Talking of gangs, our silvery skilful schools of fish

must be the greatest group of friends going but you have to

look the part to fit into their cliquey circle.

Next up, the goby and shrimp, unlikely pals

but it seems they've hit if off

as long the shrimp keeps their burrow nice and tidy that is.

And now for our special friends -

the twinspot gobies.

So twin-like they copy each other. And they are more than just friends.

They're in love. Aw, so cute.

You can't call Mr Napoleon wrasse cute

but he does seem to have a way with the ladies.

Well, hello.

You know what, Gem, you might not always wash up

or share your sweets but I must say, after that lot,

I'm happy to have you as my friend.

Ah, thanks, so you don't mind me having your last sweetie then?

Hey, I was saving that for Colin.

Yeah.

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