Abstract
A review was carried out on a Nigerian fish species with ornamental importance, the Pantodon buchholzi. This was aimed at introducing it an additional aquarium fish and eliciting interest in the large scale culture of the species in Nigeria, to develop the Ornamental Fishery Industry. The study on the biology revealed that the species were spectacular species, possessing unique physical features that confer on them the ornamental status. They are widely distributed in flooded vegetated acidic freshwater environment in Nigeria and some other West African Countries. They require optimum water conditions of 25-27oC, pH of 6.5 -7.0, and hardness of 8-12. The adults are carnivorous, surface hunters, while the juveniles are passive insectivores that prefer live foods, but can be lured into eating fish feed over time. They mature sexually in a year or more. Information on the culture is scarce except for experiences of a few Aquarium fish keepers or hobbyists, who reported that they are hardy, but do not spawn readily in captivity. Also, they are community fishes but can be cannibalistic towards other fishes, and their young too. In conclusion, though the species possesses a great economic potential in the local and International Ornamental fish trade, its culture is not practiced as the species and its economic potentials are not well known, among other constraints.Keywords: Pantodon buchholzi, butterfly fish, aquarium species, Nigeria
Highlights
The term Ornamental fish/species is used to describe aquatic animals used in beautifying aquariums of different sizes and types (Ibim and Iwuoha, 2016) as a result of certain features/characteristics, colors, movements and feeding mechanisms considered fascinating by its audience
The Butterfly fish is a community species, tank mates must be carefully chosen because surface dwelling small fishes will be viewed as prey (Judy, 2009; Indiviglio, 2013)
The opportunities Pantodon buchholzi presents to the Nigerian ornamental industry cannot be overemphasized, and can only be harnessed when there is adequate supply of these species for the ornamental market, by means of the commercial Aquaculture of this species
Summary
The term Ornamental fish/species is used to describe aquatic animals used in beautifying aquariums of different sizes and types (Ibim and Iwuoha, 2016) as a result of certain features/characteristics (fins, scales, limbs, etc.), colors, movements and feeding mechanisms considered fascinating by its audience. The Pantodon buchholzi is one of the most unusual aquarium species (Brough and Roche, n.d.), called "Butterfly fish" due to its widespread silvery brownish green pectoral fins, patterned with dark markings, looking like the decorative wings of a butterfly when seen dorsally, and known to undertake powerful leaps from the water to capture insects above the water surface, as a result of its large anal and broad caudal fin which propels the fish (Judy 2009; Brough and Roche, n.d.). This review is aimed at identifying and building together all such information capable of developing the culture technique for this species in Nigeria that can ensure that the economic importance of Pantodon buchholzi is fully harnessed
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