Marine Aquarium Fish Research Articles

Case Report: Cryptocaryonosis in Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus) Fish at the Closed System Quarantine of the Jakarta Aquarium and Safari

Cryptocaryon irritans, known as cryptocaryonosis disease infection in fish, is a significant problem for aquarists because they not only cause the disease but also lead to high mortality in the aquarium population. This case report aims to identify Cryptocaryon irritans infection in four Indian Ocean oriental sweetlips at the Jakarta Aquarium and Safari. Before they died, a total of four fish showed signs of weakness, scratching, excessive mucus, and pale gills. The diagnosis was confirmed through clinical assessment, physical examination, and microscopic analysis of skin scrape and gill clip samples, which revealed the presence of numerous trophonts (the young immature stages) of C. irritans. These findings underscore the importance of vigilant monitoring and prompt intervention to mitigate the impact of C. irritans, especially on marine aquarium fish populations.

Catching Dory: selling aquarium fish supports coastal livelihoods in Indonesia

The global marine aquarium trade has created new local markets across the planet, including in Indonesia, now the second-largest exporting country of marine aquarium fish in the world. Participating in the global aquarium trade has been touted as a potentially sustainable addition to fisher livelihoods, but scant data exist showing the numbers of fish coming off the reef and how those fish contribute to income. To determine how participants in the trade incorporate aquarium species in their livelihoods, we examine source-level aquarium fish collecting and trading data in the Banggai Archipelago, a region in Central Sulawesi that has become a significant source for popular aquarium, also known as ornamental, fish species. Using a sustainable livelihoods lens, we examine this data to understand how participants in the aquarium trade both contribute to as well as benefit from the trade and consider how their participation relates to emerging Blue Justice principles. From one year of buying and selling data at the fisher, intermediary buyer, and regional trader levels, we show that catching and selling fish for the aquarium trade represents an average of nearly 20% of their gross annual income and provides added diversity and flexibility to fisher and trader livelihoods in the region, especially during seasons of rough weather. We suggest that managers of an impending marine protected area in the region would do well to consider how to sustain these livelihood benefits.

Comparative assessment of the U.S. State of Florida’s Marine Life regulations for its commercial marine aquarium fish fishery

Governments in select locales around the world have recently either restricted or closed commercial marine aquarium fisheries, impacting the livelihoods of fishers, traders, and others who depend on them. This paper offers an objective assessment of Florida's commercial marine aquarium fish fishery and its regulatory landscape to inform and guide stakeholders about management strategies for the fishery moving forward, and to highlight successful regulations in place in Florida that merit consideration for adoption in other source locales around the world. The study discovered that the State has a strong regulatory structure for the commercial fishery operated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; practicing co-management with fishers, and utilizing license and permitting requirements, conventional fisheries management measures and technical actions to regulate fishing mortality, and rights-based management approaches. Additionally, both fisheries-independent and dependent surveys have been conducted in recent years to assess the fishery. Consequently, the vast majority of fish species collected commercially for the trade indicate stable or increasing catch trends in Florida waters over 10 + years. Moving forward, the fishery can benefit from an assessment of the economic impacts of the regulatory framework on its fishers, a statewide fisheries management plan specific for the fishery, the further development of a comprehensive program for fisheries data collection and analysis to address data gaps, an assessment of resources at hand and those needed to implement these recommendations, and the elevation of marine aquarium fisheries for support at the national level to support state-level management.

Characterizing the gastrointestinal development and digestive enzyme ontogeny of larval Amphiprion ocellaris

Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) are the most recognizable and popular marine aquarium fish and are a key commodity for marine ornamental fish producers. Although these fish have been raised in captivity for decades, producers are still experiencing issues regarding larval survival, reliance on live feeds, and post-larval deformities. To improve the culture process, the ontogeny of larval development and digestive capacity should be elucidated. The morphological development, digestive enzyme ontogeny, and digestive tract development of A. ocellaris was examined in a 16-day trial. Standard microplate assays were conducted to quantify the activity of trypsin, lipase, and acid protease enzymes from 24 h before hatching to 15 days post hatch (DPH). Histology was used to visualize morphological changes in the digestive tract throughout the larval period. At hatching, A. ocellaris has functional eyes, an open mouth, and a coiled, differentiated digestive tract. Trypsin and lipase activities were detectable before hatching and increased significantly later in the larval period. Gastric gland formation was observed at 6 DPH, with stomach functionality occurring between 7 and 9 DPH, indicated by gastric gland proliferation and an increase in acid protease activity. The results from this study may be used to inform weaning protocols to maximize larval growth and survival while minimizing the use of costly live feeds.

A framework for the selection of marine aquarium fishes to target for aquaculture

An average of 7.6 M individual fishes, representing 1.8 K species from 125 distinct fish families, are imported into the U.S. annually for the marine aquarium trade. While many wild-caught species are traded annually, there are only ~39 commercial aquaculture businesses in the U.S. (2020), and 96 species commercially available as aquacultured. This study presents a data-driven framework to empower the selection of species to target for aquaculture research and development. The framework is based on species-specific data for 105 of the top 130 species imported into the U.S., including market characteristics (aquarium suitability, number of imports, retail price), aquaculture practicality (demersal/pelagic spawning strategy, pelagic larval duration, size at hatch), and conservation assessment (aquacultured status, ecological niche, geographic distribution, and mid-depth). A principal components analysis revealed that fish species which feature life history characteristics conducive to practical aquaculture efforts also either 1) demonstrate favorable market characteristics, or 2) are vulnerable to overfishing and thus merit the effort from a conservation perspective. Conversely, fish species whose life history characteristics render them challenging to aquaculture also either 1) demonstrate less favorable market characteristics, or 2) also demonstrate life history characteristics that equip them with resiliency to overfishing and thus may best be prioritized for wild collection under sound fisheries management.

Natural spawning, early development and first successful hatchery production of the bluestreak cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus (Valenciennes, 1839), with application of an inorganic fertilization method in larviculture

Bluestreak cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, is one of the top ten most exported fish to the global trade in marine aquarium fish and a key species for reef fish diversity. However, knowledge on reproduction and early ontogeny of this species in captivity are scarce and incomplete. Daily spawning, early development and appropriate rearing condition (temperature and salinity) for the larviculture of L. dimidiatus were studied for the first time. We raised wrasse larvae by using an inorganic fertilization method to produce natural assemblages of phytoplankton and zooplankton, and compared it to the higher N: P ratio group and traditional rotifer-fed group. A single male dominated a harem of three females, spawning between late afternoon and dusk. L. dimidiatus spawned 305 times from 1 May 2011 to 30 April 2012, 86.9 ± 10.1% of which resulted in fertilized eggs. Fecundity ranged from 53 to 25,108 eggs per spawn with average hatching rate of 72.2 ± 22.6%. Fertilized eggs were spherical, buoyant and had a diameter of 0.68 ± 0.02 mm. Embryonic development lasted 19 h at 27.3 °C. Newly hatched larvae were 1.81 ± 0.06 mm in total length (LT) and had an oil globule in the ventroanterior area of the yolk sac. First feeding took places at 3 days post hatch (dph) which is marked by the widening of the gut. At 41 dph, transformation of larvae to the juvenile stage was completed at 12.60 ± 0.98 mm LT. On the scanning electron microscope observations, the fertilized egg membrane was smooth and lack surface sculpturing. The distribution density of pores was 61 pores 100 μm−2. The micropyle was circular or oval-shaped, and the diameter was 6.90–7.13 μm. Several neuromasts were found on the head and body surface of newly hatched larvae. The results showed that unicellular algae, zooplankton within the size ranges of 48–150 μm and larval survival of L. dimidiatus were all significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the fertilized treatment (maintaining the inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of 700 μg N L−1 and 100 μg P L−1, respectively) compared with the others. These results indicated that the optimal conditions for embryo incubation and larval rearing of L. dimidiatus were combinations of temperature 27 °C and salinity 33 psu. Our results of this study may provide a keystone for further studies to determine the successful mass-scale production of juvenile L. dimidiatus.

Preliminary Investigations into Use of Metomidate for Euthanasia of Ornamental Fishes

The goals of this study were to investigate the potential use of metomidate for one-step euthanasia of ornamental fish species representing commonly sold families in the ornamental fish trade and to determine a baseline euthanasia dose for most species tested. Metomidate hydrochloride, a rapid-acting, water-soluble, nonbarbiturate hypnotic related to etomidate, was tested at various concentrations and durations for euthanasia of species representing the following freshwater and marine aquarium fish families: Apogonidae, Ariidae, Blenniidae, Callichthyidae, Characidae, Cichlidae, Cyprinidae, Gobiidae, Gyrinocheilidae, Loricariidae, Melanotaeniidae, Osphronemidae, Pimelodidae, Poeciliidae, Pomacentridae, and Pseudochromidae. Fish in each trial were euthanized as a group (n=1). Most groups contained 10-12 fish. Some higher doses required buffering. Euthanasia was considered successful if all fish in each group did not recover after 6h in unmedicated water. All species immediately lost buoyancy and equilibrium, dropping to the tank bottom within 1min and ceasing ventilation typically within minutes. However, reactivity to vibration, sound, or touch was noticeable for varying time periods afterward (8-66min), so an additional 30min of exposure after cessation of reactivity was included as part of the protocol. Although some species (Neon Tetras Paracheirodon innesi and Australian Rainbowfish Melanotaenia australis) were euthanized at a concentration of 40mg/L metomidate for a total exposure time of 38min, most species tested were successfully euthanized with metomidate at a concentration of 100mg/L, with total exposure times ranging from 35-96min. A few catfish species (Otocinclus sp. and Bronze Corydoras Corydoras aeneus) were refractory and recovered after 100mg/L. However, Otocinclus sp. were successfully euthanized at 250mg/L, and Bronze Corydoras were euthanized at 1,000mg/L. Further studies are needed to provide additional data for these and other species and families, for different water chemistry conditions, and for various biological factors to fine-tune dosing regimens.

Establishing optimal broodstock sex ratios for the royal gramma (Gramma loreto) in small scale system aquaculture

The royal gramma (Gramma loreto) is vulnerable to anthropogenic impact in its coral reef habitats, and is deemed an “indicator” species of pollution. It is also heavily fished for the aquarium trade, being among the top 1% of imported marine aquarium fish species into the U.S. The objective of this study was to establish optimal sex ratios of broodstock groups for aquaculture as an alternative to wild capture, while balancing territorial aggression. Three two-month breeding trials were carried out in six 23 L aquaria stocked with one male and one, two, or three females. During the trials, each aquarium was filmed weekly for one hour at first light to record courtship, nest use, and aversive behaviors. Behaviors were quantified with JWatcher software and analyzed in repeated measures ANOVAs. Results suggest that in small aquaria, a sex ratio of one male to two females may be optimal for spawning because courtship and nest use behaviors are optimized while aversive behaviors are moderated. Past efforts to aquaculture the species have typically been conducted at broodstock sex ratios of 1:1. These results offer the potential to increase productivity of commercial aquaculture of the species.

Improving the productivity-susceptibility analysis to assess data-limited fisheries

Each year, millions of marine aquarium fish and invertebrates are harvested from coral reefs and enter the complex and largely unregulated marine aquarium trade (MAT). It is challenging to identify species at risk of overexploitation in this trade due to its data-limited and poorly monitored nature. We developed a new analytical approach based on a productivity-susceptibility analysis (PSA) to assess the vulnerability of wild-captured marine aquarium fish. The PSA was originally developed to assess food fisheries; however, species and operational characteristics between food fisheries and the MAT differ. Thus, we improved a prior PSA framework to assess the data-limited MAT through customization of productivity and susceptibility factors to align with the target fishery, improved data binning, calculation of susceptibility, and characterization of the vulnerability scores. Our vulnerability results align well with the most recent IUCN assessments, showing improved accuracy using this revised PSA compared to prior adaptions of the PSA to the MAT. Further, we show that this PSA approach can be used to assess species on either a global or country-specific scale. A Gaussian mixture model clustering algorithm was applied to the PSA results to objectively classify fish along a sustainability continuum. Among 32 species, a majority of species clustered as highly sustainable or sustainable indicating little management or over-harvest concern; however, the Bangaii cardinalfish Pterapogon kauderni and blue tang Paracanthurus hepatus indexed as unsustainable. This novel PSA method, and use of a clustering algorithm to classify results, provides a predictive tool for a wide range of fisheries. In addition to informing species management plans, the compilation of sustainability status data generated by our PSA can inform a consumer guide, allowing consumers and other stakeholders to make sustainable decisions when purchasing fish.

Understanding the United Kingdom marine aquarium trade - a mystery shopper study of species on sale.

In this study, we conducted a unique survey of marine ornamental fishes appearing in UK retail stores, as well as a review of government trade statistics, with the aim to significantly strengthen the evidence-base in support of future management initiatives. Fifty marine aquarium retailers were visited. A total of 380 marine aquarium fish species (4926 individuals), from 48 families were recorded with the largest proportion of individuals belonging to the families Pomacentridae, Acanthuridae, Apogonidae, Labridae, Pomacanthidae, Gobiidae and Labridae. The majority of fishes for sale (91% of species) originated from the Indo-Pacific Ocean, with only a small number (9% of species) derived from the Atlantic Ocean. However, exact sources of individual species were unclear and poorly documented. Government trade statistics revealed that the ornamental reef-fish trade in the UK grew markedly between 1996 and 2008 with a rapid acceleration in 2003-2004. However, imports have declined since 2008 and amounted to less than 305,000 kg in 2017 with an economic value of UK £3 million (c. US $3.8). Recent trade data (2017) identify Indonesia, USA, Philippines and the Maldives as the most important countries in terms of imports to the UK. The UK is an important exporter of wild-caught fishes via trans-shipment, but also production of tank-reared animals. Several species observed for sale in the UK have been designated by the IUCN and CITES as being of conservation concern, although all these animals are thought to have been captive-reared.

On the half-life of thiocyanate in the plasma of the marine fish Amphiprion ocellaris: implications for cyanide detection.

The illegal practice of using cyanide (CN) as a stunning agent to collect fish for both the marine aquarium and live fish food trades has been used throughout the Indo-Pacific for over 50 years. CN fishing is destructive to all life forms within the coral reef ecosystems where it is used and is certainly one of many anthropogenic activities that have led to 95% of the reefs in the Indo-Pacific being labeled at risk for degradation and loss. A field-deployable test for detecting fish caught using CN would assist in combating the use of this destructive practice, however, no reliable and robust test exists. Further, there is little toxicokinetic data available on marine fish to support the development of such a test, yet such data is critical to establishing the concentration range and time scale over which such a test would be viable. This study presents the first direct measurement of the half-life of the metabolite thiocyanate (SCN) after pulsed exposure to CN in a marine fish. SCN was measured in the plasma of Amphiprion ocellaris after exposure to 50 ppm CN for three exposure times (20, 45, and 60 s) using HPLC-UV and a C30 column pre-treated with polyethylene glycol. Plasma SCN levels observed are dose-dependent, reflecting a longer time for conversion of CN to SCN as the dose of CN increases. SCN plasma levels reached a maximum concentration (1.2–2.3 ppm) 12–20 h after exposure to CN. The half-life for the elimination of SCN was 1.01 ± 0.26 days for 45 s exposure and 0.44 ± 0.15 days for 20 s exposure. Fish were also directly exposed to SCN (100 ppm for 11 days) and the observed half-life for SCN elimination was 0.35 ± 0.07 days. Plasma SCN levels did not return to control levels, even after 41 days when exposed to CN but did return to control levels after 48 days when exposed to SCN. The similar half-lives observed for CN and SCN exposure suggests that SCN exposure can be used as a proxy for measuring the rate of SCN elimination following CN exposure. In order for plasma SCN to be used as a marker for CN exposure, these results must be extended to other species and endogenous levels of SCN in wild caught fish must be established.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CEARÁ STATE TO THE BRAZILIAN MARINE ORNAMENTAL FISH EXPORTS

O Brasil é um dos principais fornecedores mundiais de peixes ornamentais marinhos e Ceará é o estado exportador de maior relevância no país. Entretanto, existe uma carência de informações atualizadas sobre a atividade, o que é crucial para a explotação sustentável desses organismos. Assim, o presente trabalho fornece os dados mais recentes em relação às exportações brasileiras e, mais especificamente, cearenses de peixes ornamentais marinhos, por meio da análise de informações contidas em 420.871 autorizações de exportação emitidas pelas autoridades ambientais brasileiras nos últimos 10 anos. Os resultados corroboram a relevante paraticipação do estado do Ceará nas exportações nacionais de peixes ornamentais marinhos, mas também mostram um declínio substancial dessa atividade ao longo da última década. Dezesseis espécies foram as mais abundantes e frequentes tanto nas exportações brasileiras quanto nas cearenses. Não surpreendentemente, os pomacantídeos foram os peixes mais importantes comercializados, e provavelmente mais de 283.525 indivíduos foram capturados na natureza em um intervalo de aproximadamente 10 anos. Atualmente as exportações brasileiras são direcionadas principalmente para os países asiáticos e deslocamentos sazonais da Zona de Convergência Intertropical (ZCIT) parecem interferir na coleta de peixes ornamentais no Ceará, impactando

Can excreted thiocyanate be used to detect cyanide exposure in live reef fish?

Cyanide fishing, where a solution of sodium or potassium cyanide is used to stun reef fish for easy capture for the marine aquarium and live fish food trades, continues to be pervasive despite being illegal in many countries and destructive to coral reef ecosystems. Currently, there is no easy, reliable and universally accepted method to detect if a fish has been exposed to cyanide during the capture process. A promising non-invasive technique for detecting thiocyanate ions, the metabolic byproduct excreted by exposed fish, has been reported in the literature. In an effort to validate this method, four cyanide exposure studies on Amphiprion ocellaris (common clownfish) were carried out over three years. Fish were either exposed to the same (25 ppm) or twice the concentration (50 ppm) as the previsouly published method. Over 100 water samples of fish exposed to cyanide were analyzed by reverse phase HPLC with a C30 column treated with polyethylene glycol and UV detector operating at 220 nm. No thiocyanate was detected beyond the analytical standards and positive controls prepared in seawater. As an alternate means of detecting thiocyanate, water samples and thiocyanate standards from these exposures were derivatized with monobromobimane (MBB) for LC-MS/MS analysis. Thiocyanate was detected in standards with concentrations as low as 0.6 μg/L and quantified to 1 μg/L, but thiocyanate could not be detected in any of the water samples from fish exposed to cyanide with this method either, confirming the HPLC results. Further, we calculated both the mass balance of thiocyanate and the resultant plausible dosage of cyanide from the data reported in the previously published method. These calculations, along with the known lethal dosage of cyanide, further suggests that the detection of thiocyanate in aquarium water is not a viable method for assessing fish exposure to cyanide.

Development of Improved Feeding Methods in the Culture of Yellow Tang, Zebrasoma flavescens

AbstractYellow tang, Zebrasoma flavescens, are one of the most heavily traded marine aquarium fish species, with nearly 400,000 individuals collected annually from Hawaii's reefs. Despite recent success culturing this species, significant challenges in the rearing processes remain to be overcome before commercialization is feasible. This study compared two feeding regimens, an original diet treatment, which was initially used to successfully culture yellow tang, and a revised diet, which differed in the timing of the introduction of feed items and weaning periods. Both diet regimens consisted of Parvocalanus crassirostris nauplii, enriched Brachionus rotundiformis rotifers, and Artemia nauplii, followed by a transition to dry and frozen feed items. The revised feeding regimen aimed to considerably reduce the amount of copepods and rotifers needed in the rearing process. Eggs were stocked at 40/L into replicate (n = 3) 200‐L tanks for the feeding regimen trial. A follow‐up rearing study, in which eggs were stocked at 19/L in a single 1000‐L tank, tested the revised feeding method at pilot scale. Fish reared on the revised feeding regimen were observed to grow faster in body length and body depth after 2 wk in culture and transitioned more quickly to juveniles as 41% had completed their transition to juvenile coloration by 70 d after hatch. None of the fish reared under the original feeding regimen attained full juvenile coloration during the study period. Survival was not significantly different between treatments and was 0.13% ± 0.13 and 0.29% ± 0.17 in the original and revised feeding regimens, respectively. In the pilot‐scale study, growth was comparable to that of both treatments in the 200‐L scale trial, but survival was much better at 1.9%. This study successfully shortened the copepod and rotifer feeding periods for yellow tang, while not jeopardizing growth or survival. This outcome enhances the commercialization potential for this and likely other Acanthuridae species.

Consumer perspectives on theoretical certification schemes for the marine aquarium trade

Certification schemes are a component of sustainable industry development that can help empower consumers to support environmentally friendly and ethical commodities with their purchase decisions. At present, there is no unified certification scheme within the marine aquarium trade, limiting the capacity for consumers to differentiate sustainable products from others. To assess the extent to which consumers show preference for certified marine aquarium fishes (Teleostei) in the current market climate, an online survey of 510 marine aquarium consumers was conducted over a six month period to determine how certification schemes, presented under different themes, would influence their buying decisions when compared to other attributes of potential importance. Using a Likert five point scale, it was determined that consumers placed significantly higher importance on a certification theme of industry best practice (3.99±0.05) than themes of environmental sustainability (3.77±0.05) or supporting indigenous fishers (3.36±0.06; Fpseudo(14,7141)=212.08, P<0.01). The only surveyed attributes of greater importance than industry best practice certification were a fish’s health (4.81±0.06), aquarium suitability (4.56±0.03), and the fish species (4.21±0.04). A high percentage of surveyed consumers were willing to pay a price premium for fishes that were certified under the themes of environmental sustainability (90.5%), adherence to industry best practice (91.0%), and supporting indigenous fishers (82.6%). This indicates potential for the absorption of the costs of implementing certification schemes by exporters, wholesalers, and retailers. Further analysis revealed consumer predispositions towards certain certification themes that may be helpful in establishing consumer confidence in future industry certification schemes.

Finding Dory: first record of Paracanthurus hepatus (Perciformes: Acanthuridae) in the Mediterranean Sea

A single individual of the palette surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus, is reported for Bat Yam, Israel. This is the first report of this species for the Mediterranean Sea. Since this Indo-Pacific species does not occur in the Red Sea, and is one of the most popular marine aquarium fish, its introduction is referred to as aquarium release. The impact of aquarium trade on biological invasions in the Mediterranean Sea is briefly revised and discussed.

Domestication level of the most popular aquarium fish species: is the aquarium trade dependent on wild populations?

Aquarium fish trade has strongly increased in the past decades to become one of the most popular hobbies globally. Historically, all aquarium fish traded were wild-caught. Then, an increasing number of fish species have been produced in captivity. The main goal of the present study is to apply the concept of domestication level to the hundred most popular aquarium fish species in Europe and North America. The levels of domestication of freshwater aquarium fish species (n = 50) ranged from 0 to 5, with 20 species classified at the level 5 (selective breeding programmes are used focusing on specific goals) and only three species at the level 0 (capture fisheries) and 1 (first trials of acclimatization to the culture environment). In contrast, the levels of domestication of marine fish species (n = 50) ranged from 0 to 3, implying that the production of all marine aquarium fish species is based either entirely or partly on the capture of wild-caught specimens. Based on this new classification, the main advantages and drawbacks of fisheries and aquaculture are discussed.

The 800-Pound Grouper in the Room: Asymptotic Body Size and Invasiveness of Marine Aquarium Fishes

The global trade in aquatic wildlife destined for home aquaria not only has the potential to be a positive force for conservation, but also has a number of potential risks. The greatest and most documented risk is the potential to translocate species that will become invasive in a new habitat. Although propagule pressure can influence species invasiveness, a high percentage of documented marine aquarium fish that are invasive in the US are uncommon in the trade. Here, the covariation of size with species invasiveness was assessed using a web scraper to collect size, price, life history characteristics, and behavior data from five internet retail stores for 775 species of fish. Fish that routinely exceed 100cm in total length are traded, nevertheless are typically sold at sizes much smaller than their theoretical maximum. No economic benefit from the sale of species that will outgrow tanks and have a high risk of being released was found. Large fish, including groupers that can achieve weights of 800 pounds, will continue to enter the trade because the growth of aquaculture for commercial food markets is making it easier to acquire these species that also have appealing small life stages, making it easier and less expensive to bring these species into the aquarium trade. The entire trade should consider taking concerted action to limit the trade in fish that are likely to become invasive.

Spawning behaviour and activity in seven species of ornamental dottybacks

The marine aquarium fish industry has been growing rapidly, but still heavily relies on wild-caught organisms. Dottybacks (Pseudochromidae) are among the most popular cultured marine fishes, but issues related to pair formation and filial cannibalism commonly prevent mass production. This study investigated the behavioural aspects of dottyback aquaculture, mainly the events surrounding pair formation and spawning activity. Broodstock pairs of seven species were acquired and aggression level monitored daily for each pair, as well as spawning activity and frequency. All pairs successfully bonded, but the time until bonding varied; trends were observed in aggression level for some species. Time in between bonding and spawning also presented a high variability (5.7 ± 4.2 weeks). The spawning frequency was somewhat fixed for each pair, but variable among species. Egg masses were frequently cannibalised and most pairs required many spawning events (8.7 ± 8.2) for the first egg mass to hatch. Dottybacks present no sexual dimorphism, therefore the aggression levels and variability in bonding time are probably related to sex changes. The egg mass cannibalism decreased with time and was likely related to broodstock inexperience. The results presented should aid in enhancing aquaculture protocols and hopefully stimulate worldwide dottyback aquaculture.

Invasive aquarium fish transform ecosystem nutrient dynamics

You have accessMoreSectionsView PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Cite this article Capps Krista A. and Flecker Alexandar S. 2013Invasive aquarium fish transform ecosystem nutrient dynamicsProc. R. Soc. B.2802013241820132418http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.2418SectionSupplemental MaterialYou have accessCorrectionsInvasive aquarium fish transform ecosystem nutrient dynamics Krista A. Capps Krista A. Capps Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author and Alexandar S. Flecker Alexandar S. Flecker Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author Krista A. Capps Krista A. Capps Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author and Alexandar S. Flecker Alexandar S. Flecker Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author Published:07 December 2013https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.2418This article corrects the followingResearch ArticleInvasive aquarium fish transform ecosystem nutrient dynamicshttps://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.1520 Krista A. Capps and Alexander S. Flecker volume 280issue 1769Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences22 October 2013Proc. R. Soc. B280, 20131520 (22 October 2013; Published Online 21 August 2013) (doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.1520)The genus of the swamp eel found in the Chacamax River should read Ophisternon not Monopterus.The online supplemental figures have now been corrected. Previous Article VIEW FULL TEXT DOWNLOAD PDF FiguresRelatedReferencesDetailsCited by Dudgeon D (2020) Freshwater Biodiversity Wei H, Hu Y, Li S, Chen F, Luo D, Gu D, Xu M, Mu X and Yang Y (2020) A review of freshwater fish introductions to the Guangdong province, China, Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 10.1080/14634988.2019.1685850, 22:4, (396-407), Online publication date: 2-Oct-2019. Patoka J, Magalhães A, Kouba A, Faulkes Z, Jerikho R and Vitule J (2018) Invasive aquatic pets: failed policies increase risks of harmful invasions, Biodiversity and Conservation, 10.1007/s10531-018-1581-3, 27:11, (3037-3046), Online publication date: 1-Sep-2018. Pantel J, Bohan D, Calcagno V, David P, Duyck P, Kamenova S, Loeuille N, Mollot G, Romanuk T, Thébault E, Tixier P and Massol F (2017) 14 Questions for Invasion in Ecological Networks Networks of Invasion: A Synthesis of Concepts, 10.1016/bs.aecr.2016.10.008, (293-340), . Maceda-Veiga A, Domínguez-Domínguez O, Escribano-Alacid J and Lyons J (2014) The aquarium hobby: can sinners become saints in freshwater fish conservation?, Fish and Fisheries, 10.1111/faf.12097, 17:3, (860-874), Online publication date: 1-Sep-2016. Holmberg R, Tlusty M, Futoma E, Kaufman L, Morris J and Rhyne A (2015) The 800-Pound Grouper in the Room: Asymptotic Body Size and Invasiveness of Marine Aquarium Fishes, Marine Policy, 10.1016/j.marpol.2014.10.024, 53, (7-12), Online publication date: 1-Mar-2015. Capps K (2019) Wastewater infrastructure and the ecology and management of freshwater systems, Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia, 10.1590/s2179-975x3719, 31 Related articlesInvasive aquarium fish transform ecosystem nutrient dynamics22 October 2013Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences This Issue07 December 2013Volume 280Issue 1772 Article InformationDOI:https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.2418Published by:Royal SocietyOnline ISSN:1471-2954History: Published online07/12/2013Published in print07/12/2013 License:© 2013 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved. Citations and impact Subjectsecology Large datasets are available through Proceedings B's partnership with Dryad