Paracanthurus Research Articles

The prospects of business development in ornamental fish in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract. Mulyati S, Herdianto T, Suhermanto A, Sofian A. 2022. The prospects of business development in ornamental fish in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 6413-6419. Ornamental fish is a potential commodity necessarily optimized to improve the welfare of society. One of the Indonesian provinces producing diverse species of ornamental fish to export is Southeast Sulawesi. This study aimed to evaluate the ornamental fish potentials and create an evaluation possibly implemented as a consideration to determine business development strategies. The method was a case study, collected data through observation, interviews, literature study, and internal and external conditions were analyzed using SWOT analysis. The study analyzed the potential, trade, and strategy for business development in ornamental fish in Southeast Sulawesi. The study discovers that 38 species are traded, and nine of them are dominantly traded. Moreover, there are six main species potentially cultivated due to the demand and stable production; they are Betok Kupang (Chrysietera cyanea), Capungan (Apogon sp.), Angel KKO (Cirrhilabrus sp.), Clown fish (Amphiprion ocellaris), Keling Rub (Cirrhilabrus sp.), and Letter six (Paracanthurus hepatus). The development of ornamental fish cultivation can be implemented with the S-O (strengths–opportunities) strategy that manages and protects the environment of ornamental fish, strengthens the capacity of fishers and stakeholders for environmentally friendly activities and export market orientation, and builds cooperation of fisherman, exporters, and stakeholders to develop business in ornamental fish by emphasizing local species with high economic values and market demands. These results can be a consideration in making decisions related to the development of ornamental fish.

Evaluation of larviculture protocols for the Pacific blue tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)

Aquaculture of marine ornamental fish is an important tool that may help to provide sustainable alternatives to wild caught individuals. Many challenges are associated with marine ornamental aquaculture, especially during the larviculture process. Newly hatched marine larvae are often underdeveloped at hatch and require specific nutritional and environmental parameters for successful morphogenesis and ultimate metamorphosis into the juvenile stage. The Pacific blue tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) is a promising candidate for ornamental aquaculture due to its popularity in the aquarium trade and prior captive breeding success. However, improvements in culture methodologies, especially environmental and nutritional factors, is critical to viable commercial production. Seven experiments were conducted to determine appropriate green water culture conditions, photoperiod, and feeding protocols that best promoted survival, growth, and ingestion rate in early-stage P. hepatus larvae. Larval survival and feeding incidence were significantly increased when live microalgae was added to the culture system. The survival and feeding incidence of 3 days post hatch (DPH) P. hepatus larvae was greatest when the algae species Tisochrysis lutea was incorporated at a density of 300,000 cells/mL. The feeding incidence of 3 DPH larvae was not affected by prey type or prey density. When free amino acid feeding stimulants were added to the culture water, neither larval survival nor feeding incidence were improved. Lastly, the photoperiod that best promoted larval growth and survival was 16-h light: 8-h dark. Together, these results provide for improved larval survival in aquaculture and help move P. hepatus towards viable commercial production.

Effects of GnRH-a on the ovarian maturation of blue tang fish (Paracanthurus hepatus Linnaeus, 1776)

The effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone – analogue (GnRH-a) injection on the ovarian maturation and steroid hormone level of blue tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) females were investigated. Pre-matured blue tang females were injected with GnRH-a at dosages of 150, 200 and 250 μg/kg body weight and were then observed for fluctuation of steroid hormone levels, including testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) in plasma and ovary after 2 and 7 days. Plasma T level was not significantly different among the treated groups at sampling times. However, the ovarian T levels in the fish injected with 200 and 250 μg/kg GnRH-a were higher than that of the non-administered GnRH-a and fish injected with 150 μg/kg after two days (P < 0.05). After seven days of the administration, the ovarian T level was lowest in the fish without GnRH-a injection and highest in the fish injected with 250 μg/kg (P < 0.05). The plasma and ovarian E2 levels were higher (P < 0.05) in the fish injected with 200 and 250 μg/kg of GnRH-a than in the control fish after 2 and 7 days of injection. Both the plasma and ovarian DHP levels in GnRH-a injected fish were significantly (P < 0.05) increased after day 2 and was highest in the fish injected with 250 μg/kg (P < 0.05). After 7 days of injection, the plasma and ovarian DHP levels remained higher in the GnRH-a injected fish than in the controlled group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in DHP levels among the GnRH-a-treated groups. The results indicate that the dosage of 200 µg/kg of GnRH-a is appropriate for inducing maturation of the blue tang fish.

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.

Niche ornamental-marine fishery of Bangsring and the surrounding areas

Indonesia exported >900 species of marine ornamental organisms, considered the largest together with The Philippines. However, records on catch statistics are negligible — this study conducted along the coastal area of Bangsring (Banyuwangi) and Gerokgak (Bali). The research aimed to identify species diversity, dominant families, and catch composition. Species diversity was estimated through underwater visual census and catch records from three fish collectors in the area. All the species were photographed and deposited at Depository Ichthyologicum Brawijaya, each with a specific accession number. Species identification merely based on morphology and color-stained for transparent osteology. The results of the analysis showed that there at least 106 species out of 483 specimens collected from middlemen. It consisted of 25 families and 59 different genera. The fish sources came from local surrounding West Bali National Park (Pinggiran), Madura Islands (Bunian), and the eastern part of Indonesia (Tanjungan). Unit price at middlemen levels varied between US$ 0.2-3.6 per species, with an average of US$ 0.95±0.95 (n = 106). Three Tanjungan species: Hoplolatilus luteus, Pomacanthus imperator, and Paracanthurus hepatus sold at unit price US$ 8.5. This niche fishery needs specific management measures to control the supply chain apart from its economic contribution to national income.

Oyster larvae as a potential first feed for small-mouthed ornamental larval fish

AEI Aquaculture Environment Interactions Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AEI 11:657-669 (2019) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00338 Oyster larvae as a potential first feed for small-mouthed ornamental larval fish Alexander J. Basford*, Benjamin Mos, Tomoki Mishina, Symon A. Dworjanyn National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia *Corresponding author: alex.basford@scu.edu.au ABSTRACT: Aquaculture of ornamental marine fish for the aquarium trade is a possible solution to the negative environmental impacts of wild collection. An impasse to the culture of many marine fish species is high larval mortality due to unsuitable live feeds. Common live feeds can be too large for ornamental species, which often have larvae with small mouths. We tested wild oyster larvae as an alternative live feed for first-feeding blue tang Paracanthurus hepatus. P. hepatus readily consumed oyster larvae but did not consume rotifers. Survival and growth of P. hepatus fed oyster larvae was similar to unfed controls, likely due to the oyster trochophores developing into indigestible veligers. Restricting the diet of P. hepatus to only oyster trochophores improved survival and eye development, but survival rates remained low. Oyster trochophores were conditioned in pH 4.8 seawater to compromise their aragonite shells, and P. hepatus fed these had higher survival at 5 d post-hatch (dph) compared to those fed untreated trochophores and were the only fish surviving to 10 dph. The high consumption rates of oyster larvae by P. hepatus highlight the potential for bivalve larvae to be used as live feeds for first-feeding larval fish. Further research into improving the nutritional value of oyster larvae for larval fish may improve their viability as first feeds. KEY WORDS: Acidification · Blue tang · Paracanthurus hepatus · Fatty acids · Live feeds · Larval rearing Full text in pdf format Supplementary material Corrections to supplement PreviousNextCite this article as: Basford AJ, Mos B, Mishina T, Dworjanyn SA (2019) Oyster larvae as a potential first feed for small-mouthed ornamental larval fish. Aquacult Environ Interact 11:657-669. https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00338 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AEI Vol. 11. Online publication date: December 05, 2019 Print ISSN: 1869-215X; Online ISSN: 1869-7534 Copyright © 2019 Inter-Research.

Changes in Plasma and Ovarian Steroid Hormone Level in Wild Female Blue Tang Fish Paracanthurus hepatus during a Reproductive Cycle.

Simple SummaryLive blue tang fish from Khanh Hoa to Binh Thuan seawaters (a central marine region of Vietnam) were collected monthly for the duration of 12 months and the levels of testosterone (T), estradiol-17β (E2) and 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) in the plasma and the gonad; gonadosomatic index were determined. The gonadosomatic index (GSI%) maintained high values from April to July and increased from the II to IV ovarian stages and dropped in the V stage. Levels of plasma and ovary T and E2 and DHP were high from March to July. Plasma T and E2 levels were low in the II stage when most oocytes were previtellogenic, reaching a peak during spawning and decreased in the V stage when fish were going to late spawning and termination.This study aimed to document the seasonal cycle of steroid levels in the plasma and ovary, including testosterone (T), estradiol-17β (E2) and 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) in relation to ovarian development in wild populations of female blue tang fish. The gonadosomatic index (GSI%) maintained high values from April to July and increased from the II to IV ovarian stages and dropped in the V stage. Levels of plasma, ovary T and E2 and DHP were high from March to July. Plasma T and E2 levels were low in the II stage when most oocytes were previtellogenic, reaching a peak during spawning, and decreased in the V stages when fish were going to late spawning and termination. DHP was detected in all stages of the ovary with a higher level in spawning fish but decreased after spawning. These results revealed that T, E2 and DHP could be involved in ovarian development and DHP may play a significant role as a maturational inducing hormone in blue tang fish.

Did the movie Finding Dory increase demand for blue tang fish?

Representations of wildlife in television and films have long been hypothesized to shape human-wildlife interactions. A recent example is Pixar’s film Finding Dory, which featured a blue tang fish (Paracanthurus hepatus) as the main character and was widely reported in the popular press to have increased the number of such fish in the pet trade. We use Bayesian posterior predictive counterfactual models to evaluate the movie’s effect on three metrics of societal behaviour. Although there was an increase in global online searches for the blue tang 2–3 weeks after the movie, we find no substantial evidence for an increase in imports of blue tang fish into the US, or in number of visitors to US aquaria compared to counterfactual expectations. It is vital that an evidence-based discourse is used when communicating potential impacts of popular culture on human-wildlife relationships to avoid loss of credibility and misdirection of conservation resources.

Determining live prey preferences of larval ornamental marine fish utilizing fluorescent microspheres

As the popularity of marine aquaria grows, the potential exists for increased harvest of marine ornamental fishes and invertebrates from the oceans around the world. Aquaculture may be an alternative source to wild capture fisheries if commercial production protocols can be developed for species of interest, however numerous impediments must be overcome. Experiments were conducted on the reef butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius), Pacific blue tang (Paracanthurus hepatus), African moony (Monodactylus sebae) and golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) to evaluate and define prey preferences at first feeding among the rotifer, Brachionus plicatiilis, the copepod, Parvocalanus crassirostris, and the ciliate Euplotes sp., by marking each prey with a different colored fluorescent microsphere. Prey preferences observed at the larval first feeding stage were species specific. Pacific blue tang larvae preferred rotifers above ciliates, and ciliates above copepod nauplii. African moony larvae preferred ciliates and nauplii equally over rotifers. Reef butterflyfish larvae preferred ciliates over rotifers and rotifers over nauplii. Golden trevally larvae preferred nauplii over ciliates, and ciliates over rotifers. Take together these data provide critical information which may aid in development of feeding protocols for marine ornamental species.

First Record of Captive Larval Culture and Metamorphosis of the Pacific Blue Tang, Paracanthurus hepatus

AbstractThe Pacific blue tang, Paracanthurus hepatus, is consistently among the top 20 marine ornamental species imported into the USA, with all specimens presently sourced from wild stocks. Captive culture of this species through metamorphosis has not been previously documented and fundamental information regarding reproduction, larval culture, and production techniques is scarce. This study aimed to elucidate methods that would advance our understanding and success with captive propagation of this species. A total of 50,000 eggs were collected from a single broodstock population and stocked in a 1000‐L tank. Beginning at 3 d posthatch (DPH), larvae were fed three times daily a diet comprised exclusively of copepod nauplii. At 12 DPH, enriched rotifers were first fed followed by powdered feed (20 DPH) and first instar Artemia (21 DPH). Large mortality events were observed at 7 and 20 DPH, corresponding with starvation and flexion, respectively. By 41 DPH, the majority of the remaining larvae began associating with the bottom of the culture tank. On Day 50, the first signs of blue pigmentation marked the beginning of metamorphosis. A total of 27 juvenile blue tangs were cultured during this trial. This effort represents the first successful culture of this species in captivity.

The “Nemo Effect”: Perception and reality of Finding Nemo's impact on marine aquarium fisheries

AbstractGlobal audiences are increasingly being exposed to digital media with fictitious storylines that draw on animal characters involuntarily entering wildlife trades. An understudied problem in wildlife trade is the potential for motion pictures to influence their audience's desire to become more acquainted, often via acquisition, with animals portrayed in the films. The 2003 Disney motion picture Finding Nemo connected audiences with a wildlife trade already commonplace: the marine aquarium trade. In this trade, fisheries supply live coral reef organisms to millions of public and private aquaria worldwide. Here, we examine the perception and reality of Finding Nemo's impact (coined the “Nemo Effect”) on the fisheries of the species complex representing the film's primary protagonist “Nemo” (Amphiprion ocellaris/percula). Import and export figures show little evidence for fan‐based purchases of wild‐caught fish immediately (within 1.5 years of release) following the film. We argue that the perceived impact on these species, driven by popular media with an emotive but scientifically uninformed approach to conserving coral reef ecosystems, can be more damaging to the cause of conservation than helpful. This perspective is intended to encourage marine aquarium trade stakeholders to consider the ecological and social repercussions of both media driven consumption and opposition to the trade. Using lessons learned from Finding Nemo, we discuss the likely impacts the sequel, Finding Dory, will have on wild populations of its protagonist “Dory” (Paracanthurus hepatus).

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.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the palette surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus (Perciformes: Acanthuridae)

In this study, the complete mitogenome sequence of the palette surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus (Perciformes: Acanthuridae), has been sequenced by next-generation sequencing method. The assembled mitogenome was 16 498 bp in length, consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs genes. The overall base composition of palette surgeonfish was 28.6% for A, 28.6% for C, 16.3% for G, 26.4% for T and showed 87% identities to somber surgeonfish Zebrasoma flavescens. The complete mitogenome of the palette surgeonfish provides essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogeography and evolutionary analysis for surgeonfish’s phylogeny.

Utilizing public aquariums and molecular identification techniques to address the larviculture potential of Pacific blue tangs (Paracanthurus hepatus), semicircle angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatus), and bannerfish (Heniochus sp.)

Limitations in our understanding of aquaculture strategies necessary for cultivating many desirable species of marine ornamental fishes have impeded examining their commercial production. Currently, only a small fraction of species have been captive bred. Recent research efforts have focused on evaluating the rearing potential of marine fish eggs and larvae collected at public aquariums. However, as exhibits contain multiple species, accurate identification is crucial for determining species-specific larval rearing protocols. In this study, marine fish eggs and larvae were collected at four public display aquariums and were preserved for genetic identification prior to and during larviculture trials. During the project, numerous marine fish species were identified (n = 14) and three desirable species displayed traits conducive to captive breeding. Pomacanthus semicirculatus was identified using molecular techniques prior to metamorphosis and verified morphologically once grown. This species was also reared through the larval phase and into the juvenile (or nursery) phase. However, two species (Paracanthurus hepatus and Heniochus sp.) did not reach metamorphosis and observations made during larviculture would not have been attributed to those particular species without the use of molecular identification techniques.

Effects of marine ciliates on survivability of the first-feeding larval surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus: laboratory rearing experiments

The contribution of ciliates as a food source to survival of first-feeding surgeonfish larvae, Paracanthurus hepatus, was examined in rearing experiments. The larvae were exposed to eight treatments; i.e. a tintinnid, Amphorellopsis acuta (1.0 × 104, 5.1 × 103 and 2.2 × 103 cells l−1) and a naked ciliate, Euplotes sp. (1.3 × 104, 8.0 × 103 and 5.0 × 103 cells l−1), plus two controls without ciliates. Highest survival of the larvae over the first 4–8 days was observed in the highest density of A. acuta. Rearing experiments also showed that the survivals of larvae fed with A. acuta were higher than those fed with Euplotes sp. Gut content analyses revealed loricae of A. acuta in the larvae. Although Euplotes sp. (lacking loricae) was never recognized in those larval guts, feeding on Euplotes sp. by larvae was confirmed using the ciliate labeled with fluorescent microspheres, implying that the feeding on naked ciliates by fish larvae has been overlooked. The results strongly suggested that both tintinnid and naked ciliates play important roles as alternative food sources to copepod nauplii by enhancing the survivability of fish larvae, especially those with a smaller mouth.

The Blue Coloration of the Common Surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus—II. Color Revelation and Color Changes

Measurements of spectral reflectance from the sky-blue portion of skin from the common surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus, showed a relatively steep peak at around 490 nm. We consider that a multilayer thin-film interference phenomenon of the non-ideal type, which occurs in stacks of very thin light-reflecting platelets in iridophores of that region, is primarily responsible for the revelation of that hue. The structural organization of the iridophore closely resembles that of bluish damselfish species, although one difference is the presence of iridophores in a monolayer in the damselfish compared to the double layer of iridophores in the uppermost part of the dermis of surgeonfish. If compared with the vivid cobalt blue tone of the damselfish, the purity of the blue hue of the surgeonfish is rather low. This may be ascribable mainly to the double layer of iridophores in the latter since incident lightrays are complicatedly reflected and scattered in the strata. The dark-blue hue of the characteristic scissors-shaped pattern on the trunk of surgeonfish is mainly due to the dense population of melanophores, because iridophores are only present there in a scattered fashion. Photographic and spectral reflectance studies in vivo, as well as photomicrographic, photo-electric, and spectrometric examinations of the state of chromatophores in skin specimens in vitro, indicate that both melanophores and iridophores are motile. Physiological analyses disclosed that melanophores are under the control of the sympathetic nervous and the endocrine systems, while iridophores are regulated mainly by nerves. The body color of surgeonfish shows circadian changes, and becomes paler at night; this effect may be mediated by the pineal hormone, melatonin, which aggregates pigment in melanophores.