News & Reviews Article

Title Captive Bred/Grown Aquarium Animals Author Chris Deer Last Updated 2014-11-25 Abstract
Captive Bred/Grown Aquarium Animals Chris Deer Florida bred large Cardinal Tetras In years past nearly all of our aquarium animals and invertebrates were wild collected. Many wild collected specimens were handled poorly by collectors and heavy losses were often the norm but in the present many of these species are captive bred. The obvious reason for buying captive bred is a better feeling inside knowing the fish were not removed from their native habitat. Though this is a good reason for buying captive bred species there are other equally important reasons. Take the popular freshwater fish, the Cardinal Tetra. Where these fish were originally collected, the pH of the water was anywhere from 4.5-5.0! This fish is already delicate to keep but combine that with having to acclimate it to more suitable aquarium conditions, changes in diet from live to dry foods � no wonder this fish was such a pain to maintain. But captive bred cardinal tetras are already acclimated to aquarium life. They are maintained in soft water with a more neutral Captive bred Ocellaris Clowns pH. These fish actively accept dry prepared fish foods and arrive fat and relatively healthy after shipping compared with hollow bellied stress wild collected specimens that were shipped in crowded conditions all the way from South America. Kauderni Cardinals are quickly vanishing from the wild due to overcollecting. Buy tank bred! Captive bred freshwater and saltwater fish are much easier to maintain in aquariums than wild caught species. These fish are more disease resistant, they already accept prepared foods, they handle the stresses of shipping better and they are lived their entire lives in captivity already. With so many wild aquarium fish species in trouble in their native environment from over-collecting, pollution and human encroachment, buy captive grown whenever you can. Survival rates after shipping are much higher with tank bred Ocellaris than those caught in the wild. The following are hardy tank bred species: Neon Gobies (Elacatinus species), Ocellaris Clownfish (A. ocellaris), True Black Ocellaris Clownfish, Neon Dottybacks (Pseudochromis aldabraensis), Fridmani Pseudochromis, Springer Pseudochromis, Kauderni Bangaii Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni), Green Banded Goby, Seahorses. As more and more tank bred marine fish become available and affordable, dealers will begin to replace wild collected specimens with tank breds. Most common freshwater fish are now captive bred. All mollies, platies, swordtails, many tetras and even black ghost knives are now all bred in captivity. Many stores are ending their practice of stocking wild caught cardinal tetras, wild caught neon tetras and other species, especially threatened species like the wonderful Roseline Denisonii Shark. We can all feel better about our hobby by buying tank bred fish over wild collected fish where available. Aqua-Culture Live Rock But it does not stop with just the fish. Many corals and even live rock are now available in captive grown conditions. Green star polyps, yellow polyps, acroporas, montiporas, seriatoporas, tridacna clams and more are now regularly stocked by suppliers. So remember, captive grown and captive bred means stronger and healthier livestock for your aquarium. Ask your dealer about sustainable captive grown/bred species.		Products related to this article