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Captive Bred Fish

The last decade has seen enormous advancements in the culture of marine ornamental fish. It might seem as though there is some announcement of the first-time rearing of some new species every other day now. Aside from the obvious benefits for the natural environment, this trend has been a significant boon for saltwater aquarists from beginner to expert. It should be immediately obvious why; frankly any animal raised in captivity is going to be more adapted to captive conditions.

Imagine a wild fish, just minding its own business, swimming around in the ocean, doing its thing like countless ancestors before it. Then, out of nowhere comes the net (or in some cases a mini spear gun!). This may or may not be preceded by a shot of sodium cyanide (you never really know for sure). The fish is crowded into a holding tank with many other fish and eventually transported to a holding facility. Then to another. And perhaps another. But then, some number of days later, there is the big day—the big flight. It may or may not have eaten by then. So it might already be hungry, but it certainly won’t be eating during this trip. After a day, or two, or maybe even three, of wallowing in its own wastes and choking for oxygen, it arrives somewhere. By then the pH is dangerously low… the transport water may be extremely warm, or cold…

And just when it needs relief more than ever, now comes the worst part: unboxing and acclimation. It has spent days in total darkness, only to be blinded suddenly by bright light and jerked from the box. It’s stressed, panicking even. Then shocked as it is immersed in water of very different chemistry, something it has never had to cope with before it its ever stable ocean home. Home… not what it seems as it is finally netted again (not again!) and plunked into--a tiny glass box. A miniscule, rough representation of where it grew up. Exhausted and shaken, it’s now an easy victim for the pathogens and parasites it was exposed to in the numerous holding systems along the way. And it does get sick. But will it survive?

Maybe the above narrative is a bit dramatic. But that is essentially the reality for a wild-caught fish. Contrast that with a farmed fish, raised from a larva in the same glass box. Already adapted to a life in captivity. Adapted to aquarium food. Accustomed to a human, even with a hand in the tank. It’s hard to frighten such an animal, which is more likely to start begging for food at your approach. Certainly, it is comparatively very rare for a captive bred fish to contract and spread diseases. Especially if you’ve worked in aquarium shops or hatcheries, the difference between wild and cultured fish is day and night.

In this section you will learn the differences between wild and cultured fish, with in-depth information on select captive bred species.

72 Posts

The Scribbled Angelfish

The Scribbled Angelfish: King of the FOWLR Tank

In many respects, the previous generation of marine aquarists got a raw deal; they caught just a teasing glimpse of what a reef tank
Read More about The Scribbled Angelfish: King of the FOWLR Tank

Coral Beauty Angelfish are amazing first Angels!

Coral Beauty Angelfish: The Best First Angel

As someone who has worked with coral beauty angelfish in the aquarium industry for decades, I can say two things with certainty: (1)
Read More about Coral Beauty Angelfish: The Best First Angel

Proper Tank Acclimation for new livestock is vital!

How to Acclimate Your Captive Bred Fish

Acclimation to a new aquarium home is a particularly stressful time in the life of any kind of captive fish. Like all aquatic animals,
Read More about How to Acclimate Your Captive Bred Fish

A Blue Tang and a Yellow Tang fish swimming together.

A Deeper Look at Tang Fish

One of the best parts about having a larger saltwater aquarium is being able to have larger fish. In a smaller aquarium, you are
Read More about A Deeper Look at Tang Fish

A seahorse close up!

Do You Really Want Seahorses?

No doubt about it, sea horses are really weird and cool. For sure, they make great aquarium subjects. Seahorses are fairly simple to
Read More about Do You Really Want Seahorses?

BIOTA Orangetail Damsel

A Look at the Orangetail Damselfish (Chrysiptera Parasema)

Damselfishes (Family Pomacentridae) like the orangetail damselfish have been heavily favored by marine aquarists ever since there was a
Read More about A Look at the Orangetail Damselfish (Chrysiptera Parasema)

A beautiful wild coral reef full of reef safe fish!

Reef Safe Fish For Sale

The reef aquarium hobby is not just about corals. Otherwise, it would be called the coral hobby. It is not just about fish either. If
Read More about Reef Safe Fish For Sale

Court Jester Goby

The Court Jester Goby: An Essential Nano Reef Fish?

When it comes to saltwater aquarium (especially those for a reef tank), there are a lot of different attributes to consider. Of course,
Read More about The Court Jester Goby: An Essential Nano Reef Fish?

A Look at the Swallowtail Angelfish

Some fish are desirable for their rich personality. Others are sought for their intense coloration. Particularly amongst reef
Read More about A Look at the Swallowtail Angelfish

A Look at the Forktail Blenny

For a long time, forktail blennies have been a staple of the marine aquarium fish trade. There are several reasons for their enduring
Read More about A Look at the Forktail Blenny

A Look at the Goldline Rabbitfish

A Look at the Goldline Rabbitfish If you have worked in this industry--the ornamental fish trade--for any significant amount of time,
Read More about A Look at the Goldline Rabbitfish

Captive Bred v.s. Wild Caught Green Mandarin Dragonets

They may look the same, but captive bred and wild-caught Green Mandarin Dragonets are different for many reasons. When it comes down to
Read More about Captive Bred v.s. Wild Caught Green Mandarin Dragonets

A Coral Beauty Angelfish

Coral Beauty Angelfish

The angelfish family (Pomacanthidae) has some of the most elegant fish to exist. These fish, however, can be massive. For example,
Read More about Coral Beauty Angelfish

A More In Depth Look At Captive Bred Livestock

Once upon a time, all of our saltwater fish, invertebrates, and corals were wild caught, there was no captive bred livestock anywhere.
Read More about A More In Depth Look At Captive Bred Livestock

How to Set Up an Aquarium for a Green Mandarin Dragonet

I should have done this! I should have done that! Throughout your experience in the saltwater aquarium and reef hobby, you will be
Read More about How to Set Up an Aquarium for a Green Mandarin Dragonet

A Yellow and Blue Tang in a Marine Aquarium

Cultivating Ogo and Sea Lettuce for Your Tangs

These days, it seems that most marine aquarists are reef aquarists. And reef aquaria almost always house one or more tangs. This should
Read More about Cultivating Ogo and Sea Lettuce for Your Tangs

A Male Blue Mandarinfish

Feeding the Mandarinfish with a Mix of Live and Prepared Foods

For so many aquarists, the green mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus) is a must-have species. Its endearing personality, exquisite
Read More about Feeding the Mandarinfish with a Mix of Live and Prepared Foods

Captive bred Coral Beauty Angelfish

A Big Year for Captive Bred Fish!

Hobbyists, vendors, captive bred fish breeders and, of course, the fishes are all cheering on this year's developments in saltwater
Read More about A Big Year for Captive Bred Fish!

Captive Bred Yellow Tangs

A Classic Improved: Aquacultured Yellow Tangs

There is hardly a more iconic saltwater aquarium fish than BIOTA yellow tangs (Zebrasoma flavescens). We can just start out by stating
Read More about A Classic Improved: Aquacultured Yellow Tangs

Mandarin Dragonets for Beginners

By Nathan Peel - 2018 Writers contest award recipient! The Mandarin dragonet (also known as the mandarin goby),  is the arguably the
Read More about Mandarin Dragonets for Beginners

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