Weekly Discussion - Unique animals

[Anonymous]

Weekly Discussion - Unique animals

What ocean animal would you like to see kept or bred in captivity that isn't now, or is rare now. Why? Any ideas on how this may be accomplished?


About the RDO Weekly Discussion:
This discussion is meant to get at your experience and to share information that is in your head, so don't necessarily treat it as information gathering. State your opinion and, if available, use material, anecdotal or otherwise, that will back up your opinion.
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[Anonymous]

There's a prof here at my university that works on the ecology of wrasses. This includes coldwater wrasses, and a bunch of species most of us have never heard of.

I think that wrasses are the next logical step in captive breeding. One of the most difficult aspects of spawning in wrasses is the space required--wrasses typically have a mating dance that uses a lot of *vertical* space. However, considering the price of some of the fairy and flasher wrasses out there, I think there is a potential financial gain for someone to invest in.

I would have mentioned angelfish, because of their price, but we're already on the brink of captively breeding these guys. Maculosus angels are easy to find CB, and a few dwarfs have been bred as well.

Just me 2 cents
Matt

 

[Anonymous]

i would love to see various anthias species bred.

i can't explain my fascination with them.
quite a few years ago now, my wife dryly said, "oh, a goldfish." when i pulled the plastic bag out of the paper when returning from the LFS.

 

[clarionreef]

Blue tangs...
No fish causes more coral destruction in its collection then blue tangs.
If they could ever be bred, then I would see aquacultured fish as being a lot more of a real contribution to helping make the hobby sustainable and defensible.
So far, none of the fishes that are tank raised are really 'reef-saving' achievements.
The second group of fishes generating the most reef destruction are coral beauties, bi-colors, tibicens, halfblacks, rustys and blueface angels.
Still, one can't help but wonder if the reef saving achievement would be negated by sending the fisherman into other equally destructive activity if the need for their wild tangs and angels were lessened.
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I want cuttles in the US! Because they are cool, easy to keep and cool.
I am going to be trying to breed sepia bandensis, hopefully I can get enough brood stock and it will work.

 

[ChaoticReefer]

Peppermint Angel.
Do I need to say why? J/K
It's a beautiful fish in the pictures of books, but only available to the rich that can dish up some major cash. I have heard prices in the range of $5,000.00 - $15,000.00. Its a too beautiful fish to let only a few people have the pleasure of seeing one.

 

[Anonymous]

i want righty's cuttlefish

 

[Anonymous]

i want righty's cuttlefish

Hopefully I will have babies soon!

 

[Wheeldog63]

Sea Dragons, I wish we could get a good base of CB specimins, seeing as they are so beautiful, but Australia only allows so many out to aquariums every year, although they do require a fairly larg tank if I am not mistaken. I would also second the cuttlefish vote

~Kelly

 

[Irie Eyes]

I would love to see the seadragon become available to the hobby. They are the most beautiful, tranquil creatures I have ever seen, and I hope to have a pair of my own someday. Since they are so rare, I think it would take a lot of effort to see them become available. I do feel it may be accomplished someday, as conservation efforts seem to be proceeding well. The solution to me would be to allow a group of serious, experienced syngnathid breeders to have a pair or two to breed. They could spend some time rearing a few generations, trading tips with eachother all the while, until the day came when they could give some to another serious aquarist. In a few years a network of knowledgeable seadragon breeders could be established, and we would be much closer to introducing them to the hobby. Just a thought, not a serious proposal. I know it would require a lot to see something like this transpire, but one can only hope.

 

[Anonymous]

Seadragons would be nice but first they need to get the natural numbers up before bringing them into the hobby trade...however Assessors would be a neat fish to see more also...they are pretty cool tank mates yet i never really see them in the industry...

 

[Anonymous]

Rich, you know about the NRCC, right? Cuttles are being bred there in Texas now, but unfortunately only available to research and universities. There was a commercial online place that started up a long time ago (I want to say CephSource), but they never got off the ground. IIRC they breed S. officianalis and S. pharoahensis (sp?)...

Lord,
ORA sells CB assessors, yellow and blue IIRC. They are neat little fish!

 

[Anonymous]

Matt,

Currently, no one I can find is selling cuttles to individuals in the US, although research and university facilities all over the country are breeding them like mad. Really annoying and frustrating. Its an AZA thing as far as I can tell, but I think it is silly - if I were the AZA I would rather sell some captive cuttles and control their distribution rather than have then collected from the wild. I have gotten a hold of a couple S. bandensis, and have a line on more, so hopefully I will be able to breed them.