How many fish are caught in the wild for the aquarium industry?

[jonathan03]

I'm just wondering if anyone knows how many fish are caught from the wild and sold in pet stores? Are most of them breed in captivity or caught in the wild?

I know some rare speciaes have to get caught to get a population started in captivity, but what about fish that have been around a while and don't spawn often? Ofr exampel, otos, plecos, arrowanas. Arrowanas can be bred, but a enormous tank would be needed. I haven't heard much about oscars breeding in captivity either (although there is a good chance they could). Then there are the fish that are heard to keep alive like discus. I have heard a lot about them breeding, but still they are very picky about the water.

I was thinking a wholesaler might know about this or even a pet store owner.

 

[racingjason]

Some wild discus females like Heckels are near impossible to breed. The males will fertilize other tank breedable discus eggs, that is where some of the available strains come from.

 

[benedictj]

I do know that the majority of Cardinal Tetras and Hatchetfish are picked right from the wild. There was, as of a few years ago, a scientific/commmunity outreach program aimed at educating the folks who harvest them about making a sustaining the population with the aim of creating sustainable regional profits.

 

[knashash]

Yeah I think quite a bit are...Ottos are I know as well.

 

[CajunCC]

What about angelfish? I know most Pterophyllum scalare Angels are captive-bred, but I've heard of wild caught ones. Anyone know about Pterophyllum altum? Are they all wild caught, or have they been captive bred? I've never seen them in any fish store.

As for P. scalare, is there any way of knowing whether a fish has been captive bred or wild caught? I know all wild-caught fish are the traditional silver with black stripes, and any other color variation is a captive-bred fish, but are there captive-bred silver/black angels as well?

 

[kevinfishboy]

i have heard that JD's are from the amazon and i was watchin tv and they were talkin about the amazon and i seen a JD and i also seen an anglefish in their

 

[Veneer]

Many crustaceans are wild-caught as well - "vampire"/"African fan"/"mole" shrimp (Atya gabonensis), "flower"/"bamboo"/"wood"/"Singapore" shrimp (Atyopsis moluccensis), "red-front shrimp" (typically Caridina gracilirostris), and many Macrobrachium spp. have not, to my knowledge, been bred in captivity.

 

[SnakeIce]

I can't say all of the scalar angels are tank bred because there are the few that are brought into the hobby from the wild to better the genetic quality of our various strains of angels. even the wild type angels are still tank bred as true wild angels take an extra effort to get to breed at all in a tank.

neons are nearly anual fish in the wild with millions growing up and later dieing when the seasons change. cardinals are almost the same way but both live long lives in tanks when adequatly cared for.

 

[RTR]

The project menetioned earlier is Project Piaba. For more info:

http://www.angelfire.com/pq/piaba/

 

[CajunCC]

I can't say all of the scalar angels are tank bred because there are the few that are brought into the hobby from the wild to better the genetic quality of our various strains of angels. even the wild type angels are still tank bred as true wild angels take an extra effort to get to breed at all in a tank.

So basically, any P. scalare angel you find at an LFS is going to be captive bred? The reason I ask is because it's so rare (IME) to see wild-type angelfish for sale. The other color morphs and long-finned varieties are much more popular.

Anyone have info on P. altum?