Circular 54

Freshwater Ornamental Fish Commonly Cultured in Florida 1

Jeffrey E. Hill and Roy P.E. Yanong2

Introduction to customers throughout the United States and the world. In much of Florida, earthen pond culture is Freshwater tropical ornamental fish culture is the most common. However, Miami-Dade County largest component of in the State of farmers use above-ground tanks and small ponds dug Florida and accounts for approximately 95% of all into the coral rock bed. There is a general trend ornamentals produced in the U.S. There are about toward more intensive culture techniques including 200 Florida producers who collectively raise over 800 the use of recirculating system technology to varieties of freshwater fishes. In 2003 alone, maximize production and reduce losses and water farm-gate value of Florida-raised tropical fish was usage. about US$47.2 million. Given the additional economic effects of tropical fish trade such as support Unlike many traditional agriculture industries in industries, wholesalers, retail pet stores, and Florida which may raise one or only a few different product manufacturing, the importance to , tropical fish farmers collectively culture Florida is tremendous. hundreds of different species and varieties of fishes from numerous families and several geographic Florida's tropical ornamental aquaculture regions. There is much variation within and among industry is concentrated in Hillsborough, Polk, and fish groups with regard to acceptable water quality Miami-Dade counties with additional farms parameters, feeding and nutrition, and mode of throughout the southern half of the state. Historic reproduction. Some farms specialize in one or a few factors, warm climate, the proximity to airports and fish groups, while other farms produce a wide other infrastructural considerations (ready access to spectrum of aquatic livestock. aquaculture equipment, supplies, feed, etc.) are the major reasons for this distribution. Having other Fish can be grouped in a number of different farms nearby is advantageous because many growers ways.One major division in the industry which has sell their product to other farms which, in turn, ship practical significance is that between -laying species and live-bearing species. The culture

1. This document is Circular 54, one of a series from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Services, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published: March 2002. Minor revision: July 2006. Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. 2. Jeffrey E. Hill, Assistant Professor, and Roy P.E. Yanong, Associate Professor, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Ruskin, FL 33570-3434.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean Freshwater Ornamental Fish Commonly Cultured in Florida 2 practices for each division are different, requiring Cyprinids as a family consume a wide variety of specialized knowledge and equipment to succeed. foods, from and macrophytes to zooplankton, , and , and even other fish. This publication briefly reviews the more Macrophytes are plants that can be seen easily common groups of freshwater tropical ornamental without a microscope. Zooplankton is the group of fishes cultured in Florida and serves as an tiny found suspended in the water column. introduction to a series of publications that cover Crustaceans include crayfish, shrimp, and some these groups in more detail. For simplicity, fish are zooplankton. Insects and crustaceans would be the grouped according to family or related families. most typical food items for the family.

Major Fish Groups Cultured in Tetras/Characins (Family and Florida Related Families)

Minnows (Family Cyprinidae) The characins comprise nearly 900 species in about 170 genera and originate from Central and The family Cyprinidae, the largest family of South America and Africa. A single species, the fishes, consists of over 2000 species in about 210 Mexican (Astyanax mexicanus) occurs as far genera. These fish are native to Africa, Asia, , north as Texas in North America. and North America. The greatest diversity is found in . A number of species in several genera are cultured in Florida, such as Astyanax, Colossoma Minnows of interest to Florida's industry include (which includes pacu), (including barbs (Barbus, Capoeta, and Puntius) from Africa black tetra, Figure 2), Hemigrammus (including and Asia, (Brachydanio and ) (Figure 1) Buenos Aires tetras and head-and-tail-light tetras), from southern Asia, rasboras (Rasbora) from Hyphessobrycon (including black neon and lemon southern and southeast Asia, and freshwater sharks tetras), and Paracheirodon (including neon tetras). (Epalzeorhynchus and Labeo) from southeast Asia. Many of these fish are considered “bread-and-butter” species in the trade. A bread-and-butter species is one that is a common staple of the industry.

Figure 1. Zebra danio (Branchydanio rerio).

A few temperate species also enter the pet trade and are cultured in Florida including goldfish (Carassius auratus) and koi (Cyprinus carpio). Cultured species in Florida are generally small (< 100 mm or 4 in) with an exception being the koi (> 600 mm or 24 in).

Minnows generally by broadcasting their and sperm as a group or aggregation. Eggs are usually laid over gravel, plants, or woody debris and Figure 2. Black tetra (Gymnocorymbus temetzi). there is no parental care. Some species, such as the freshwater sharks, are cultured using Tetras come in an array of sizes and shapes. hormone-induced spawning techniques. Most species cultured in Florida are small (< 100 mm or 4 in), but some such as Colossoma (pacu) can exceed 400 mm (16 in). The famous piranhas (Pygocentrus and Serrasalmus) are related to pacu Freshwater Ornamental Fish Commonly Cultured in Florida 3 but are illegal to possess in the state, and so are not Suckermouth Armored /Plecos cultured in Florida. (Family Loricariidae)

Breeding typically is similar to that of minnows, The plecostomus, or pleco, family is a relatively with groups of individuals broadcasting eggs and large South American family with over 550 species in sperm over various types of structures. There is 80 genera. Although numerous species are imported generally no parental care. regularly, only a few species are cultured in quantity Ð these are mostly in the genera Ancistrus Food of tetras is quite varied and ranges from (bushy-nose plecos or bristle-nose plecos), leaves, fruits, and nuts to insects and crustaceans, to Hypostomus (common plecos) (Figure 4), and fish and other vertebrates. As with minnows, a typical Pterygoplichthys (the gibbiceps pleco or sailfin tetra would eat insects and crustaceans. plecos). Armored Catfish/ Catfish (Family )

About 130 species and seven genera make up this family of South American catfish. Many important species are in the genus Corydoras (Figure 3), a very popular group. These are mostly small species (< 100 mm or 4 in). Figure 4. Pleco catfish (Hypostomus sp.).

The common and gibbiceps plecos are moderate to large fish, ranging up to about 450 mm (18 in). The bushy-nose plecos are smaller, ranging up to about 130 mm (5 in).

Many species occur in flowing water . Plecos typically breed in caves, under rocks, or in holes. he male guards the mass of adhesive eggs and may protect the offspring for a short time.

Figure 3. Paleatus cory (Corydoras paleatus). These catfish consume algae, insects, detritus, and curiously, wood. Corydoras are capable of breathing air. A dash is made to the surface by these normally (Families Melanotaeniidae, bottom-dwelling fish. At the surface, a bubble is Pseudomugilidae and Others) gulped and subsequently oxygen is extracted from the The rainbowfishes are the only species that are air bubble in the gut. regularly cultured in Florida which originate Although some members of the family build predominately from and New Guinea. The bubble nests guarded by the male (e.g., Callichthys Celebes (Telmatherina ladigesi) and the and Hoplosternum), the Corydoras spawn in groups Madagascar rainbowfish (Bedotia geayi) are two of over vegetation or other surfaces. The adhesive the exceptions, named after their native locales. (sticky) eggs receive no parental care. Six genera with about 53 species make up the These catfish consume worms, larvae, and Melanotaeniidae, the most commonly bred family of detritus (organic material) from the bottom. rainbowfishes. A number of species of Glossolepis, such as the red rainbowfish (G. incisus), and (Figure 5), such as the common Australian rainbowfish (M. splendida), Boeseman's Freshwater Ornamental Fish Commonly Cultured in Florida 4 rainbowfish (M. boesemani), and the neon dwarf rainbow (M. praecox), are cultured in Florida. Most species are small (< 125 mm or 5 in). The males are brightly colored while the females and juveniles are drab.

Figure 6. Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii).

Males possess a gonopodium, a modified anal fin that is used to internally fertilize females. Mating is promiscuous and a female may carry the sperm of several males. The eggs are carried internally by the female and the young are born live (thus the name livebearer). Figure 5. Banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia trifasciata). Poeciliids feed on algae, insects, and crustaceans. Other families of rainbows bred in Florida include the Pseudomugilidae, known more commonly Cichlids (Family Cichlidae) as the blue-eyes, and the Telmatherinidae, which Cichlids, among the most behaviorally advanced includes the Celebes rainbowfish. groups of aquarium fish, range from southern Asia and the Middle East throughout Africa and Males display to females and spawning occurs in Madagascar in the Old World and Mexico, Central groups over vegetation or other structures. The and South America, and the West Indies in the New adhesive eggs stick to the vegetation and no parental World. A single species, the Texas cichlid care is provided. (“Cichlasoma” cyanoguttatum), reaches southern Rainbowfishes consume insects and crustaceans. Texas. When a generic name is in quotation marks (e.g., "Cichlasoma"), this means that scientists Livebearers (Family Poeciliidae) recognize that the name may not be valid for the group, but there is not a consensus on a replacement Livebearers as a group are “bread-and-butter” name. The number of cichlid species is estimated at species and served as the foundation for the early between 1300 and 2000 in about 105 genera. The tropical ornamental fish industry in Florida. About greatest diversity occurs in East Africa's Lake 190 species in 20 genera make up the Tribe Poeciliini, Malawi, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Victoria. found in North and Central America, portions of northern South America, and on islands in the Commonly cultured species in Florida include Caribbean. A tribe is a taxonomic grouping between angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare), discus family and genus. (Symphysodon), eartheaters (Geophagus and Gymnogeophagus), oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), and The most common types of livebearers are various “Cichlasoma” from the New World, as well cultured in numerous color and finnage varieties and as haps (“Haplochromis”), jewel cichlids belong to two genera, Poecilia, which includes the (Hemichromis), kribs (Pelvicachromis), mbuna (e.g., guppies and mollies, and Xiphophorus (Figure 6), Melanochromis and Pseudotropheus) (Figure 7), and which includes the platies, swordtails, and variatus. Tanganyikans (e.g., Julidochromis, Neolamprologus, Interspecific hybridization (reproduction between and Tropheus) from Africa. species) between the platies, swordtails, and variatus is believed to account for the many varieties currently Cultured cichlids range in size from tiny in production. These are small species (< 140 mm or Apistogramma and shell-dwelling Neolamprologus 5.5 in). (about 40-50 mm or 1.5-2.0 in) to large Cichlasoma (> 500 mm or 20 in). Freshwater Ornamental Fish Commonly Cultured in Florida 5

Figure 7. Zebra cichlid (Pseudotropheus zebra).

All cichlids provide some form of parental care, and many species are highly territorial, an important Figure 8. Blue (Trichogaster trichopterus). consideration when designing breeding and holding facilities. Many are biparental substrate spawners gourami female simply broadcasts masses of floating (both parents care for eggs laid in a nest) while others eggs for her partner to fertilize. are maternal mouthbrooders (female parent carries the eggs in her mouth). The natural diet of labyrinth fish usually consists of insects and crustaceans, although for some species, Foods of cichlids are as diverse as the members such as the kissing gourami, algae or other plant of the family, with many being dietary specialists. material are a significant part of their diet in the wild. Some are herbivorous (plant eaters), scraping algae off rocks. Others pick invertebrates from crevices. Discussion Still others are fast predators of other fish. Many species are also generalist feeders, taking a variety of The above list includes eight groups that plant and material. comprise the most commonly cultured families of freshwater ornamental fishes in Florida. Other Labyrinth Fish (Families Osphronemidae families are represented in the industry in far lesser and Helostomatidae) numbers. A multitude of fish species from numerous families are also imported into the Florida trade, from Labyrinth fish, also known as anabantoids, wild-caught sources in South America, Africa, and include and paradisefish. Gouramies are southeast Asia and international production centers, native to south and southeast Asia. About 50 species mostly in southeast Asia. in 12 genera make up the family Osphronemidae. Labyrinth fish are named for the “labyrinth organ” However, the aquarium hobby thrives on (modified gill) which is used like a lung to breath novelty. The list of species and varieties cultured in atmospheric air. Florida has steadily grown over the years and will continue to grow in the future. The development of Commercially cultured species in Florida are the new strains, including color, finnage (fin size, shape, gouramis (Colisa and Trichogaster) (Figure 8) and etc.), and morphological variants of existing species, paradisefish (Macropodus and Pseudosphromenus). is one avenue. The other is the inclusion of new A closely allied species, the kissing gourami culture species. As aquaculture technology and (Helostoma temmincki) is the sole member of the general knowledge about tropical fish advance, these family Helostomatidae. new fish will begin to flow from Florida into the national and international trade in freshwater tropical Most species are relatively small (< 150 mm or 6 ornamental fish. in) with the exception of the kissing gourami (about 300 mm or 12 in). Hierarchy of Taxonomic Groupings

Many labyrinth fish are bubble nest builders, Kingdom with the male maintaining the nest as well as guarding and caring for the eggs and fry. However, a Phylum few species are mouthbrooders, and the kissing Freshwater Ornamental Fish Commonly Cultured in Florida 6

Class

Order

Family

Tribe

Genus

Species