Mysterious breeding habits of aquarium fish vex experts
July 26, 2003
By Susanne Sosin
AQUARIUMS in captivity are a peculiar mix of scientists and fish fanatics. Some are devoted to fish breeders and the care of fish (fish are beautiful and deserve to be loved), others are not.
Aquarium fish can be very unpredictable when bred in captivity.
They are often bred with no experience in the hobby, or very little. And when they are bred with no experience, the result is often unpredictable and not pretty to look at.
Sometimes, the result is the appearance of a fish that is inedible. And sometimes, the result is an animal that not only has no business in a tank, but who also doesn’t belong in a pet at all.
All these things occur when aquarium fish are bred, and especially if they are bred with no experience in the hobby. What is happening to these fish is a bit of a mystery to researchers.
So what is going on? Is it normal? Is it just an unusual occurrence? Does this happen often enough to be a concern?
It is not uncommon for many breeders to be at a loss when it comes to trying to get these fish to breed. They are sometimes referred to as fish mavericks, because they seem to show off a lack of respect for good breeding practices.
For example, one hobbyist is quoted as saying, “I didn’t tell you to do that! Do you think you are God?” He said he had been breeding these fish for years, and still couldn’t get them to reproduce.
Another noted breeder said he had been breeding a pair of clownfish for five years and was still having no luck. He said clownfish breed poorly in captivity. It is a very sensitive animal, and not easy to breed. And yet, he said there are apparently millions of clownfish in the wild.
So what is it, then? Is there a new breed of fish out there, and they are all bad breeders, causing this behavior? Is it genetic, or a case of bad