Endangered clownfish

[nlm2889]

Good evening everyone!

I'm writing a small paper regarding the current petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service to ban Amphiprion percula and several other species of commonly collected aquarium fish. If you're not familiar with it, the petition can be viewed here: https://www.federalr....acific-species

Part of my paper is collecting information/data on how this would affect the (aquarium) community. I have a few different questions of which I would greatly appreciate your opinion and thoughts.

First off, do you own any of the following fishes: Amphiprion percula, Dascyllus albiesella, Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus, Chromis atripectoralis, Chromis viridis, Dascyllus reticulatus and Microspathodon chrysurus. These are all fairly common fish within the community, especially A. percula and C. viridis.

If these fishes were listed as endangered, how do you think this would affect the community as a whole? How would this affect you on a personal level?

Given the current state of our oceans, do you think such action is warranted?

Looking at these fish, I notice that several of these are sold as beginner fish and are often recommended to cycle a tank. Do you think this could have some affect on current population levels?

I look forward to reading any input provided and appreciate your thoughts!


I googled some images to help IDs

A. percula

Juvenile D. albisella

P. johnstonianus

C. atripectoralis

C. viridis

D. reticulatus

M. chrysurus

 

[AirForceAquariu]

No one here will recommend cycling a tank with fish. That was a common practice at an earlier time when there was less knowledge on the subject. It is unnecessary and cruel to the fish regardless of whether they survive it.

As to many clowns being listed as "beginner fish" is because they are extremely hardy. A clown is the "ideal" reef fish for a beginner since it is colorful, can live through a lot in a new tank, and has awesome personality.

The above don't mean that some species shouldn't be protected from collection, since there are plenty of captive bred or non-endagered species around, they are just facts about clowns in captivity! Hope I was a little helpful!

 

[danieljames]

Tagging along on this one

 

[nlm2889]

The above don't mean that some species shouldn't be protected from collection, since there are plenty of captive bred or non-endagered species around, they are just facts about clowns in captivity! Hope I was a little helpful!

I appreciate your input! Does this mean you for the ban on collection? Do you think it would be better to ban collection of these fish and focus on breeding them instead?

 

[AirForceAquariu]

Holy leading questions Batman! Sounds like you are ready for TV journalism.

I am neither informed enough on the specifics of these species nor on the proposed ban to make any claims on that. I was simply providing clownfish info for you with regard to your final question from OP. I know there are many efforts to breed all varieties of clownfish, and that many are captive bred. I just don't know specifics. Perhaps others will come to your aid on that front.

 

[nlm2889]

Holy leading questions Batman! Sounds like you are ready for TV journalism.

I am neither informed enough on the specifics of these species nor on the proposed ban to make any claims on that. I was simply providing clownfish info for you with regard to your final question from OP. I know there are many efforts to breed all varieties of clownfish, and that many are captive bred. I just don't know specifics. Perhaps others will come to your aid on that front.

I apologize, those were pretty pointed questions! I didn't mean for those to be unfair, haha, lesson learned!

I'm curious if anyone knows about any captive breeding programs of any Chromis varieties.

 

[AirForceAquariu]

Apology accepted! A piece of advice if you don't mind: tailor your interview style to those you are interviewing. We here tend to be the sciency, engineery, or nerdy types. A leading question will stick out like a sore thumb and make this crowd guarded against what you are planning to use our words for (this really goes for any crowd). If you want to spark discussion ask things with a more open ended tone. You may lead yourself to more questions then answers, but hey! That's science!

 

[addo]

I appreciate your input! Does this mean you for the ban on collection? Do you think it would be better to ban collection of these fish and focus on breeding them instead?

The majority of all clownfish sold now days are captive bred, so the focus is already on breeding them. Just compare the prices between wild caught clowns and captive bred ones, and you'll see why.

If you look on the freshwater side of the hobby, where almost all fish are captive bred and has been for a long time, you'll see that there will be problems with inbreeding within the captive population sooner or later. So that a small influx of wild caught fish in to the breeding population is needed to keep the captive population healthy. That said only a very small number of fish has to reach the commercial breeders, not enough to make a noticeable impact on the wild population.

 

[nlm2889]

Apology accepted! A piece of advice if you don't mind: tailor your interview style to those you are interviewing. We here tend to be the sciency, engineery, or nerdy types. A leading question will stick out like a sore thumb and make this crowd guarded against what you are planning to use our words for (this really goes for any crowd). If you want to spark discussion ask things with a more open ended tone. You may lead yourself to more questions then answers, but hey! That's science!

Thanks Mike! Thankfully journalism isn't an goal for me (as if that wasn't painfully obvious by my poor questions..ha!)