Tank raised Platax pinnatus

[pktech]

2 LFS I go to are making a big deal about this species & they are overly psyched they have them. Very cool looking - kinda like the batmobile, but everything I've read - you might as well take your $80 & set fire to it because that's what you're doing.

Soooo what does the RC crew think of them?

 

[skibum9884]

Cool fish if you've got a HUUUUGE tank. They are very cute at that size but make sure you google what they look like as adults.

In my mind this was not a great fish to aquaculture, very few people have the appropriate systems to house these guys long term. Perhaps this is another one that was aquacultured for food in asian countries and some have made their way stateside? I believe that was the story with some of the Mac angels we had seen.

 

[scchase]

Probably for food I know Atlantic Spadefish (same family) have also been captive bred and raised.

 

[SDguy]

Gorgeous as juvi's. Unfortunately, as mentioned, they get HUGE, and arguably, less attractive Hopefully it is not an aquarium hobby associated industry putting time and money toward "tank raising" this species, considering all the other species so commonly kept.

 

[Carant]

Cool fish if you've got a HUUUUGE tank. They are very cute at that size but make sure you google what they look like as adults.

In my mind this was not a great fish to aquaculture, very few people have the appropriate systems to house these guys long term. Perhaps this is another one that was aquacultured for food in asian countries and some have made their way stateside? I believe that was the story with some of the Mac angels we had seen.

They are fantastic looking when they are young. That is why people buy them now. Likely as aqua-cultured ... the thought process is: "I can get one now as they are not coming from the wild so I will just trade it in if it lives and I do not want it any longer. If it dies it does not really matter ... it is only $$"

Most buyers are not long term thinkers ... they are NOT worried about what they look like or their requirements as adults.

If there is a good enough supply the "aqua-cultured" marketing will even allow more to be sold to people with an nice 50 gallon tank.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers,
Bruce

 

[pktech]

They have to be 2" or less. Adorable & very friendly - come right to the glass. They had me thinking, but I can't make impulse buys anymore. I get really bummed when a fish doesn't make it in my tank. My wallet weeps too

 

[aquamanpc24]

I have very similar opinions as all of you, but with the exception of aqua culturing these fish is a good thing as all fish that get sold and ripped from ocean should be tank raised and breed, sure I would love if every hobbyist cared about each fish no matter where it was taken from, but at the end of the day its still a step in right direction.

 

[MikeandNicole]

These were bred for food and a couple have now been slipping into the aquarium hobby. My local LFS had a juvi that was beautiful but I know better.

 

[Big E]

If you grow one to the ugly adult size you can just pull it out of the tank & have the friends over for a fish fry

 

[romanr]

I have to think that they must be pretty tasty if they are being cultured for food as I know that the process to successfully aquaculture them must have been a real pain since they are (were) such a difficult species.

 

[tcmfish]

Being difficult to feed post larvae and during the larval cycle are totally different. They don't call the transition "metamorphosis" for nothing.

 

[pktech]

Well I dropped by to do a little investagative work & it turns out they both perished a few days ago. One of the guys there said they died because the heat wasn't regulated (84 degrees) so I don't know if he's full o' .... or what.