Advances in Marine Fish Husbandry Abstracts
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History and Evolution of Collection Gear and Species Caught Over the Last Fifty Years Forrest Young, Dynasty Marine Full Abstract
During the course of the last 50 years the author has been an active participant in the marine life fishery for the express purpose of supplying display animals to public aquariums, zoos, research facilities and the hobby. During that time gear has evolved substantially. Diving technology for the author’s work has gone from simple open circuit SCUBA beginning in 1969 to technical diving with mixed gas rebreathers (2000-present) and finally with submersibles (2006-present). Collection gear has also seen tremendous evolution. Starting off with tiny plastic hand nets and slurp guns and developing into deployment of sophisticated barrier nets and submersible deployed gear. The species list has also seen a tremendous evolution as new species have been added to evolving public display husbandry abilities. Gear technology and the evolution of the species targeted will be summarized on a chronological basis in addition to a full comparison to gear use in the undeveloped world that supplies the bulk of marine tropical species to the pet trade and public display. |
Duped by a Fish: Livebearing Adventures in Larval Rearing of the Black Brotula, Stygnobrotula latebricola
Allison Waltz‐Hill and Jeremy Brodt, New England Aquarium Full Abstract
The black brotula, Stygnobrotula latebricola, is an Atlantic Ophidiiform of the family Bythitidae (viviparous brotulas). Black brotulas are infrequently displayed in public aquaria due to their reputation as a cryptic species with complex husbandry requirements. As a result, their life history and reproductive habits are poorly understood. The New England Aquarium has successfully displayed this species in a mixed taxa exhibit for six years. In 2017, an individual that was placed in holding with a conspecific became pregnant and began a cycle of recurring pregnancies and births (five thus far), culminating in three captive-raised black brotulas to date. These events have allowed us to determine that the approximate gestation is 3-4 months and larval yield ranges from ~1,700-3,600. The female’s lack of access to a male prior to two pregnancies suggests sperm storage or parthenogenesis as a reproductive strategy in this species. Further inquiry is ongoing to identify which reproductive strategy is being utilized as well as to refine larval husbandry. |
Operation Chill Out: New Husbandry Techniques for Split‐Fin Flashlight Fish (Anomalops katoptron)
Nikki Eisenmenger and Tasha Esaki, Tennessee Aquarium Full Abstract
The Tennessee Aquarium opened a new gallery that included a 3000 gallon split fin flashlight fish (Anomalops katoptron) exhibit that holds approximately 300 flashlight fish. Flashlight fish are commonly kept in the 22‐25.5°C (72‐78° F) range, however wild caught specimens have been found at depths of up to 365m (1200 ft) where temperatures have been reported below 15.5°C (60° F). There would be several advantages to keeping the fish at this lower temperature some of which would be decreased metabolism, increased oxygen for the light organ, and disease management. A small system was built that would allow us to test lower temperatures on the flashlight fish. A group with varying levels of light were moved into this testing system to see what impacts there would be to metabolism, light brightness, light recovery, and overall health. |