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Husbandry Initiatives. Daniel Schwarz USFWS Private John Allen NFH. Our objective. If threat on natural habitat, can Yazoo Darters be successfully bred and reared in captivity? Develop/refine culture and rearing techniques Determine spawning cues for species
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Husbandry Initiatives Daniel Schwarz USFWS Private John Allen NFH
Our objective • If threat on natural habitat, can Yazoo Darters be successfully bred and reared in captivity? • Develop/refine culture and rearing techniques • Determine spawning cues for species • Water temp, photoperiod, substrate composition and possibly current • Develop feeding regime
Collection and Rearing • Collected March 2012 • 3 male 7 female • Fish were kept in 3 tanks (115 L) 1 male and 2 female per tank. • Maintain on a recirc. sys. @ 65°F until Aug. • Constant light to inhibit spawning • Males lost coloration • Temperature controlled room • Six 115 L and Fifteen 64 L tanks • UV and Bio filters • 568 L sump
Spawning trials (in aquaria) • On 8/3/2012 spawning substrate (sand, gravel, boulder, woody debris) was added to one tank. • Temp was increased by 2°F every 2 weeks to 69°F (Johnston and Haag 2006) • Photoperiod was manually controlled to simulated natural conditions
Spawning trial (with current) • @ 69°F 2 males and 4 females were moved to constructed stream
No spawning thus far • Current temperatures are 73°F • No spawning behavior has been observed • Males are beginning to show return of color • Plans to construct automatic lighting
Future attempts • Spring 2013 • Collect Yazoo Darters • Allow to spawn immediately after returning to hatchery • Provide appropriate temp, photoperiod and substrate • After viable eggs are produced we can begin developing feeding regimes for offspring.