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Dottybacks in Aquaculture

Dottybacks in Aquaculture. Anna Hawkins DISL Aquaculture 2013. What are dottybacks ?. Ornamental aquarium fish Family Pseudochromidae Genus Pseudochromis Found wild in coral reefs Aquaculture = CHEAPER. Orchid dottyback , A. fridmani. Typical behavior.

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Dottybacks in Aquaculture

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  1. Dottybacks in Aquaculture Anna Hawkins DISL Aquaculture 2013

  2. What are dottybacks? • Ornamental aquarium fish • Family Pseudochromidae • GenusPseudochromis • Found wild in coral reefs • Aquaculture = CHEAPER Orchid dottyback, A. fridmani

  3. Typical behavior • Territorial of preferred home • Tankmates determine aggressiveness • May eat certain tankmates • Hermaphroditic

  4. Aquacultured Species • Neon dottyback • Scientific name: P. aldabraensis • Aggressive – eats small fish and ornamental shrimp

  5. Aquacultured Species • Diademadottyback • Scientific name: P. diadema • Semi-aggressive • Needs lots of hiding spots

  6. Aquacultured Species • Elongate dottyback • Scientific name: P. elongatus • Much less aggressive • Rarer variety

  7. Aquacultured Species • Sunrise dottyback • Scientific name: P. flavivertex • Moderately aggressive and territorial

  8. Aquacultured Species • Orchid dottyback • Scientific name: A. fridmani • Territorial • More popular variety

  9. Aquacultured Species • Magenta dottyback • Scientific name: P. porphyreus • Similar to orchid dottyback

  10. Aquacultured Species • Striped dottyback • Scientific name: P. sankeyi • Tend to live in colonies; less aggressive

  11. Aquacultured Species • Indigo dottyback • Scientific name: P. fridmani x sankeyi • Retains mild behavior of striped dottyback

  12. Aquacultured Species • Bicolor dottyback • Scientific name: P. paccagnellae • Aggressive and territorial

  13. Aquacultured Species • Splendid dottyback • Scientific name: M. splendens • May eat small crustaceans • Somewhat aggressive towards other fish

  14. Aquacultured Species • Springeridottyback • Scientific name: P. springeri • Aggressive to conspecifics

  15. Aquacultured Species • Black margin dottyback • Scientific name: P. tapeinosoma • Very aggressive to conspecifics

  16. Prices and where to buy them • Wild-caught very expensive • Price varies by species • Most pet stores in the U.S. or online

  17. Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Production Methods • No more than one mated pair per tank! • Females spawn 2-4 times per month • Males care for eggs

  18. Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Production Methods • Females deposit egg mass in male’s nest • Male intensively cares for eggs • Eggs hatch in evening of 5th day after spawning Orchid dottyback egg

  19. Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Production Methods • Larvae are completely transparent • Kept separate from adults • Very active and use entire water column • Grow very quickly if fed and housed correctly Extreme closeup of a dottyback larva

  20. Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Production Methods • Day 9 – slight coloration • Day 20 – presettlement juveniles, not larvae • Day 25-30 – juveniles begin to settle out • Need hiding places to complete metamorphosis Juvenile dottybacks with hiding places, around 25-30 days old

  21. Reproduction, Life Cycle, and Production Methods • Adult coloration develops within 7 days • Don’t leave hiding place – eat whatever floats by • Transferred to grow out tank after metamorphosis • Rapid growth Juvenile dottybacks showing adult coloration

  22. Feeds and Feeding • Foods high in natural pigments preferable • Frozen plankton, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, bloodworms, pellets and flakes are all good • Live rock helps diet! • Will supplement provided feed Neon dottyback, P. aldabraensis

  23. Water Chemistry and Environment • Salt water REQUIRED! • Need hiding places and low light • pH = 8.1-8.4 • Alkalinity = 124-214 ppm • Temp = 22-26 ºC • Specific Gravity = 1.02-1.025 Springeridottyback, P. springeri

  24. Advantages Disadvantages • Not picky eaters • Hardy • Adults are easy to care for • Pretty! • Can be very aggressive and territorial • Lose coloration if not fed properly • Not super easy to grow

  25. Sources • http://www.orafarm.com/products/fish/dottybacks/ • http://www.aquacon.com/basslets_saltwaterfish.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dottyback • http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcs3/ • http://www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/dottybackschoose-carefully.htm • http://www.saltwaterhub.com/Dottyback.shtml • http://breedersregistry.org/Reprints/FAMA/v19_june96/dotty.htm • http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=3237

  26. Questions?

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