Let's discuss about rare fish

[elephantnose3334]

Are you looking forward to keep rare fish? Do you like conserving rare fish to bring back to the wild or the hobby? Then this discussion is for you.

People have kept rare fish for decades and they are still thriving today. But how about rare varieties of a certain fish, like koi guppies and giant bettas? They bred them for decades through selective breeding of generations of fish to get the variety right. They are rare in Australia, but does not mean they are rare elsewhere. The same goes for endangered fish like Boseman's Rainbowfish. Varieties are different from endangered species because varieties are colours to a certain fish, and being endangered means being threatened in the wild (loss of habitat for agriculture, for example). Some fishkeepers like conserving some species, like catching wild bettas in Thailand for conservation purposes and being released in the wild afterwards, and some varieties of koi like the Platinum Ogon koi and Ki Utsuri koi, the latter which is very rare in Australia and other states around the world, which cost a lot of money to own one.

Conservation of rare fish is even rarer in zoos and public aquaria because they think they are worthless to breed and to release in the wild. Zoos and aquaria don't care about these freshwater fish over mammals, birds and marine fish. Boseman's rainbowfish and wild bettas would be a good candidate for a rare breed of fish because they are endangered in the wild, therefore doing conservation efforts for those fish. Some species like White Cloud Mountain minnows, which are common in the hobby, but extinct in the wild, could be conserved the same way as wild bettas, but they are in captivity at first during a few months, then released in the wild in their natural habitat in China.

To conclude my conservation, I'm going to ask y'all a question to answer: Have you kept/Do you keep rare varieties of fish or an endangered fish before?

Happy fishkeeping!

 

[Sylvan]

I think the closest I get to rare fish is my Betta Coccina, just because you don't see them for sale round me very often.

I think public aquariums are missing out by not focusing on fresh water fish a bit more, I'd love to see more fresh water tanks. The only one round me that does is Bolton Aquarium which I think were there first to breed Celestial pearl danios in captivity and a couple of other species.

 

[Colin_T]

All fish and life forms on this planet are endangered now, including people.

 

[elephantnose3334]

All fish and life forms on this planet are endangered now, including people.

All of them? The IUCN Red List contains different categories of endangerment, from common to rare to extinct.

 

[Colin_T]

The human race is going to wipe out the planet. In the 200 years leading up to 2018, the carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere were increasing at a steady 2 degree inclination. In 2018, the angle of inclination went to 80 degrees and has been there since. There is too much CO2 being released and not enough plants, trees and algae to use it. If the CO2 levels continue to increase at an 80 degree inclination, we are all going to die from CO2 poisoning in the next 30-50 years. The only way to stop this is to stop using fossil fuels immediately, as in this year, and to replant the planet immediately (this year). We need at least 100 trees per person to try and remove the CO2.

We don't have until 2050 to reduce global greenhouse emissions to 50%. We have already past the point of no return when it comes to severe climate change. The longer we use fossil fuels, the more likelihood of our own extinction. The fact governments around the world are still umming and arring and trying to come up with a suitable level to be reached by a certain times, simply makes it worse. The world needs to act right now, because if we don't change our ways this year, it's over and nothing will be left alive on this planet at the end of the century.

 

[elephantnose3334]

The human race is going to wipe out the planet. In the 200 years leading up to 2018, the carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere were increasing at a steady 2 degree inclination. In 2018, the angle of inclination went to 80 degrees and has been there since. There is too much CO2 being released and not enough plants, trees and algae to use it. If the CO2 levels continue to increase at an 80 degree inclination, we are all going to die from CO2 poisoning in the next 30-50 years. The only way to stop this is to stop using fossil fuels immediately, as in this year, and to replant the planet immediately (this year). We need at least 100 trees per person to try and remove the CO2.

We don't have until 2050 to reduce global greenhouse emissions to 50%. We have already past the point of no return when it comes to severe climate change. The longer we use fossil fuels, the more likelihood of our own extinction. The fact governments around the world are still umming and arring and trying to come up with a suitable level to be reached by a certain times, simply makes it worse. The world needs to act right now, because if we don't change our ways this year, it's over and nothing will be left alive on this planet at the end of the century.

We agree on what we know that's happening. But can we please stay on topic?

 

[emeraldking]

It depends on the type of fish and the area you live in wether a fish can be called "rare" or not. For instance, you mentioned koi guppies. They're worldwide no rarities anymore but it's more the type of koi guppies which makes it rare or not. And yes, there are areas on this globe where they're less available which makes them overthere rare.
A platinum ogon (white or yellow) koi is general not a rare variety. They're even one of the most sold varieties in the world. But again, it could be rare in your area. Ki ustsuri koi are very well present in Western Europe just like the hi utsuri and shiro utsuri.
One of my rare koi I kept was the ki shusui. And guess what? For many years ago I went to a farmers store overhere which also sold some coldwater fish. In obne of those tank, I saw a 5cm sized white koi with just an not so attractive blue line of top of its back. But in some way, it did get my attention. I paid 2,50 Dutch guilders back then (the euro wasn't present yet). Because of its size I put it in a tank with some other small koi and kept it in my livingroom. It grew up very fast in comparison to the rest and it showed yellow on it's sides and the pattern of yellow on both sides were identical. And the blue line on top of its back became broader and looked like a number of scales. But they couldn't be scales for it was a full doitsu koi. In two years time, it grew from 5cm to 65cm. And when it reached the 10cm size, it went to my biggest pond in the backyard. From the shape I could tell it was a male. When it reached the 90cm, I sold him for € 6000,00. That's the price I was offered by a japanese business man. At that time, this koi was about 3 years of age. It really had good genes. Not particular by it's colors and pattern but the just the growth potential. And I bought it for 2,50 Dutch guilders and that same price would be € 1,13 if I would convert it into euros. The price it was sold for is a really good deal for this male wasn't japanese koi but an israeli koi. Israeli koi and european koi are less expensive than japanese koi. The buyer was a business connection of the owner of a chinese restaurant (who already bought some koi from me before).


I also belong to the group of people who keep rare fish. In my case, rare livebearers. That could be wild and breeding forms. And when it comes to breeding forms, I try to stick to the show segment quality. I try to preserve the wild livebearer species for the aquarium scene and I participate as a member of our national livebearer society which preserves wild livebearer species to rerelease captive bred offspring into the wild again. Especially those wild livebearer species that are endangered or even extinct in the wild.
I would also like to make a remark regarding zoos. We do have a zoo in our country which does have projects to preserve wild fish species (which includes also wild livebearer species) and they're shown to the public. Our national society of livebearers have cooperated with this zoo.