Are Captive Bred Fish Hardier?

[Feet4Fish]

I ask this question from a couple different aspects.

1. Are fish that typically don’t flourish in closed systems such as Majestic Angels more hearty in their captive bred version?

2. Would a wild caught specimen have a more robust immune system than their captive bred couterpart?

I am by no means devaluing the ecological benefit of captive breeding, but just have been thinking.

 

[S2G]

I've only had experience with clowns and I couldn't tell a difference. I do have a lot of experience with captive bred vs wild fw fish. I couldn't tell a different health wise but the wild colors were more vivid. Big fish don't ship well regardless.

 

[pcon]

This has generally been found true. Wild clownfish were quite difficult to keep alive, captive bred easier. Similarly notorious picky eaters, Dragonettes, filefish, more readily took to prepared foods. This held true for even the infamous orange spotted filefish. Unfortunately this does not mean that certain deeper elements of their physiology are altered. The infamous files still need food~10x a day, Dragonettes still need food thought the day. Small Navarchus are still shy and liable to starve themselves in a boisterous environment, but they are better than their wild caught counterparts.

The institutions which have the longest proven track record for fish health and longevity, all have through biosecurity protocol, and work to keep their livestock in disease free facilities. I don't buy into the argument that poor biosecurity is good for livestock. So disease free fish > maybe disease carrying fish, for my tank.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I believe so. Just by virtue of not having to acclimate to captive/tank life since it's all they've known.

 

[Feet4Fish]

It is also my belief as well. I guess one thing I would like to hear is from someone who has a captive bread traditionally less hearty fish. Personally I had a wild caught Navarchus but lost him after four years. Currently I have a captive bread clown trigger who has done beautifully. I guess what got me on this thought process is this morning I talked to Bob Fenner about the salinity requirement for a Maculosus Angel. We talked about as the wild caught are from the Red Sea which runs a salinity between 37-41ppt that we would have to keep the wild ones at a minimum of 35 ppt. We discussed how the captive bred variety could likely tolerate the lower 27ppt I run my fish only at.

 

[Sump Crab]

I would argue no. Although they may seem hardier in a captive environment I would imagine that if placed into the wild they would prove to be much less hardy than their counterparts. Not only will captive strain gene pools slowly become weaker over time I would also imagine captive bred fish to be more prone to catching, and succumbing to wild parasites introduced into our aquariums.

Hardier in aquariums? Perhaps. Hardier in reality, I believe not.

 

[Feet4Fish]

That’s what I am wondering too. I would think the more sterile conditions that captive bred are kept in would not contribute to the strength of their immune system. I am sure @Paul B would believe this to be a negative for the captive bred counterparts.

 

[KrisReef]

Captive-bred populations were selected from among the individuals in the wild population that could thrive in closed systems. The wild-caught fish that couldn't survive in captivity failed to reproduce. Captive-bred fish that are reintroduced into the wild often cause problems for the wild populations (spreading hatchery diseases) and also failing to thrive and likely to fail to reproduce more often than wild fish.

Not always, but often our meddling with natural systems produces undesirable changes within these natural systems. Salmon hatcheries are a classic example, and don't get me wrong I like salmon from both systems but I'm not that picky once it comes off the BBQ.

 

[Fishnut]

I have a Macculosus Angel and a pair of Blue Line Angels that were tank raised. I found that having them used to common aquarium foods and people as the source of that food helped them acclimate quickly. I can’t comment on resistance to parasites as I haven’t seen any evidence of any in my tanks. I also run my FOWLR tanks at 27ppt with nitrates 80+

 

[shred5]

I think they adapt better to a aquarium environment but I believe them to be less healthy if exposed to viruses or pathogens they have never been exposed to.. How can they have a defense or immunity to something they have never been exposed to.. If you throw them in with some wild fish that are carrying something the captive raised would be worse off.

 

[Feet4Fish]

Awesome. Happy to hear about the Maculosus! Want one for my FOWLR and was talking to Bob Fenner as it is a Red Sea fish and I also run my salinity at 27. He suggested a captive bred one since wild ones are use to 37-41. Could you share a picture of him?

 

[Feet4Fish]

I had the same thought. My current thought would to be to obtain captive bred varieties whenever possible, segregate them for conditioning and fortifying their immune system by feeding whole animal foods like clams before mixing them with wild caught tank mates

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Yes they are hardier and are already acclimated to aquarium life. It’s also a more environmentally friendly approach to the hobby. Please read my signature.

 

[Fishnut]

After 30 minutes of trying to photograph this captive bred Mac. This is the best I could do - camera shy

 

[Reef AquaCult]

After 30 minutes of trying to photograph this captive bred Mac. This is the best I could do - camera shy

Beautiful fish!

 

[AquaRaider44]

Captive-bred fish are the way of the future. They are also much hardier, with many other benefits. Although captive-bred fish have been bred in mostly sterile environments due to them being raised in captivity in very tight conditions in aquariums with terrible water quality they are more hardie. The reason for this is because this is all the fish have ever known and they are comfortable and not stressed out when moved into your aquarium. A fish that is comfortable and not stressed out will be much more resistant to issues like ich etc. Also captive-bred fish eat pebbles from very early on even fish that are notoriously difficult to keep without special foods like filefish and dragonets.

I try to purchase all captive-bred fish now for the last few years and have noticed a major difference in the fish. I have alot of tanks and alot of tank raised fish now of many types even ones that very few people have like a tank raised kole tang and many angelfish. Firstly the fish eat whatever you put in the tank very greedily and are never picky. I have a mandarin dragonet bought from Biota and every time I feed pebbles it comes out and eats them like any other fish. Second, the fish are very very peaceful. I have 2 tank raised tangs in one 66 gallon tank and 2 tank raised tangs in a 500 gallon with 3 wild tangs with 5 tank raised angelfish and everyone gets along fine much more than wild tangs or angelfish do.

Never had any issues with captive-bred fish and even raised many thousand clownfish myself. Captive-bred fish are the way of the future.

If anyone has any questions please tag me on here.

 

[Feet4Fish]

Gorgeous angel! Where did you get him??

I have a Macculosus Angel and a pair of Blue Line Angels that were tank raised. I found that having them used to common aquarium foods and people as the source of that food helped them acclimate quickly. I can’t comment on resistance to parasites as I haven’t seen any evidence of any in my tanks. I also run my FOWLR tanks at 27ppt with nitrates 80+

 

[lion king]

I don't believe they are heartier, just are initially at better odds to acclimation. Primarily because they haven't been exposed to the ills and stress of wild capture. You likely don't have to treat for parasites or worry about other diseases. But once acclimated if there are wild caught fish in your system they could be exposed to diseases that others may have an immunity. I have had my wild caught majestic for several years now, and I know 2 people that have lost captive bred ones in short order.

 

[Feet4Fish]

All the input has been very interesting and I thank you all! I am a tolls proponent of captive bred fish as as I said currently have a clown trigger which is captive bread. As I begin to stock my new 650 FOWLR build I will buy the captive bred specimens whenever possible.

Let me rephrase my initial question....As a captive bred fish is much better suited for our closed system environments, but has a less robust immune system, would there be benefit to first condition the fish and strengthen their immune system through nutrition before introducing them into a display with wild caught tank mates?

The analogy I think of is if you take two children one kept at home until school age and the other going to daycare....now they both go to school and the child who had been kept at home is likely to come home a few times with different viral maladies until their immune system adapts to the plethora of pathogens in a communal setting. The daycare child's immune system would likely be more in sync with the community pathogens.

 

[lion king]

I think nutritional health is a given, I'm thinking more of immunity through exposure. As not to open up a can of worms, the theory of all of our wild caught fish being exposed to a plethora of diseases. Some believe ich is every tank, as do I, these captive bred fish would be more susceptible to such exposure.

Captive bred only would be the best.