Welcome to the Captive Bred and Illnesses page!
It would be the morally correct thing to purchase captive-bred fish as
they do not negatively affect the reef and are safer to introduce to
one’s aquarium as they are less likely to bring in illnesses, more
willing to accept food and are raised and used to a captive environment.
They are also hardier, therefore more forgiving for a new keeper. In
2016, it was estimated that roughly 300 species, 17% percent of the
marine aquarium species were captive-bred, that might have increased now
as we learn more about culturing them.
As mentioned on the other pages, wild-caught fish are more likely to
carry parasites of some sort. Examples would be the following.
-
Marine Velvet, fast killing parasite which can wipe out fish in days,
looks like ich but more serious, typically asphyxiates fish, reduces
appetite
-
Brookynella hostilis which often effects clownfish but can be passed
onto any marine fish, typically fatal, feeds and reproduces directly
from the fish
- Internal Parasites such as worms that deprive fish from nutrients that
would usually be gained from eating
-
Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) A parasite that attaches itself to
the body of the fish, effects the gills and makes it more difficult
for the fish to breathe
-
Uronema marinum - red sores that effect a
common fish chromis damsels, once they are visible on the body of the
fish, it is likely too late and keeper should consider euthanasia
