The ornamental industry produces fish, plants, and shellfish for stocking
aquaria.
Warm-water species, such as tropicals, and cool-water ornamentals, such as
goldfish, are two categories grown on farms.
| Angelfish | Suckermouth Catfish | Discus | Goldfish |
| Guppy | Koi | Molly | Oscar |
| Swordtail | Tetra |
Common name: Angelfish
Scientific name: Pterphyllum scalare
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Potential: High
Size: 1/2 inch - 3 inches length
Market: Ornamental
Temperature requirements:
Growing: 75-84°F
Spawning: 82°F
Lethal: 60°F
Feed requirements:
Protein: 40% crude protein, using a combination of flake, live, or frozen feeds
Fat: 10-15%
Spawning requirements: Once broodfish start to exhibit courtship behavior, they are transferred to an 80 liter spawning tank. Females spawn on a vertical substrate such as a slate tile. Eggs are adhesive and will hatch in two days at 82°F. Each female may lay up to 200 eggs per female every 7 to 14 days. First feeding using newly hatched brine shrimp can begin five days after hatching. After fertilization, the slate with attached eggs is placed in a 3 to 5 gallon aquarium containing enough methylene blue to give a dark blue color. An air stone should be placed underneath the slate to provide circulation. After hatching one-half of the aquarium, water should be replaced each day so by the time the fry are free-swimming, the water is only slightly blue.
Most common production systems: Recycle systems, ponds. When the fry are free-swimming, they should be transferred to an aerated 15 gallon aquarium at 300 fry per aquarium. The aquarium should have a water depth of approximately 4 inches and be filtered with a sponge filter. The shallow water depth facilitates the feeding of the fry. When the fry are approximately 0.6 inches in diameter, they should be transferred to a 30 to 55 gallon aquarium with aeration and filtration. Fry should grow to a marketable size in 6 to 8 weeks.
Common name: Suckermouth catfish
Scientific name: Hypostomus plecostomus
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Potential: High
Size: Many discrete size ranges starting at 1-2 inches
Market: Ornamental
Temperature requirements:
Growing: 71.6-82.3°F
Spawning: 75-79°F
Lethal: NA
Feed requirements:
Protein: 32% catfish feed 1/8 inch in diameter.
Fat: NA
Spawning requirements: Females are sexually mature after two years. Females burrow into the pond bank (cavity spawners) and lay around 250 eggs per spawn.
Most common production systems: Ponds and tanks
Common name: Discus
Scientific name: Symphysodon discus and
Symphysodon aequifasciatus
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Potential: High
Size: 1/2 inch - 3 inches length
Market: Ornamental
Temperature requirements:
Growing: 75-84°F
Spawning: 82°F
Lethal: 70°F or lower will initiate disease outbreaks
Feed requirements:
Protein: 40% crude protein, using a combination of flake, live, or frozen feeds.
Fat: 10-15%
Spawning requirements: Once broodfish start to exhibit courtship behavior, they are transferred to an 80 liter spawning tank. Females spawn on a vertical substrate such as a slate tile. Eggs are adhesive and will hatch in two days at 82°F. Each female may lay up to 200 eggs per female every 7 to 14 days. First feeding using newly hatched brine shrimp can begin five days after hatching. After fertilization, the slate with attached eggs is placed in a 3 to 5 gallon aquarium containing enough methylene blue to give a dark blue color. An air stone should be placed underneath the slate to provide circulation. After hatching one-half of the aquarium, water should be replaced each day so by the time the fry are free-swimming, the water is only slightly blue. Discus are extremely sensitive to poor water quality and require a near neutral pH and hardness levels less than 80 mg./l.
Most common production systems:
Recycle systems, ponds. When the fry are
free-swimming, they should be transferred to an aerated 15 gallon aquarium at
300 fry per aquarium. The aquarium should have a water depth of approximately 4
inches and be filtered with a sponge filter. The shallow water depth facilitates
the feeding of the fry. When the fry are approximately 0.6 inches in diameter,
they should be transferred to a 30 to 55 gallon aquarium with aeration and
filtration. Fry should grow to a marketable size in 6 to 8 weeks.
Goldfish
Common name: Goldfish. The comet variety is the most common type of goldfish,
but there have been many other varieties developed, such as black moors, calico,
koi, and shubunkins.
Scientific name: Carassius auratus
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Potential: Moderate
Size: 1-6 inches for ornamental
1-2 inches for feeder fish
Market: Bait, ornamental
Temperature Requirements:
Growing: 70°F
Spawning: Above 60°F
Lethal: NA
Feed requirements:
Protein: 30-38%
Fat: NA
Spawning requirements: Spawns repeatedly from May to June, eggs hatch in 2-8
days, 50,000 eggs/lb. body weight. The primary method used is the egg transfer
method.
In this method the broodstock spawn on spawning mats placed in shallow water
along the shore. When mats are covered with eggs, they are moved to rearing
ponds.
Most common production systems: Ponds. Small ponds, 0.25-1.0 acre, for spawning and larger ponds, 0.5-5 acres, for rearing of fry.
Common name: Guppy
Scientific name: Lebistes reticulatus
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Potential: High
Size: 0.25 inch - 1.5 inches length
Market: Ornamental
Temperature requirements:
Growing: 83°F
Spawning: NA
Lethal: NA
Feed requirements:
Protein: Guppies feed on 40% crude protein flake food, small zooplankton, or
newly hatched brine shrimp.
Fat: 8%
Spawning requirements: Live bearer that can give birth to 200 young. Females become sexually mature in about three weeks.
Most common production systems: Recycle systems and ponds
Common name: Koi
Scientific name: Cyprinus carpio
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Potential: Moderate
Size: 3 inches -12 inches length
Market: Ornamental
Temperature requirements:
Growing: 55-80°F
Spawning: Above 65°F
Lethal: NA
Feed requirements:
Protein: 31-38%
Fat: 3-8%
Spawning requirements: Koi spawn in the spring and female produce 60,000 eggs/lb. body weight. Eggs hatch in 2-7 days.
Most common production systems:
Ponds
Molly
Common name: Molly
Scientific name: Several species of live bearers in the family
Poecillidae
including Platypoecilus mentalis (Black molly) and Poecilla velifera
(Sailfin
molly).
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Potential: High
Size: 1-2 inches
Market: Ornamental
Temperature requirements:
Growing: 77-86°F
Spawning: 80-84°F
Lethal: Below 60°F
Feed requirements:
Protein: 40% flake food or 45% salmon starter
Fat: NA
Spawning requirements: Female mollies mature in 3-4 months and bear approximately 10 fry every two weeks. To prevent the adults from eating their offspring, cover for the fry must be provided.
Most common production systems: Ponds and aquaria.
Common name: Oscar, velvet cichlid
Scientific name: Astronotus ocellatus
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Potential: High
Size: 2 inches and larger
Market: Ornamental
Temperature requirements:
Growing: 79-86°F
Spawning: 80-82°F
Lethal: 65°F
Feed requirements:
Protein: 32-32% pelleted fish food for adults. Broodfish and fry need
supplements of live foods such as brine shrimp.
Fat: NA
Spawning requirements: Females will produce 1,000-2,000 eggs, which are laid onto a rock substrate.
Most common production systems: Ponds and recycle systems
Common name: Swordtail
Scientific name: Xiphophrus hellerii
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Potential: High
Size: 0.25 inch - 1.5 inches length
Market: Ornamental
Temperature requirements:
Growing: 83°F
Spawning: NA
Lethal: NA
Feed requirements:
Protein: 40-50%
Fat: 10-12%
Spawning requirements: Live bearer that can give birth to 200 young. Females become sexually mature in about three weeks.
Most common production systems: Ponds and recycle systems
Common name: Tetra and other species in the family Characidae (Characins)
Scientific name: Paracheirondon innesi (Common neon tetra) and
Paracheirondon
axelrodi (Cardinal tetra)
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Potential: High
Size: 1 inch -2 inches length
Market: Ornamental
Temperature requirements:
Growing: 77-82°F
Spawning: 77-82°F
Lethal: Below 65°F
Feed requirements:
Protein: 40% flake fish food
Fat: NA
Spawning requirements: Female may lay up to 150-300 eggs per spawn onto a perlon mat. Adults are removed. Fry hatch after 24 hours. and fry swim up after five days.
Most common production systems: Tanks and aquaria