Goodeids And Endlers The Only Threatened Livebearers?

[dwarfgourami]

Have been reading a lot lately about conservation breeding in different countries (those Norwegians seem keen!), and thinking how nice it would be to do something really worthwhile like breeding a fish whose habitat is under threat (once I get a bit more experience under my belt).

Most articles seem to be about goodeids- and the ubiquitous endlers!- which just set me wondering: are they the only fish around who need help? Obviously, some poeciliids clearly don't - they're more like pests- but are there any that might need a helping hand and can be found in the UK? I am particularly interested in smallish fish, not so much for reasons of space, I just have a thing about them. And something hardwater would be good.

edit: I hope that didn't sound as if I WANTED there to be threatened fish. Of course I don't, but I know from the reading I've been doing that there are a lot of problems in places like Mexico; and if there was something one could do to help, it would be a way of putting something back into the hobby.

 

[Nevergone815]

well i don't know how much yopu are dedicated to this, but i don't know of any other livebearers besides endler's and goodeids. i do know that white cloud mountain minnows are extinct in the wild. the ironic part is that they are one of the easiest egglayers to breed in home aquaria (so i've heard). maybe setting up a project ot reintroduce them into their natural habitat would be nice (providing that you have government and animal preservation behind you- don't do anything illegal).

 

[FishEnthusiast]

The Ilyodon Lennoni (Chacambero splitfin) are unofficially threatened as their habitat is polluted. I don't know of any others.

 

[dwarfgourami]

The Ilyodon Lennoni (Chacambero splitfin) are unofficially threatened as their habitat is polluted. I don't know of any others.

It's a goodeid though. Though it looks nice.

I found the website of the IUCN red list of endangered animals and ran through the search engine. Seems there's a few platy species; might look into those.

 

[blitztidus]

There are many other RARE types of livebearers, some I probably never heard of. If they are rare that probably means that they are ENDANGERED

Here is an example of endangered in Texas, look at the livebearer section http/www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/...ish/index.phtml

 

[GuppyDude]

Definately not a bad idea, but wouldn't it just be easier to preserve the species by cleaning up their habitat and allowing them to repopulate naturally? You've also gotta keep in mind that alot of the fish on blitz list arnt exactly "pretty", i don't know how much help or support you'll receive from fellow enthuseists and its much too large of a job for anyone to take upon themselves; expert or begginer. Dont let me be a downer thogh, if this is somthing your seriously interested in i give you the thumbs up

 

[dwarfgourami]

Definately not a bad idea, but wouldn't it just be easier to preserve the species by cleaning up their habitat and allowing them to repopulate naturally? You've also gotta keep in mind that alot of the fish on blitz list arnt exactly "pretty", i don't know how much help or support you'll receive from fellow enthuseists and its much too large of a job for anyone to take upon themselves; expert or begginer. Dont let me be a downer thogh, if this is somthing your seriously interested in i give you the thumbs up

Yes, I know, but how do I clean up Mexico? The problems of an expanding population, changing agricultural practices, and sudden industrialisation are somewhat beyond me- and often beyond the respective governments themselves. This goes for many habitats round the world. Have you seen pics of the Guangzhou area near where the WCMs come from (or posssiby came from- may now be extinct)? Massive industrialised town where you can barely make out the next skyscraper through the smog. The mountain itself is said to be very polluted.

Cleaning up a habitat takes many years, assuming the local authorities have the will, the money, the political clout and the policing to do it. In the meantime the local species needs to be kept alive in captivity, if it can't live in the wild. Some goodeids already are extinct in the wild and will not repopulate naturally unless reintroduced.

My idea was to join up with others in a breeding programme, which in this country means the British Livebearer Association. Their year starts on the 1 May, so my application will be in the post tomorrow! There are plenty of livebreeding programmes around the world; I might also join the Scandinavian society to pick their brains; they seem very active and fortunately I have the languages.

I've been reading my Baensch assiduously over the last few weeks, so I know many threatened species are a bit dull, that wouldn't necessarily worry me. I've kept enough gaudy livebearers in my day to be quite content to rest my eyes on something a bit more homely looking. May start with unusual-in-the-hobby-but-not-threatened species, though, just to get some more experience before I take on something more responsible.

 

[dwarfgourami]

There are many other RARE types of livebearers, some I probably never heard of. If they are rare that probably means that they are ENDANGERED

Here is an example of endangered in Texas, look at the livebearer section http/www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/...ish/index.phtml

Thanks, the gambusias might be worth investigationg. I'll find out what other people are doing.

 

[bettawen]

mexico has had a conservation project running for about 10 years. they have managed to save a lot of their native species from extinction.

 

[diburning]

anableps anableps

 

[dwarfgourami]

anableps anableps

Tempting, but I don't think I'm ready for brackish yet.

 

[diburning]

freshwater ray?

 

[dwarfgourami]

freshwater ray?

Haven't got the space, and I'm not quite that adventurous. I was thinking of one of the smaller poeciliids.

 

[diburning]

then go for the halfbeaks.