How to conserve the Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish?

[elephantnose3334]

How do I help save this critically endangered rainbowfish from extinction? Can't wait to purchase them from Vebas if any is on stock.

 

[GaryE]

Big question.

I would say you can't. If you have the ability to influence and gather together several hundred organized people willing to undertake a project that will span many generations, maybe. You would need to have all of them keep detailed breeding records (with each dedicating maybe a dozen or more tanks to the species for a lifetime) and have organized exchanges of genetic material (ie, fish) to avoid inbreeding. There would be a need for constant info exchange, and serious commitment. Most hobbyist breeders make it about 3 bred generations before they get bored and try for something else.
The industry can't do it as yes, they can breed in numbers, but the crowding they need to make a profit leads to diseases that would undermine the effort.

When you consider the age of this species compared to our lifespans, we're fleas trying to keep elephants.

The only effective way is to join a project to save Lake Kurumoi. A fish out of water has no longterm chance. Other than that, we can keep hobby populations around to show what we've destroyed, but they'll live ghost lives and vanish as we lose interest in them and do other things.

I have a killie species here I have bred continuously for well over 30 years. I've distributed hundreds. Not one breeder has settled in to keep them going for more than a couple of years, and none will bother to have regular trades back and forth to beat inbreeding. I hope I can enjoy them for another 30 years, but after that, I expect they're gone. Rainbows take more resources than killies, so the picture is even less encouraging.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Big question.

I would say you can't. If you have the ability to influence and gather together several hundred organized people willing to undertake a project that will span many generations, maybe. You would need to have all of them keep detailed breeding records (with each dedicating maybe a dozen or more tanks to the species for a lifetime) and have organized exchanges of genetic material (ie, fish) to avoid inbreeding. There would be a need for constant info exchange, and serious commitment. Most hobbyist breeders make it about 3 bred generations before they get bored and try for something else.
The industry can't do it as yes, they can breed in numbers, but the crowding they need to make a profit leads to diseases that would undermine the effort.

When you consider the age of this species compared to our lifespans, we're fleas trying to keep elephants.

The only effective way is to join a project to save Lake Kurumoi. A fish out of water has no longterm chance. Other than that, we can keep hobby populations around to show what we've destroyed, but they'll live ghost lives and vanish as we lose interest in them and do other things.

I have a killie species here I have bred continuously for well over 30 years. I've distributed hundreds. Not one breeder has settled in to keep them going for more than a couple of years, and none will bother to have regular trades back and forth to beat inbreeding. I hope I can enjoy them for another 30 years, but after that, I expect they're gone. Rainbows take more resources than killies, so the picture is even less encouraging.

Maybe keeping them in a big enough tank and breeding the remaining captive population would work?

 

[Colin_T]

You need to get in touch with ANGFA and get eggs from them and work with them to breed them and supply them. Rainbowfish are easy to breed and can produce hundreds of young every week. So if you can get a group or 8-10 fish and breed them, you can literally produce thousands every month.

Gary Lange in America might be breeding them too so they might disappear from the wild, but hopefully there are sufficient bloodlines around the world to keep them alive in captivity.

Home

The Australian and New Guinea Fishes Association - ANGFA

www.angfa.org.au

 

[GaryE]

You can breed and maintain them for yourself, with 2 or three tanks. One is for the group, one to condition breeders or to collect eggs, and one to raise fry. When the fry get large enough, they can go to grow out in tank 2. I raise my bows that way, and have for several generations. I have wanamensis - possibly extinct in nature.

 

[GaryE]

You need to get in touch with ANGFA and get eggs from them and work with them to breed them and supply them. Rainbowfish are easy to breed and can produce hundreds of young every week. So if you can get a group or 8-10 fish and breed them, you can literally produce thousands every month.

Gary Lange in America might be breeding them too so they might disappear from the wild, but hopefully there are sufficient bloodlines around the world to keep them alive in captivity.

Home

The Australian and New Guinea Fishes Association - ANGFA

www.angfa.org.au

Does ANGFA work with Papua New Guinea species? I thought they had a focus on Australian species, some of which also need help.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Does ANGFA work with Papua New Guinea species? I thought they had a focus on Australian species, some of which also need help.

Yes, ANGFA works for New Guinea species- therefore Australian New Guinea Fish Association.

 

[Colin_T]

Does ANGFA work with Papua New Guinea species? I thought they had a focus on Australian species, some of which also need help.

The big issue we have in Australia is getting hold of the New Guinea species, they aren't allowed into the country. The few that make it here are the basis of the species here and they quickly become inbred.