Breeding, Seed Production and Larvae Rearing of Some

Commercially Important Ornamental Fishes

 Presentation outline

• Introduction

• Materials and methods

• Observation

• Result

• Conclusion
 Introduction

Ornamental fishes are a vital part of

the aquarium industry, with a wide
range of species being bred and
cultivated for sale

The industry is a significant

contributor to the economy of
Bangladesh, with many small-
scale fish farmers and
businesses specializing in the
cultivation and export of
ornamental fishes
Commercially Important Ornamental Fishes in Bangladesh

•Guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

•Swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri)
•Mollies (Poecilia sphenops)
•Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)
Objective of the study

To observe the breeding techniques of egg layers

ornamental fishes

To observe the breeding techniques of live bearer

ornamental fishes

To explore the seed proudction of ornamental

fishes

To explore the larve rearing of the ornamental

fishes.
 Materials and method

Place of internship:

The internship program was

conducted in Razon Golden
Fisheries, Niler para, Gazipur.
Brood fish tank or pond Draining out
preparation of water

Withdrawal
of algal
growth from
bottom

Sun drying

Liming/
Pesticide
application

Introduction
of water
 Feed for brood fish

 Broodfishes were fed with formulated

mega feed at a rate of 2-5% of their
body weight

 Daphnia and tubifex worms

were also used as the source
of food for the fishes.
Breeding of the ornamental fishes

Live bearers Live bearers

Blue gourami Guppy varieties

Golden gourami White molly
Angel fish Moontail fish
Lionhead orenda Kohaku sword tail
Preparation of breeding tank

Selection of mature breeders

Placing of the male and female breeders

into breeding
 Materials and method

Spawning substrate
 Selection of mature breeders

 Healthy fish with appealing size and

color patterns were chosen to be the
breeders

 The breeders' selection process was

based on prominent secondary

sexual characteristics.
The distinctive characteristics of female and male breeders
that were followed during selection.

Species Male Famale

Gourami golden

Gourami blue

Angel fish

Gold fish
 Observation

 The gouramis were laid eggs within 24 hours, on the other hand the angel fish and goldfish were
produced eggs after 72 and 36 hours from placing into breeding tank respectively.

 The eggs of all the species were observed. They were observed by taking the spawning substarate from
the tank.

Figure: Eggs of different ornamental fishes; (a) Gourami;(b) Angel fish; (c) Goldfish
Hatching time from eggs of the four species of work
Species Time of hatching from eggs

Blue gourami 24-30 hours

Golden gourami 24-30 hours

Lionhead orenda gold fish 48-52 hours

Angel fish 45-48 hours

Breeding Techniques

Breeding ornamental fishes is a delicate process that requires careful management of water
quality, temperature, and lighting. There are various techniques that can be used to
successfully breed these fishes, including natural breeding, artificial breeding, and
hybridization.
 Ornamental fishes

Live bearers Egg layers

Blue gourami Guppy varieties

Golden gourami White molly
Angel fish Moontail fish

Lionhead orenda Kohaku sword tail

Distinction between male and female brood fish
 Hatching

The eggs of the fishes were treated in different ways before hatching. After laying eggs the female gourami fish was
removed from the tank, eggs were kept in tank for hatching, male guards the eggs. When the larvae were stated to leave
the nest, the male were also removed from tanks.

Species Time of hatching from eggs

Blue gourami 24-30 hours

Golden gourami 24-30 hours

Lionhead orenda gold fish 48-52 hours

Angel fish 45-48 hours

Table 2.4: Hatching time from eggs of the four species of work

The fertilized eggs with substrate were removed from the tanks and placed into hapa installed in
new tanks with fresh clean water. The increased temperature facilitates the hatching. Parental care
is seen among angel fish, but after egg laying if they are disturbed the eat their eggs. That’s why
The fertilized eggs with substrate were removed from the tanks and placed into hapa installed in new tanks with
fresh clean water. The increased temperature facilitates the hatching. Parental care is seen among angel fish, but
after egg laying if they are disturbed the eat their eggs. That’s why the substrate with eggs placed in a bowl
containing fresh, clean tube well water and continuous aeration was given until they hatch.

Figure 2.6: Hatching of eggs;(a) Angel fish eggs hatching; (b) Goldfish eggs hatching
Breeding of live bearer

 Ovoviviparous: Where the eggs form and hatch within the female before birth
 Viviparous: Where no eggs are formed, and the young are nourished through an umbilical-
like cord or from secretion by the female.

Preparation of tank or aquarium.

Figure 2.7: Plants giving shelter of new born larvae of guppies; (a) Hornwort, Ceratophyllum demersum;(b) Densa,
Egeria densa.
Information about the livebearer ornamental fishes of work (Patra et al., 2020).

Male: Female Number of

Maximum Age of in breeding young Gestation
Species length(cm) maturity tank produced period Feeding
(days) in whole life (days)

Guppy M: 2.5-3.5 90 1:3-4 20-100 21-35 F, D, T

F: 5-6

Molly M: 8, F: 9 84-112 1:4 20-80 40-70 F, D, T

Sword tail M: 7.5, 42-56 1:5 20-100 28-42 F, D, T

F:11.5

Moontail M:3, F:5 42-56 1:3 10-80 28-42 F, D, T

fish
Feeding: To get healthier and larger fry the live breeders were given both
live food and formulated feed by maintaining the following schedule.

7. Rearing of larvae of the ornamental fishes

The raising method differs depending on the species. The male

and female breeders of the blue and golden gourami were taken
out of the breeding tanks. For fifteen days, the species' larvae
were raised in the breeding tanks. Following the resorption of
their egg yolk sac, they were given powdered hen egg yolk,
which was combined with
Selection of mature male and female

Guppy Brighter and smaller than females, longer and Females are then and less bright than the male,
thinner body, mature male become much brighter much rounded body than males, the upper ventral
when mature to attract the females side of the body become much swollen when
they become mature.

Molly Larger and wider body than Smaller and shorter body. Upper part
females of the ventral side swollen

Moontail fish Larger than females. Large and moonlike caudal fin Shorter than males with swollen ventral part

Sword Tail Males have the characteristic "sword" on the Females have a rounded tail edge and tend to have
ventral aspect of their tails thicker bodies
 conclusion

Bangladesh has a great potential for commercially viable ornamental fish culture and strong foreign exchange earnings
from ornamental fish exports; but, for this to happen, the culture must be widely dispersed throughout the nation. The
breeding, seed production, and larval rearing of eleven ornamental fish that are significant to the commercial industry
were studied during this internship. Angel fish have the best rates of fertilization, hatching, and survival among
ornamental fish species that deposit eggs. Although goldfish had a lower survival rate than gouramis, they had greater
rates of fertilization and hatching than the two gourami species. Thus, among fish used for employment, the cultivation
and trade of angel fish is the most viable. In contrast to gouramis and goldfish, it is advised that gourami larvae be bred
and raised as they are more palatable
Based on that conclusion, some of the recommendations can be stated as follows.

1) The hatchery facilities of the ornamental fishes should be improved to get quality seed.
2) The production scale should be turned into a large scheme to produce more of the ornamental fish and to fulfill the demand of the
domestic and international market.
3) Technical expertise knowledge can be incorporated to improve fertilization and survival rate the species of work.
4) The breeder’s pond and the larvae rearing facilities should be prepared perfectly.
5) The monitoring program for eggs and larvae should be rigorous.

6) Biosecurity measures should be taken to get higher productivity and to reduce the loss of eggs and larvae.
7) Crossbreeding program can be taken to produce varieties of ornamental fishes with fancy color, and shape to attract international market.