Tip of the Day 12/8/2010

There is a big difference between tank-raised and tank-bred when discussing aquarium livestock. Tank-bred fish are those that are literally hatched in captivity. Their parents are housed in captivity, mate, and lay eggs (some fish actually don’t lay eggs, but broadcast eggs and sperm). The eggs eventually hatch, and the hobbyist raises the resulting fish to adulthood. Tank-raised fish differ in that they aren’t born in captivity. Juvenile fish, often in their larval stages, are caught and brought into captivity. From there, the fish are raised under the supervision of experienced aquarium professionals. Regardless of the fish’s origin, both tank-bred and tank-raised fish are much more suited for aquarium life than wild caught specimen.