List of Captive-Bred Livestock Available to Hobbyists

Trumpet12

Premium Member
This is a list of many of the captive-bred fish and mobile invertebrates that are currently available. For various reasons, this may not be the complete list, so if you have anything to add to the list, please PM me. Please also note that this is a list of the captive-bred fish that are available, and that there are a number of tank-raised fish that are available, but are not listed here. There are sometimes captive-propagated anemones available other than the three that I listed, but it is very rare to find any other species captive-propagated, and even the ones that I listed can be hard to find.

Clownfish

False Percula Clownfish - Amphiprion ocellaris
Clark's Clownfish - Amphiprion clarkii
Tomato Clownfish - Amphiprion frenatus
Gold-Stripe Maroon Clownfish - Premnas biaculeatus
Cinnamon Clownfish - Amphiprion melanopus
Fire Clownfish - Amphiprion ephippium
Australian Clownfish - Amphiprion rubrocinctus
Orange Skunk Clownfish - Amphiprion sandaracinos
Pink Skunk Clownfish - Amphiprion periderion
Saddleback Clownfish - Amphiprion polymnus
True Percula Clownfish- Amphiprion percula
Sebae Anemonefish- Amphiprion sebae
Twoband Anemonefish- Amphiprion bicinctus
White-tipped Anemonefish- hybrid: Amphiprion sebae x Amphiprion polymnus

Dottybacks

Orchid Dottyback - Pseudochromis fridmani
Striped Dottyback - Pseudochromis sankeyi
Sunrise Dottyback - Pseudochromis flavivertex
Splendid Dottyback - Pseudochromis splendens
Neon Dottyback - Pseudochromis aldabraensis
Diadem Dottyback- Pseudochromis diadema
Lyretail Dottyback- Pseudochromis steenei
Golden Dottyback- Pseudochromis fuscus
Blue-Striped Dottyback- Pseudochromis springeri
Redhead Dottyback- Pseudochromis dilectus

Gobies

Neon Goby - Gobiosoma oceanops
Hybrid Cleaner Goby - Gobiosoma oceanops x Gobiosoma randalli
Yellowline Goby - Gobiosoma randalli
Goldline Goby - Gobiosoma louisae
Pink-Speckled Shrimpgoby- Cryptocentrus leptocephalus
Yellow Watchman Goby- Cryptocentrus cinctus
Lutherââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s Watchman Goby- Cryptocentrus lutheri
Red-Headed Goby- Elacatinus puncticulatus
Sharknose Goby- Gobiosoma evelynae

Blennies

Striped Poison-Fang Blenny- Meiacanthus grammistes
Green Canary Blenny- Meiacanthus tongaensis
Disco Blenny- Meiacanthus smithi
Canary Blenny- Meiacanthus oualanensis
Mozambique Fangblenny- Meiacanthus mossambicus
Bundoon Blenny- Meiacanthus bundoon
Forktail Blenny- Meiacanthus atrodorsalis
Blackline fangblenny- Meiacanthus nigrolineatus

Grammas

Royal Gramma- Gramma loreto
Blackcap Basslet- Gramma melacara

Cardinalfish
Banggai Cardinalfish- Pterapogon kauderni
Pajama Cardinalfish- Sphaeramia nematoptera

Angelfish

Half Moon Angelfish- Pomacanthus maculosus

Comets and Assessors

Yellow Assessor- Assessor flavissimus
Blue Assessor- Assessor macnelli
Marine Betta- Calloplesiops altivelis

Seahorses

Hippocampus sp.

I know that this is somewhat unclear, but, at the time of writing, one of the major seahorse breeders (Ocean Rider) does not list scientific names. To get a list of the available seahorses, go to the websites of the major seahorse breeders.

Jacks

Pilotfish- Gnathanodon speciosus

Snappers

Emporer snapper- Lutjanus sebae

Mobile Invertebrates

Bubble-Tipped Anemone- Entacmaea quadricolor
Minature Carpet Anemone- Stichodactyla tapetum
Red Waratah Anemone- Actinia tenebrosa
Queen Conch- Strombus gigas
Fighting Conch- Strombus alatus
Peppermint shrimp- Lysmata wurdemanni (Peppermint shrimp are not yet available, but should be soon. A few months before I wrote this, a wholesaler had some captive-bred peppermint shrimp in grow-out.)
Assorted Snails
Upsidedown Jellyfish- Cassiopea frondosa (The scientific name I give here assumes that the wholesaler uses the same common names as I do. This particular species may or may not be available. If it is not, the most likely alternative would be the Mangrove Upsidedown Jellyfish (Cassiopea xamachana).)

Feel free to post questions, comments, or additions to the list.
 
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I have a baby abalone that is a product of breeding. But it's not for sale.

Here's a list that should not be kept in captivity - http://www.aquariumpros.com/articles/badfishlist.shtml

Here's a list that are captive bred, similar to the original message list, but designates which have been CB and which are CB and commercially produced.

Lastly, my favorite... the magnificent Centryopyge Interruptus, available for order. I've checked; they are available and cost the same as their wild caught counterparts, except they are more ethically responsible, healthier, free from disease, and raised on flake food.

A pretty penny, but a pretty much incredible fish. RCT has them here - http://www.rcthawaii.com/purchasefish.htm#
:beer:

I believe Waikiki aquarium (or some breeders / researchers) have raised flame angels and another centropyge species to adulthood.

The tough part is raising fry, of course. But it's being done, and advances in technology are rapid and new species successes are happening.

Can people list links to retail / mail order sources? I really appreciate that and this thread generally.
 
I have a baby abalone that is a product of breeding. But it's not for sale.

I forgot about those. Some abalones are available CB.

Here's a list that are captive bred, similar to the original message list, but designates which have been CB and which are CB and commercially produced.

I never knew that another fairly up-to-date list existed. I would be interested in seeing the list, but I don't see a link.

A pretty penny, but a pretty much incredible fish. RCT has them here - http://www.rcthawaii.com/purchasefish.htm#

That is an awesome fish! I never knew that they were available CB.


I believe Waikiki aquarium (or some breeders / researchers) have raised flame angels and another centropyge species to adulthood.

I know that flame angels were available to hobbyists a few months ago. Are any of these species available to hobbyists now?

Can people list links to retail / mail order sources?

There is a chance that he has changed his mind, but John(L) once requested that we not list vendors on this thread.
 
The Waikiki Aquarium was the first and I believe only place to rear Genicanthus personatus. They had one individual to reach a nice size, but it unfortunately jumped out of the tank. They are no longer attempting to rear them (per Charles Delbeek.) Frank Baensch of www.rcthawaii was the one with the flame angels to sell. He has also reared the lemon peel (C. flavissimus) and Centropyge multicolor. I believe there was one other Centropyge secies he reared documented in SeaScope. His impressive list is obviously growing. The Oceanagraphic Institute was the first to rear the flame angel Centropyge loriculus I believe. Waikiki,OI, and Baensch all had initial success at around the same time.

Many of the fish listed as aquacultured are not often, if ever available and certainly not in commerical quantities. Some on the list were tried and found not to have commerical potential even if it was possible to rear them. ( by C-Quest) Marine bettas are one I believe. Clown fish, psuedos, and gobies are the most commonly offered. Little is being done to rear bangaii cardinals in commercial quantities.

The AquariumPros list is good and helpful, but certainly not gospel. I have three Chaetodon falcula that are hardy and easy to keep. They accept all manner of food. I also have a Cirrhilabrus labouti that has not been a challenge to get eating to or to keep. The biggest problem with the flasher/fairy wrasses is that they are incredible jumpers. You defintely need a good top with this Genus. Picking suitable tankmates is also helpful and they can be aggressive to their own kind. I would suggest that C. falcual should get a C rating and C. labouti probably a B. I also find it intersting that the Latezonatus clownfish would receive a C. I have never seen one of these in real life and feel it should be rated an H, even though it is probably not a problem with people buying this fish, since it is never offered for sale.

Look for a nice variety of post-larval fish to entering the trade in increasing numbers. While not captive bred they are defintely a better choice for harvesting than the adult breeders.
Mitch
 
I thought the source for post-larval ornamental SW fish decided ultimately against continuing this commercial venture.

That's what I was told by the Marine Depot Live livestock manager, Jim, who used to run Flying Fish Express... the only mail order place I know that was planning large grow-out systems for these fish.

I *REALLY* want to obtain post-larval fish, but don't know that will be a genuine option any time soon.

Until CITES shuts down collection and *forces* the hobby to evolve.
 
Just thought I'd clarify on some of the seahorse species that are available captive bred (there are quite a few):

Hippocampus abdominalis
Hippocampus barbouri
Hippocampus capensis
Hippocampus erectus
Hippocampus ingens
Hippocampus kuda
Hippocampus procerus
Hippocampus reidi
Hippocampus tuberculatus
Hippocampus whitei
Hippocampus zosterae

There are a couple others that have been bred, but these are the most widely-available.
 
Will said:
Just thought I'd clarify on some of the seahorse species that are available captive bred (there are quite a few):

Hippocampus abdominalis
Hippocampus barbouri
Hippocampus capensis
Hippocampus erectus
Hippocampus ingens
Hippocampus kuda
Hippocampus procerus
Hippocampus reidi
Hippocampus tuberculatus
Hippocampus whitei
Hippocampus zosterae

There are a couple others that have been bred, but these are the most widely-available.

Thanks Will, that may help someone. :)
 
could someone make a list like this, but for corals also, i want to try and perserve the reef for when i go visit
 
MarineTeng said:
could someone make a list like this, but for corals also, i want to try and perserve the reef for when i go visit

I think that that list would be much harder to make, because there are many more non-WC corals available than there are fish.
 
quote:Originally posted by MarineTeng
could someone make a list like this, but for corals also, i want to try and perserve the reef for when i go visit

Try this site: http://www.garf.org/

You will love what they are all about. They also have great stuff. I feel really good supporting them.
 
also

also

Stickeycricket.com / Daisy Hill Cuttle Farm sells tank bred and raised cuttlefish.

Really coo. Contact Righty here on RC if interested.
 
Great reference list, and extremely helpful.
Just to keep in mind thou that most if not all of the commerical breeding facilities won't sell to individual hobbyists, they usually have a mimimum dollar amount, so if people want to aquire some of these captive species they'll have to go thru their LFS and pool orders.
Next while many ornamentals on that list have been bred in captivity, they turned out to be less favorable finanically and are not being bred in any real numbers. Case in point, even thou banggais bred easily and readily in the home aquarium, they turn out to be pretty expensive to raise to sellable size, as they have very low fecunditiy and require far more space/brood than their fishy counterparts, hence getting CB/CR banggais is difficult. Its getting better but not what you'd think it would be
I've read a recent report that mentioned that less than 2% of the ornamentals in the hobby are captive bred or farmed.
Great work and lets hope for a better future for these fish
 
I think reef clubs are a critical source.

I'm the Communications Officer for Bay Area Reefers, and have captively bred abalones successfully.

Our president, Rich, is the cuttle breeder.

Our VP is a frag farmer. He doesn't even keep display tanks any more.

My Banggai cardinal is captive bred from a club member. Some of our members breed clowns.

I just wish I could get Centropye Interruptus for less than $500.
 
"That is an awesome fish! I never knew that they were available CB."

These fish are sweet. I have a pair that I ordered from RCT and they are extremely hardy and eat everything that is fed to them. They especially like spirulina flake.
 
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