Age of ornates using rings on fins

[litigator666]

I have come accross a few materials mentioning an age identification using the ring on the ornate's fins. It was not detailed though on how it is done. Anybody know the method or have links to where i can find it?

 

[Dr.B]

i think that that is false information to be honest. i got my ornate a year ago at about 3.5 he has about 5 rings on his fins. I could be wrong but i think that is false

 

[tokyogasmask]

Hi, where ever you heard or read that, disregard it. Its a load of old rubbish.

 

[Oddball]

You can determine the age of a fish by the circuli (concentric rings) on its scales. Every scale has a central point and counting the scale rings that developed off the central point will show a year for each ring. The portion of the scale that's imbedded in its flesh is where the count is made.

A more precise method is to remove a fishs otolith (akin to an ear bone), saw the otolith in half, burn the otolith over a candle or alcohol burner (to give better contrast to the annuli (growth rings), and count the rings. The fish's age is a year for each annuli counted.

 

[lix.ma14]

interesting. Does it work for every species?

 

[Oddball]

All teleost (bony) fish have 6 pairs of otoliths (of course, there are variations in size and shape according to species). Otoliths aid fish in maintaining balance and orientation. They even serve as 'ears' since they float within a canal structure and can pick up vibrations which are transferred via nerve bundles to the brain. The 3 pairs consist of the larger sagittae pair and a pair each of asteriscus (star shaped) and lapilli otoliths.

 

[Oddball]

The ring counting technique can be accomplished in cartilaginous fish species (sharks and rays) by counting the rings in a cross-sectioned dermal denticle (placoid scale) located in their skin.

 

[litigator666]

So it is the scales that age can be determined, not on the rings appearing on the fins.

 

[Oddball]

So many of those fin bands are bifurcated, broken, and looped. How would you manage to count them properly in any case?

 

[litigator666]

It will be hard i thought. My problem is on my female as the guy i got it from cant approximate the age. Ive been trying to trace who it was originally from but no luck. My female is about 21-22 inches and somebody told me its not mature yet as it needs to be bigger than my male is (about 24 inches). One book ive read mentions of ornates being able to breed at 6years of age. Male is a proven breeder but i doubt if my female is mature enough.