Anyone Bred Redfin Prochilodus?

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FLESHY

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jan 7, 2006
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Central Wisconsin
Im working in a college lab and we are hoping to start an experiment using these large herbivorous fish (Semaprochilodus taeniurus).

http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=830+836+1899&pcatid=1899 (Fosters and smith link for an image, we will be using their fish most likely.)

To cut right to the chase, the test can be conducted only raising the fish, but would be more productive if we learned how to breed them. Has anyone done this? I know that if anyone has this is probably the place to come. I can use any advice you are willing to give out, and if you want to you could also PM me information. I am not trying to breed these for profit, or for the aquarium trade. We are experimenting with large herbivorous fish for aquaculture purposes. (It takes less energy to grow a plant eater, than a meat eater) simple as that. The fish goes from fry to food quicker. But in order for farms to start doing that we need to prove that you can breed them, and then raise them to maturity quickly. Any experience with these fish would be appreciated.
 
Breeding these guys are very unlikely. If you want something to breed for an experiment, guppies are almost 100% successful whether you like it or not.

Anywho, the reason why breeding them is very unlikely is, they grow relatively slow. So to breed these you need large specimens which can cost A LOT of money. Chances are you won't always be able to find a large specific gendered one either, and then there's the factor of adequate water conditions and such.
And one more major thing. They're not exactly herbivores, more like omnivores. They love bloodworms and to some extent, fish slime if your unlucky (I have yet to own one that likes fish slime, however I've read reports on some eating fish slime)
If I remember right, another potentially breedable fish is the bushy nose pleco. It's cheaper and proven to breed in the fish trade.

Hope this helps!
 
This isnt like a little...oh cute we got them to breed scenario. We need to breed this specific fish. We are successfully breeding many different fish (including several varieties of live bearers, and even have some live bearers that are extinct in the wild)

Fish are oppurtunists, and will eat anything. This goes for 99% of all fish. This fish is reguarded as herbiverous, and certainly would be able to survive and thrive if fed only plants.

What I needed to know is if anyone HAS done it, or even if they have advice on keeping them. Price is not an object...this is a state university project. They will pay for the fish. I already know that sexing them will be difficult, and as far as the way they interact with other fish that wont be a big deal because they will be housed separately from other fish for the duration of their lives.
 
I suggest you find another fish to breed. Due to the potamodromous nature of the Prochilodontidae family, breeding is not possible. Mass migrations occur twice a year during the start of the wet season and half way through. Some specimens may even travel more then 1500 km between their mark and recapture. Older specimens however do not partake in the annual migration. There are no known records of this fish ever being bred artificially or naturally within an aquarium.
 
I'm pretty sure I understand the point of the experiment. They want to discover how to breed this specific fish. If they can figure it out, they can aquaculture similar fish giving us the ability to farm fish quicker and easier. Good luck with this.
 
gt1009;3940370; said:
I'm pretty sure I understand the point of the experiment. They want to discover how to breed this specific fish. If they can figure it out, they can aquaculture similar fish giving us the ability to farm fish quicker and easier. Good luck with this.
Click to expand...

Thank you. There are other points of SPECIFICLY breeding this fish...but that would be one of the other points of interest.
 
i cant remember hearing about it being done anywhere.. as far as i know its one of those "does not happen in captivity" sorta deals..
 
Sounds cool, have you looked into tin foil barbs? i think they are vegetarian and i'm not sure if they're being farm raised or not yet.
 
try ST Datnoids:}not a vegetarian but a fish that will no doubt be gone some day,sooner then later.We need more of these around.
 
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