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Ornamentals
Affiliated research principals:
Dr. G. Joan Holt
Ornamental fish and shrimp populations around the world are declining due to habitat loss and overexploitation.
Coral bleaching, destructive fishing practices, boat propeller damage, and pollution are responsible for declines in
habitats needed to sustain healthy populations of fishes. The popularity of coral reef animals in the aquarium trade
has also increased in recent years, adding pressure on natural populations. One way to alleviate fishing pressure is
to culture these animals in captivity and offer them to hobbyist as alternatives to wild caught organisms. Successful
culture of these species, however, is limited by inadequate rearing systems and a lack of prey items that are both
nutritionally sufficient and of the appropriate size. Currently, FAML is developing suitable environments and the use
of alternative prey items to maximize spawning and larval rearing of several ornamental fish and shrimp species.
Our lab has successfully spawned 16 reef species and reared the larvae of six. Many of the seahorses cultured at
FAML now reside at the Texas State Aquarium.
Example species we have worked with include:
Lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus)
Dwarf seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae)
Lemonpeel angelfish (Centropyge flavissimus)
Peppermint shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni)
Jacknife (Equetus lanceolatus)
Comet (Calloplesiops altivelis)
Fire shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
Cubbyu (Equetus umbrosus)
Seahorses are one family of fishes which are experiencing particularly severe population declines. Estimates have been as
high as 50-70% in the last decade. Wild seahorses are collected for aquariums, as souvenirs, and for use in traditional
medicines in Asia. Due to their short life span, need for a continuous supply of live food, and susceptibility to disease,
they must be replaced in aquarium collections frequently. Currently, we are collaborating with the Texas State Aquarium to
increase survivorship of seahorse young being bred there. These efforts will increase our knowledge of seahorse reproduction
as well as the nutritional and habitat requirements of the young. This information will benefit ecologists in their efforts
to understand seahorse population dynamics and aide public aquariums in the rearing of seahorses for display.
Pertinent references:
Olivotto, I., Holt, S.A., Carnevali, O., Holt, G.J. 2006. Spawning, early development, and first feeding in the lemonpeel angelfish Centropyge flavissimus. Aquaculture 253:270-278.
Palmtag, M.R., Holt, G.J. 2001. Captive Rearing of Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debeliu). Texas Sea Grant College Program Research Report, pp. 1–4.
Bauer, R.T. Holt, G.J. 1998. Simultaneous hermaphroditism in the marine shrimp Lysmata wurdemmanni (Caridae: Hippolytidae): an undescribed sexual system in the decapod Crustacea. Marine Biology 132:223-235.
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