Galaxy rasbora

[Adrian]

Would you pay $19.00 for one fish? I just found some at a local fish store, and they are absolutely beautiful fish. I have a gripe with them, for I know their natural habitat is being destroyed to catch the fish. I just don't know if I should get these, as pretty as they are, they are fast becoming endangered.

Would breeding these fish help or hurt? I am left undecided. I kinda want to own some, to try and reproduce them, so the habitat doesn't need to be further destroyed....

I hate decisions like this....any help?

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Well, they are actually not Rasboras, they are actually the Celestial Pearl Danio. :) Also, they are being bred in captivity so the ones your store has may not be wild caught.

[Pr0eve]

$19 is a rip off. they are easy to breed,

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[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Agreed. They sell for $7-$10 most places. However if they are getting them from a breeder that could account for the cost.

[William]

If you think you would be able to breed them than it would help to buy and breed them. You can sell the fry to reduce the stress on the wild populations a little. An established aquarium populations can also unfortunatly be the best way for this species and many other to survive.

I would generally say, If you can breed an endangered species it is worth getting it and doing so but if you can't you should never buy wild caught endangered fish.

[Pr0eve]

but to answer your question. yes, I will be buying some of these. very nice fish..

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

OUtlander, you are aware that they are not tropical fish right? They are actually subtropical/coldwater fish. They don't like temps above 72. The temp range on AZgardens is totally wrong.

[Adrian]

Thanks for the comments. I will definately look around then. I just don't like the idea that once they find a new and exotic species, that they harvest so many as to distress the species so fast that they have a hard time recovering. I do not want to ever contribute to that cause. I would rather preserve.

Like the red-tailed black shark, they say no longer lives in its natural habitat, but is being produced in fish farms. I don't know if that is a good thing, or a bad thing. I just think it is a shame that it could not survive in its own habitat. If that was do to man, then it is horriable.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Cherry Barbs fall into that same catagory. Fortunately they are extremely easy to breed though. Aparently the CPD is does not breed as easily in home aquaria.

[cocoa_pleco]

thats a high price, theyre $5 here

[Lady Hobbs]

You need not pay that kind of money for them, either. They have been in the US a relatively short time and are still a bit on the rare list but can be purchased online at several sites for a whole lot cheaper. I assume they are now being farm raised as well but the demand is probably higher right now they the production. You have acess to all these FL fish farms. Call around and see where you can get them.

I know where they can be purchased online, too, and will send that link when I find it.

[Algenco]

I have some and they are not hard to breed. The story of them being wiped out in the wild was not quite true. Originally it was reported that they only existed in one small lake, government officials stopped export to assess the populations and the News story was released that they were being wiped out driving the price to over $25 ea last year.
The study found that there were populations in streams and lakes throughout the area.
Some small streams were found to contain huge populations.
The price has dropped to around $5, my lfs occasionally has them for $5.99

And the name has been changed again, the latest official is Danio Margaritatus

They breed just like any other danio

[William]

Thanks for that info Algenco

[Fishalicious]

I have them and breed them... very cute little lively fish - and they do breed very very easily... just drop a huge pile of java moss in the tank and before you know it you will have double the amount :19:

[Tolley]

I have 1 ( they only had 1 ) and got it for £1 the guy there thought it was jus like any other danio. They said they'd get some more in soon. I will definatlly be getting them. Well depends if they go up in price.

I would like to breed them.. £££££