Banggai Cardinalfish an endangered species

[neoyhng]

I knew someone had posted this news before but I wants to keep reminding people about this:

IUCN RED LIST
http://www.iucnredlist.org/info/gallery2007#home5

Banggai Cardinalfish heavily exploited by aquarium trade
http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/...pr_redlist.htm

Neo

[George Gouveia]

Bangai Cardinalfish are one of the species which are becoming more and more tank bread. What we need to do as hobbyists is force our suppliers to provide us with captive bread instead of wild speciemens.

[BangkokMatt]

Originally posted by George Gouveia
Bangai Cardinalfish are one of the species which are becoming more and more tank bread. What we need to do as hobbyists is force our suppliers to provide us with captive bread instead of wild speciemens.

Agreed - There are plenty of breeders in Asia. Its now upto the LFS to ensure there stock is sourced correcty.

[neoyhng]

Originally posted by BangkokMatt
Agreed - There are plenty of breeders in Asia. Its now upto the LFS to ensure there stock is sourced correcty.

I am living in Hong Kong and have frequent travel within SE Asia. With due respect, I have never heard of any breeder taking care of Banggai - they are too "cheap" to be worth the effort. There are a number of breeders in Taiwan breeding the more exotic Angelfish (some of whom are known to me) and they also not heard of anyone within their business studying the Banggai. In fact my previous contact with LFS indicating that all Banggai are wild caught.

By the way I haven't seen this fish available in Hong Kong for quite some time (some 1/2 year, I think). If there are breeder in Asia then I think we in HK will see tons of this available, like that of Angel fish.

[King-Kong]

Dont worry -- once they become endangered and cannot be exported, they wont be so "cheap" anymore, and exporters will be rushing to meet demand previously taken care of by wild caught.

[BangkokMatt]

Originally posted by neoyhng
I am living in Hong Kong and have frequent travel within SE Asia. With due respect, I have never heard of any breeder taking care of Banggai - they are too "cheap" to be worth the effort. There are a number of breeders in Taiwan breeding the more exotic Angelfish (some of whom are known to me) and they also not heard of anyone within their business studying the Banggai. In fact my previous contact with LFS indicating that all Banggai are wild caught.

By the way I haven't seen this fish available in Hong Kong for quite some time (some 1/2 year, I think). If there are breeder in Asia then I think we in HK will see tons of this available, like that of Angel fish.

Here in Bangkok we have 3 LFS within a single market all selling (and breeding) Banggai's. Next time your in town I'll point you in the right direction.

[ClamIAm]

Agreed, this species has definitely been overexploited in the Indo-Pacific. If I were to ever keep them they'd be captive-bred only.

[zuzecawi]

I love bangaii's, and I always hear people talk about "buy captive bred" but I've yet to ONCE see them captive bred anywhere. The closest I've seen is liveaquaria has them listed but not available. I've seen plenty of captive bred clowns, no cardinals. I love their look but can't bear it on my conscience to buy wildcaught.

[snorvich]

Various LFS here have them from breeding in their tanks.

[neoyhng]

Originally posted by snorvich
Various LFS here have them from breeding in their tanks.

Yes, I do see breeding pairs on and off but I have NEVER come across somebody how has successfully raising the fry....To make it commercially available is still a long long way......

[neoyhng]

Originally posted by King-Kong
Dont worry -- once they become endangered and cannot be exported, they wont be so "cheap" anymore, and exporters will be rushing to meet demand previously taken care of by wild caught.

Theoretically you are correct, but unless a specie is "critically endangered" not many governments would take serious enforcement action. As long as there are demands there will be supplies