Please share your at risk in the wild freshwater fish

HI Everyone,
Just wanted to create a thread for everyone to share your at risk in the wild freshwater fish. Please share what species you keep and pictures of the fish. Thought it would be great to create awareness of these fish and to show the importance of Freshwater Fish Conservation/Preservation. Hopefully this thread will inspire others to keep these fish and to help in Conservation/Preservation efforts. Why is it important to keep these fish and help in conservation efforts? All over the world environments are being destroyed and fish/animals all over the world are becoming at risk in the wild and facing extinction. It just keeps getting worse. If we work together and care for the enviornment/fish/animals we can make a huge difference and save them from extinction.

What really inspired and motivated me was when I found out about Xenotoca melanosoma “Rio Ayuquila” from my group leader. This location of melanosoma is the true melanosoma and is possibly extinct in the wild. They haven't been able to find one melanosoma from this location in the wild since 2008. The other "melanosoma" from other locations are to be distinct species. At the time as far as anybody knew there was only one other person besides myself keeping these fish from going extinct. I used to think “Yeah, I am sure I am making a small difference but my role is small in preservation. There are others keeping the same fish and I am sure the fish won't become extinct.” After experiencing this, it has changed my way of thinking and has inspired me to continue strongly in Goodeid/Fish preservation. Anyone can make a difference and aquarists are on the frontlines of fish preservation/conservation. We are the fishes only hope from going extinct. You never know, there might come a day when your the only one keeping a fish and it's up to you to keep the fish from going extinct. I have a saying and it seems to have some truth. “If you are looking for a specie to keep, want to help preserve a fish, and make a big difference, choose a specie that no one really wants. Stay away from the crowds and choose a misfit fish. Usually the fish is grey or has very little coloration. Odds are, you are doing that fish a favor.” Anyone can make a difference. Keep doing a great job preserving these fish.

I keep Goodeids. I have:
Allotoca dugesii
Allotoca goslinei
Allotoca meeki
Goodea gracilis
Skiffa lermae
Xenoophorus captivus "Illescas"
Xenotoca melanosoma

 

Very well done, interesting post. Welcome to the forum and I am really glad you joined us. We can learn a lot from you. I think that is a wonderful thing you're doing. Alison

 

Welcome to fishlore!
I believe rainbow sharks (Epalzeorhynchos frenatus) are at risk in the wild, I used to have one.

 

Although I understand the motivation behind conservation and awareness, encouraging the average fishkeeper to house endangered fish may not be the best suggestion. In my opinion it may end up exacerbating the wild population's plight.

 

I don't have one but I think white clouds are extinct in the wild.

 

Yes I believe tourism polluted the streams on the White Cloud Mountain in China.

 

They were thought to be extinct in the wild for 20 years but a population was found of them on Hainan Island.

 

They were thought to be extinct in the wild for 20 years but a population was found of them on Hainan Island.

That's cool! When were they rediscovered?

 

2000.

 

I have bred several Goodeid species over the years, currently have a small group of Zoogoneticus tequila, Golden Crescents. I have spawned the species before, but it is one of my favorite Goodeids. One of the greatest dangers to these fish is the introduction of Largemouth Black Bass into river systems where they did not previously exist down in Mexico.

 

Thank you for the welcome. Thank you very much everyone for sharing! A good number of species that have gone extinct or that are critically endangered is because of introduced/invasive species that out compete native species, pollution from people living there, habitats being destroyed, and drought. It is very important that hobbyists/aquarists get involved in keeping these fish. There are more positive results with aquarists keeping these fish then negative. I don't really think the hobby will have that much of an impact on wild populations especially when the specie is near extinction due to problems in its habitat. If the other person and myself didn't have this location of melanosoma it would have gone extinct due to pollution in its habitat. Allotoca meekI are basically on the verge of extinction due to people doing laundry in their habitat. They are now living in a very small stream and only a few have been found. Xenoophorus captivus "illescas" went extinct because their habitat dried out and the same with characodon species that people used their habitat for drinking water and other uses. These fish are all saved because of hobbyists/aquarists. The same thing is happening in the USA. I have looked at some native species in Illinois Such as fundulas notatus and in the surveys you can see a decline in collection sites through the years. Due to pollution and loss of habitat. Fundulas dispar for instance is an endangered species of Illinois and used to have 7 collection sites. Now maybe 3 exist. The sad thing is people are caring less and less for the environment and animals. Greed/money is a big part of it. People will sadly choose money over nature.

 

Not sure if it was a typo or if it was intentional, but the singular for species is species, not specie. A common error.

While Fundulus notatus and dispar may be at risk in Illinois, they are still abundant in other areas. Not to lessen the problem in Illinois, but the two species in question have very wide ranges that cover more than a quarter of this country. I can catch large numbers of dispar at any of a half dozen small lakes locally, most of which aren't even sampled by the state. My friends who still collect fish have recently gotten notatus in a number of rivers/streams here in Michigan.

The fish that are truly endangered are those with relatively small, limited ranges, such as Goodeid livebearers, the Devil's Hole Pupfish, or pretty much any of the Desert Pupfish species. The Celestial Pearl Danio was nearly wiped out in a very short time by collection for the aquarium hobby. It is one of the few genuine black marks on the history of this hobby. It is fortunate that they reproduce so readily.

 

Thank you Chromedome52!

It was a mistake. I'll learn for the next time.

Yes, notatus is abundant in Illinois as well and I'm sure dispar and notatus are abundant in other areas. I'm just saying that things are happening in our own back yards as well. It doesn't take much and bad changes are happening so fast.

I have heard about the celestial pearl danio and a few other species that have been impacted by the hobby. It can happen and it is true that the hobby can hurt wild populations if not done correctly/respectfully. It is very sad. However, as you say it's only happened a few times. There are always pros/cons to just about everything. The best options are usually those that have more pros then cons. At the ALA convention in St.Louis there was a presentation about this group of freshwater stingrays. In the presentation the speaker said it's great that the people sell them to the hobby. It saves the species and provides money for the country. If it wasn't for the hobby the people living there would kill them because they have hurt people. They are not sure how many stingrays remain in the wild because they are difficult to survey. It is very important that the hobby exists.