An overview of captive breeding methods for five imperiled desert chub and topminnow species

Authors: Scott A. Bonar, Thomas P. Archdeacon, Alison Iles, S. Jason Kline, Andrew A. Schultz, Erica Sontz

Year: 2008 (xl)

Abstract

Knowledge of captive breeding methods is important for conservation of highly imperiled species. Here we provide an overview of methods developed to successfully propagate five desert fishes: headwater chub Gila nigra; Gila chub Gila intermedia; Mohave tui chub Gila bicolor mohavensis; Yaqui chub Gila purpurea and Yaqui topminnow Poeciliopsis occidentalis sonorensis. Propagation was conducted in tanks and aquaria. Temperature and physical habitat manipulations were important for triggering reproduction in many of the species. Ceramic tiles covered with grating on the bottom of tanks served as chub spawning substrate, and protected recently-spawned eggs from parental predation. Chub eggs were then hatched in nearby rearing tanks. Refuges were used to successfully protect young topminnow from predation. The effects of feed types, fish density and optimal rearing temperatures on survival and growth were also investigated for larvae and juveniles of some of the chub species.