Here at The Clown Hatchery, we are dedicated to helping save the wild populations of marine ornamental fish that are being over harvested off of the world's reefs, primarily the clownfish.
Clownfish are the most popular fish in the marine aquarium industry, and are being removed from the wild by the thousands every month. Unfortunately, wild clownfish are notoriously bad at surviving the shipping process and easily succumb to the "Clownfish Disease" called Brooklynella. Some in the industry believe that less than half of all wild caught clownfish, actually survive more than a few weeks in captivity. These are very bad odds for the wild populations on the reefs. For every breeding pair in the wild, only about 2 eggs out of the 400,000 they lay in a lifetime, make it to adult aged fish. In an aquaculture facility, that number can easily be 3 out of every 4 eggs hatched can grow to be sold to hobbyists. So if one pair of fish can lay 400,000 eggs during their reproductive life, thats around 300,000 fish that can be left in the ocean.
The more facilities like ours that stay in business, the amount of impact on the reefs is diminished. So please ask your LFS to stock Clown Hatchery tank bred fish, or tank bred fish from another breeder. Not only will you be leaving a fish on the reef, but you are supporting an industry primarily based in the USA.
State of Florida Aquaculture Certification # AQ3675005
Clownfish are the most popular fish in the marine aquarium industry, and are being removed from the wild by the thousands every month. Unfortunately, wild clownfish are notoriously bad at surviving the shipping process and easily succumb to the "Clownfish Disease" called Brooklynella. Some in the industry believe that less than half of all wild caught clownfish, actually survive more than a few weeks in captivity. These are very bad odds for the wild populations on the reefs. For every breeding pair in the wild, only about 2 eggs out of the 400,000 they lay in a lifetime, make it to adult aged fish. In an aquaculture facility, that number can easily be 3 out of every 4 eggs hatched can grow to be sold to hobbyists. So if one pair of fish can lay 400,000 eggs during their reproductive life, thats around 300,000 fish that can be left in the ocean.
The more facilities like ours that stay in business, the amount of impact on the reefs is diminished. So please ask your LFS to stock Clown Hatchery tank bred fish, or tank bred fish from another breeder. Not only will you be leaving a fish on the reef, but you are supporting an industry primarily based in the USA.
State of Florida Aquaculture Certification # AQ3675005