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Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture
Publication Number 129

Acknowledgements

Financial support for this project was provided by the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture through grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (USDA grant numbers 93-38500-8583 and 94-38500-0065).

Production of the manual was also funded in part by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, project #A/AS-1, which is sponsored by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, School of Ocean Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), under Institutional Grant No. NA36RGO507 from NOAA Office of Sea Grant, Department of Commerce, UNIHI-SEAGRANT-TR-96-01.

Support for the production of the manual was also provided by the Hawaii State Aquaculture Development Program, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii, as part of its Aquaculture Extension Project with University of Hawaii Sea Grant Extension, Service Contract Nos. 9325 and 9638.

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, USDA or any of its sub-agencies.

Special thanks are extended to Christine Carlstrom-Trick for her editorial comments.

Patti Killelea-Almonte wrote the HTML code to prepare this document for the Worldwide Web.

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Introduction

The information presented here and in future volumes is intended to assist aquafarmers in overcoming some of the technical constraints of operating a business for the production of ornamental fish in Hawaii. Unless stated otherwise, the methods described have been field-tested in Hawaii. The reader should be aware that the methods described are not the only methods to produce the target ornamental fish species. One characteristic of Hawaii is the diversity of habitats and microclimates throughout the island state. While a particular method presented may be suitable for one area, modifications may be necessary to achieve similar production results from one location to another. The authors encourage farmers to apply their individual experience and expertise in order to interpret and adapt the material presented.

Likewise, although this manual is directed to the culture of C. tetrazona, the methods described are also applicable to other members of the barb family, which have similar reproductive strategies.

In the context of these "How To" manuals on the commercial production of ornamental fish, some terminology will be used to generally group fish into certain production modes based on their reproductive life history. The four major modes of reproduction in ornamental fish production are described as follows:

• Pond spawners are fish that will naturally spawn and produce fry in large tanks or outdoor ponds in captivity. Pond spawners can be subdivided into two simple groups, the livebearers and substrate spawners. Examples of fish that fit into this reproduction mode are swordtails, and rosy barbs, respectively.
• Permanent-paired spawners are fish that bond or mate for life and are usually kept together in glass aquariums or large tanks. These fish will produce eggs on a substrate, which can either be removed for incubation or allowed to remain with the parent broodstock to be raised. Examples of fish that fit into this reproduction mode are the angelfish or discus fish species.
• Hormone-induced spawners are fish that will not reproduce in captivity without hormonal intervention. These fish require an injection of a specific hormone to induce final oocyte maturation and ovulation. Eggs are obtained by either allowing the fish to naturally spawn or by hand stripping eggs and sperm and artificially fertilizing and incubating them. Examples of fish that fit into this reproduction mode are tin foil barbs, and Labeo sharks.
• Temporary-paired spawners are fish that bond only for a short period to spawn. Often these are schooling fish, and they may never spawn together again. In commercial production, these fish are placed together for only a short period of time in a hatchery tank or aquarium. Tiger barbs and other related barb species (see Table 1) fall into this category and are the subject of this manual.

Introduction to the Tiger Barb

Taxonomy

However, as stated by Zakaria-ismail (1993), "from my ongoing osteological studies that have been classified under Puntius, the genus Barbodes cannot be properly defined." Today we are left with three generic classifications, Barbodes, Capoeta and Puntius, all of which appear in the literature when referring to tiger barbs and other barb species. The current taxonomic status of the tiger barb, presented in Figure 1, hints that the taxonomy of the species is far from being settled. To commercial breeders, however, this fish will most likely always be referred to as the tiger barb.

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Distribution

Figure 2. Natural geographic range of the tiger barb in Sumatra, Borneo, Malaysia, Thailand, and possibly Cambodia.

Morphology

Figure 3. Illustration showing the location of black body marks (modified from Taki et al. 1977).
 

Abbreviation key:
AB = anal-basal marking;	CD = caudal marking;
NC = nuchal marking;	OB = orbital marking;
PA = post-anal marking;	PC = pectoral marking;
SA = supra-anal marking;	SD = subdorsal marking.

Five barb types can be categorized based upon the pattern of body markings as presented in Table 3. Although classifying the barbs according to these color patterns can help distinguish species, it may not be suitable to classify the different body patterns for the commercially raised hybrids. Inter- and intra-specific hybridization is done to achieve different colors and patterns to satisfy market demand for new tiger barb varieties. Gold and albino tiger barbs are examples of commercially produced hybrid fish. Common hybrid species, which are commercially produced, are listed in Table 4.
 

Table 3. Common black bar markings and patterns of related barb species. (Modified from Taki et al. 1977)
Body Type	Body Markings or Patterns
Type A	Body plain or having a caudal spot that tends to fade with age.
Type B	Bars in orbital, supra-anal and caudal fin positions.
Type C	Bars, spots, or blotches in the pectoral, subdorsal, supra-anal and caudal positions; an orbital marking may or may not be present.
Type D	Pectoral, subdorsal, supra-anal, anal-basal, post-anal, and caudal spots or blotches that may be indistinct, absent or connected to each other in any combination.
Type E	Bars or round blotches in the nuchal, subdorsal, supra-anal and caudal positions.
Type F	Pectoral, postanal and caudal bars or blotches.

 
 

Table 4. Common barb hybrids representing different color patterns. (Modified from Kortmulder 1972).
Parent Species	Common Name	X	Parent Species	Common Name
conchonius	rosy barb	x	stoliczkanus	tic tac toe
cumingii	cuming's barb	x	stolickanus	tic tac toe
stoliczkanus	tic tac toe	x	cumingi	cuming's barb
nigrofasciatus	black ruby	x	stoliczkanus	tic tac toe
stoliczkanus	tic tac toe	x	nigrofasciatus	black ruby
cumingi	cuming's barb	x	nigrofasciatus	black ruby
nigrofasciatus	black ruby	x	conchonius	rosy barb
tetrazona	tiger barb	x	nigrofasciatus	black ruby
conchonius	rosy barb	x	tetrazona	tiger barb
stoliczkanus	tic tac toe	x	tetrazona	tiger barb
Note: According to common scientific nomenclature the female parent is given first.

The hybrids mentioned in Table 4 are produced to obtain enhanced golden shades and color. The red and green colors still present in F_l hybrid offspring can be further developed through continued breeding. However, fading or enhancing of certain color characteristics through hybridization greatly impedes sorting young fish by sex for future broodstock, since tiger barbs are not sexually dimorphic. The only possible exception to this would be selecting for broodstock fish at a smaller size that have desirable color and pattern at that market size even though the color and/or pattern may still change with age. Examples of body markings changing with age and body length are presented in Figure 4. From top to bottom, the tiger barbs in Figure 4 are 3 days, 5 days, 7 to 8 days, 15 to 20 days and >25 days post-hatching, respectively.

Figure 4.
Change in morphology
of tiger barbs
during development.
 

Top to bottom:
 
 

5.3 millimeters,
 

6.0 millimeters,
 

7.3 millimeters,
 

10.1 millimeters
 

and
 

25.0 millimeters.
 

(Illustrations by
Rich Bailey).
 
 
 
 

Water Quality

The length versus weight relationship of C. tetrazona was determined from samples of tiger barbs reared at Windward Community College (WCC) at Kaneohe, Hawaii, and is summarized in Figure 5. The statistical model:

where LNWT = natural log of body weight in grams and TL = total body length in millimeters was found to provide the best fit of the data, R² = 0.95, P<0.001. The relationship can be used to estimate body weight when only total body length is available.

Figure 5. Length versus weight relationship of tiger barbs.

Reproduction

Figure 6. Photograph of an adult male tiger barb (top) and adult female tiger barb (bottom).

A summary of the common reproductive behavior for most of the barbs was described by Bakker et. al. (1982) as follows:

• promiscuous mating
• no parental care
• selective depositing of eggs by the female
• external fertilization during mating clasp (1 male:l female)
• females receptive during mating sessions lasting hours
• repeated mating clasps with or without a change in partner or location
• male plays the active role in courtship
• male more active in antagonistic behavior and competition.

Fecundity

Tiger barbs have been documented to spawn as many as 500 eggs per female (Scheurmann 1990; Axelrod 1992), and production records at the WCC aquaculture site show similar results. It has been reported that the tiger barb is a serial spawner (i.e., spawning more than once during the spawning season) and with proper conditioning females can spawn at approximately two-week intervals (Munro et. al. 1990).

An experiment carried out at the National University of Singapore, in which female barbs were held under a natural photo-period of 12 hours light and 12 hours dark at temperatures of 26°C to 28°C, reported ovulation over a two-day period. Overripe eggs, which are opaque and white, were extruded from the ovaries up to four days after ovulation, with post-ovulatory follicles persisting for two days at most. Yellow atretic eggs appeared two days after ovulation and have been reported to persist for up to 14 days (Munro et. al. 1990).

Figure 7. Size frequency distribution of spawned tiger barb eggs.

Growth

where TL = total body length in mm and Days = number of days in culture, was found to provide the best fit of the data (R² = 0.91 1, P<0.001). As mentioned previously, the size at first maturity ranges from 20mm to 30 mm (0.8-1.2 in) and is indicated as the arrow in Figure 8. The calculated age at first maturity using 20 mm (0.8 in) as the size at first maturity was 51 days. The size frequency distribution of the tiger barbs at the end of the rearing trial is summarized in Figure 9. A pooled sample of barbs (n = 88) was distributed using 3-mm size classes, and the observed average body length was 29.3 ± 4.2 mm (1.2 ± 0.2 in).

Figure 8. Growth of tiger barbs reared at 27°C. Arrow indicates size/age at first maturity.

Figure 9. Size frequency distribution of tiger barbs after 101 days in culture.

Commercial Production

Broodstock Conditioning

Conditioning the sexes in separate tanks is an important step in the production process. Lack of proper conditioning will result in greatly reduced numbers of successful synchronized spawnings. It cannot be overemphasized that during conditioning of the broodstock good water quality should be maintained as the conditioning diets can lead to fouling of the water. In addition, subtle changes in water quality can reportedly influence spawning of tiger barbs. Spawning experiments where water from tanks in which males were kept during the conditioning process resulted in an overall reduction in the incidence of ovulation of females relative to controls in the spawning tanks (Munro et al. 1990). Other studies have reported that a decrease in salinity of 10 to 20% may induce or force synchronized ovulation (Munro et al. 1990; Axelrod 1992). Successful synchronized spawnings have taken place at the WCC aquaculture facility by simply moving broodstock from the conditioning tanks to those with fresh clean water.

Spawning

Figure 10. Photograph of spawning tanks used for commercial production of tiger barbs.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The process for spawning the tiger barbs after conditioning is as follows:

Step 1. Stocking the spawning tank
Single pairs of broodstock fish are placed into 40-liter (10-gallon) glass aquaria with little or no aeration. A stiff bottle brush (Figure 11) that is used as a spawning substrate is placed in each spawning tank in the late afternoon of the same day that spawning pairs are introduced to the tanks. Other spawning substrate materials, such as rayon knitted yarn are also used by commercial producers (Figure 12). The stiff spawning brush functions as the substrate on which the sticky eggs are laid, prevents the broodstock from eating the spawned eggs, and is easily cleaned between spawnings.

Step 2. The following morning:
The morning after stocking, check each aquarium for eggs and be careful to note which pairs of fish might currently be spawning so that you do not disturb them. If a flashlight is shined up from the underside of the tank, spawned eggs can be seen as small translucent yellowish spheres averaging 1.18 ± 0.05 mm in diameter adhering to the stiff brush.

Figure 11. Photo of spawning tank with bottle brush used as a substrate.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step 3. After spawning:
Egg-filled brushes are removed from the spawning tanks and placed in other tanks for incubation and larval rearing. The broodstock are returned to the conditioning tanks for further conditioning or holding. Fish that are exhibiting spawning behavior and others that have not yet spawned are allowed to remain in their spawning tanks for an additional day.

Figure 12. Various types of brushes used as spawning substrates in commercial tiger barb production.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Paired fish are allowed only two days to spawn, after which they are removed from the spawning tanks. The hatchery is then cleaned and prepared to receive another batch of conditioned broodstock. After the egg-filled brushes and broodstock have been removed, the spawning tanks may be immediately restocked for another spawning run. If conditioned broodstock are available, a simple hatchery of 40 to 50 10-gallon tanks can produce roughly 10,000 tiger barb larvae per week.

Larval Rearing

Step 1. Preparation of the incubation and rearing tank:
The size of the incubation and larval rearing tank is determined by the potential number of fry, and the volume of brushes it can hold underwater. A rule of thumb for stocking is to use approximately twenty brushes containing spawned eggs to each 120-liter (30-gallon) horizontal glass aquarium. The larval-rearing tank is prepared by first treating with methylene blue or other antifungal agent according to instructions specific for disinfecting eggs. Constant aeration and a water flow rate sufficient to prevent the water from becoming cloudy should be provided. The level of aeration and rate of water exchange should be gentle, yet still high enough to maintain good water quality during the entire larval rearing cycle.

Step 2. Hatching:
Spawning brushes containing the sticky eggs from the spawning tanks are placed into the tanks prepared to hold the hatched larvae. The eggs should hatch in three days if a temperature of 25°C to 27°C (78°F to 80°F) is maintained. The newly hatched fry are non-swimming for two days and obtain nutrition from the yolk sac, so the fry do not require feeding at this time. Three days after hatching the yolk sac is usually absorbed and disappears.

Step 3. First feeding:
When fry are approximately 4.0 mm (0.16 in) in body length at three or four days after hatching and/or free swimming, feed should be introduced. It should be noted that the hatching of larvae may vary, resulting in the presence of larvae at different stages of development. Initial feeding must begin when the first larvae with a fully absorbed yolk sac are observed. Newly hatched brine shrimp, Artemia sp., approximately 500 m (0.02 inches) in size is introduced as the first feed and used exclusively for the next two days. The method for preparation of brine shrimp eggs for hatching is presented in Appendix 2. The fry should be fed to satiation three or four times per day. Satiation is determined by the observation of reduced feeding in the fry and a gut area that has become round and orange in color (indicating brine shrimp in the stomach). Care should be taken not to over-feed and to maintain good water quality in the larval-rearing tank at all times.

Step 4. Feeding protocol:
Overfeeding with brine shrimp and/or high protein larval feeds can quickly pollute the water. Adjust the feeding rate according to the amount of debris on the tank bottom and observe water quality. Feeding more often with smaller rations can lessen the risk of elevated ammonia levels that can easily kill fry. After feeding brine shrimp exclusively for two days, prepared commercial fry feed should be introduced. Fish should be slowly weaned onto new feeds by alternating small amounts of prepared feeds with brine shrimp nauplii over the course of a day. When weaning fish to a new feed, daily introduce 10% of the new food while reducing the same percentage of the first feed until 100% of the new food is accepted. Fish are sometimes reluctant to accept new feeds but slowly weaning off one and onto a new feed can reduce the amount of wasted feed in a tank. It is important to remember that excess feed can rapidly lower water quality. The feed weaning process can be completed in three to five days. A number "00" size (0- to 5-mm diameter particle size) or "swim-up" feed having the consistency of fine powder is often used when weaning fry to commercially available feeds. Once the fry have been successfully weaned to a commercial fry diet for two days and are approximately 5.0 mm (0.2 inches) in length, they can be transferred to prepared outdoor nursery tank(s) or directly stocked into a growout pond or tank.

Step 5. Harvesting and moving fry:
Once fry have been actively feeding for two to three days, they can be stocked into a growout pond or tank. Growout ponds or tanks should be prepared (See Next Section) and stocked no later than 1 0 days after being filled with water to avoid problems that would develop with aquatic weeds and/or establishment of predatory aquatic insects. Fry transfer should take place during the morning and care must be taken to avoid extreme differences in temperature, pH and light intensity. Fry can be removed from the rearing tank by siphoning with tygon tubing that has at least a 3/8-inch inside diameter. Fry are siphoned into a bucket that has a 100 m screened section that has been cut into the wall of the bucket about three to four inches from the top of the bucket. This allows the fry to be collected into a reservoir of water in the bucket and excess water to drain out without harming the collected fry. The bucket containing the fry can then be taken to the pond or tank where they can be acclimated before stocking.

Preparing Outdoor Ponds and Tanks for Stocking of Fry

Pond, Tank Preparation, and Aquatic Weed Control

Step la. Pond preparation:
Earthen ponds for growout of tiger barbs should first be sun-dried until the bottom cracks. This process allows for the decomposition of organic matter that has built up in a pond during the last production cycle.

Step 1b. Tank preparation:
Growout tanks can be of various shapes and sizes and constructed out of various materials (e.g., high-density polyethylene, canvas-lined plywood). The size of the growout tank should match the egg production capability as stocking densities are based upon the working volume of the tank. Stocking densities of 1 to 5 fry per liter (4 to 20 fry per gallon) are recommended, although higher stocking densities have also been reported. All growout tanks should be equipped with continuous aeration and water supply. A recommended rate of water exchange for a 12- to 15-foot-diameter tank is 1/4 to 1/3 gallon per minute. It is best to clean the tank and allow it to sun-dry for at least two or three days prior to filling and stocking.

Step 2. Weed control:
Emerging weeds should be removed either by hand or by an approved herbicide. In the event that herbicides are used, an agricultural extension agent should first be consulted for assistance in obtaining the proper permits and methods for application. Herbicides such as Casaron, which is a broadcast herbicide that is effective on rooted aquatic and terrestrial plants, Diquat, which is particularly effective on a wide range of aquatic plants, or Sonar, which is effective on rooted aquatic and semi-aquatic plants, can be used.
NOTE: When using any herbicide, follow the label directions for proper application.
When treating ponds currently in production that are heavily infested with aquatic weeds, extreme care must be taken to minimize possible low dissolved oxygen levels that can result from decomposing plant matter. Under such conditions, it is recommended that only one half of the pond be treated at a time. Additionally, ponds should only be treated during sunny, mild temperature, and breezy weather conditions that allow for optimal oxygenation of the pond water while the organic matter is decomposing. If aeration equipment is available, 24-hour aeration can eliminate a low oxygen level problem while treating aquatic weeds with herbicides.

Step 3a. Pond fertilization:
After elimination of the vegetation, the pond should be filled as soon as possible and fertilized to obtain an algal bloom or "green water." A liquid fertilizer with a N-P-K (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) ratio of 1-3-0 is recommended. This is generally mixed as a 10-30-0 or a 12-36-0 ratio and can be purchased from local distributors (see Appendix 3). The fertilizer is applied at a rate of 1 milliliter per 5 square feet of surface area or 3 to 5 gallons per acre of pond water. Inoculating the pond with green water from another pond or tank will speed up the establishment of an algal bloom. Once the bloom has been established (which usually takes only two or three days) the fish can be stocked into the pond. If delays in stocking the pond are encountered, the water should be checked for the presence of aquatic insects.

Step 3b. Tank fertilization:
In tanks, fertilizer is applied at a rate of 1 milliliter per 50 liters (13 gallons) of water. Inoculating the tank with green water from another pond or tank will speed up the time to establish an algal bloom. Once the bloom has been established (which usually takes only two or three days), the fish can be stocked into the tank. If delays in stocking the tank are encountered, the water should be checked for the presence of aquatic insects.

Step 4. Controlling aquatic insects:
Aquatic insects (e.g., dragonfly nymphs, water boatmen, and backswimmers) can pose a serious predation threat to larval fish if not controlled. Stocking a pond or tank soon after the algal bloom has stabilized allows the fish fry to grow to a size where larval insects pose less of a predator problem. To further reduce the insect problem, netting with 1/4-inch or smaller mesh placed securely over the pond or tank restricts adult flying insects from depositing eggs and reproducing. The pond or tank should be checked periodically for insect infestation. If infestation is detected, quick measures must be taken to reduce fry losses. Applying boiled linseed oil at a rate of 1 to 2 milliliters per 5 square feet of surface area can eliminate most aquatic insects. The linseed oil will cover the surface of the water and essentially suffocate the air breathing aquatic insects. The linseed oil will slowly dissipate as it evaporates from the water surface over the next few days. For assistance, notify the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Extension Service (SGES) aquaculture extension agents.

Tank, Pond, and Cage Growout System Comparison

Pond Culture

Tank Culture

Cage Culture

Commercial Grow-out Stocking Densities

Feeds and Feeding

The tiger barb, like many cultured fish, has a digestive tract that is very inefficient in digesting feed. Dividing the total daily amount of feed to be delivered into three or more portions throughout the day will eliminate an excess of uneaten feed and reduce the organic fouling and oxygen demand on the system, while promoting faster growth. Automatic feeders work well in culturing tiger barbs, whereby they are filled in the morning with the appropriate amount of feed needed for the day. Tiger barbs exhibit a diurnal pattern in their activity. They cease being active between 22:00 and 04:00 hours and have a peak in activity between 14:00 and 18:00 hours (Shiraishi et. al. 1972). Pond reared fish receiving a single feeding should be fed between 14:00 and 18:00 hours, and high density tank culture systems utilizing automatic feeders should be turned off between 20:00 and 06:00 hours.

Water temperature and quality directly influence the desire of fish to feed. When temperatures drop below 20°C, tiger barbs will consume less feed. During cold weather conditions, it is best to feed late in the afternoon when the water temperatures have had a chance to elevate from solar radiation. Periodically checking the feeding response and the amount of feed remaining on the bottom of the tank or pond will help to determine the proper amount to feed. Feed should be completely consumed within 15 minutes after delivery. If all the feed has been consumed in that time period, present a little more to determine the satiation point of the fish. There is no documentation on the feed conversion ratio (FCR) or the percentage of body weight per day requirements of tiger barbs or for many other ornamental aquarium fish. By comparing data for fish that have a similar size and biological characteristics, tiger barbs should be fed approximately 10% of their body weight per day.

Water Quality

Harvesting Tiger Barbs

Step 1 - Preparation for harvesting from a pond:
Prior to any harvesting, a pond should be inspected for aquatic weed infestation and the appropriate herbicides applied, if necessary, with the proper lead time. Tank culture systems avoid problems with emerging aquatic plants and lessens the degree of management and harvesting problems.

Step 2. Disease inspection:
One week before harvest, the fish should be sampled and examined for disease and proper treatment applied if necessary. Treatment of disease will be covered in the disease section. Fish should then be sampled again prior to harvest to guarantee that the fish are in good health. Following these procedures insures a smooth harvest and minimizes mortalities.

Step 3. Holding Tank:
As soon as possible after harvesting by any of the described methods, the fish should be placed in a 300- to 500-gallon holding tank equipped with running fresh water and aeration. Preparation of the holding tank must be completed prior to harvesting to avoid delays between the time of capture and stocking in the holding tank(s). Special attention should be given to screening the drain to prevent fish from escaping. The size of the screening is also important to consider because large amounts of debris will be added to the tank with the incoming fish, and this can clog the screen covering the drain and result in a holding tank that is overflowing. After placing the fish inside the holding tank(s), any debris that has come in from the harvest should be removed and dead or injured fish discarded. Salt is added to the water to bring the salinity up to 9 ppt (9 kilograms per cubic meter or 20 lbs per 250 gallons), which is an isotonic solution, to help reduce handling stress by stimulating fish to naturally produce a slime coat. Harvested fish can be maintained in the holding tank for an extended (one to two weeks) period of time before fish are selected and marketed. A maintenance diet is provided to the fish in the holding tanks.

Step 4a. Harvesting by trap:
Tiger barbs can be harvested using a variety of traps (Figure 14) or seined. When trapping barbs, place the trap 12 to 18 inches below the surface and bait the trap with either a paste or large pelleted feed. Traps should be checked periodically to avoid overcrowding. Transfer the collected fish into the holding tank. Debris that is collected with the harvested fish should be removed along with any dead fish. The fish are examined the day before sorting to insure good health. If bacterial or other pathogens are present, the holding tank should be treated prior to further handling.

Figure 14. Photo of two types of traps used to collect tiger barbs.

Step 4b. Harvesting with a seine:
Tiger barbs can also be harvested with a seine net made of knotless nylon Ace or Delta weave with a mesh size of 1/8 inch. Seine nets should have a length 2.5 times the width of the pond being harvested and a width twice the depth of pond being seined. Seines used for harvesting ornamental fish should also be equipped with twice as many floats and bottom lead weights as standard seines. When ordering seines of this type, the buyer must specify double floats and double leads. It is essential that all debris and filamentous algae be removed from the pond prior to seining. This usually requires manually removing the unwanted material. After removal of the aquatic vegetation and debris, the seine is pulled through the pond. particular attention should be given during the last stages when bringing in the seine near the pond bank to insure that the fish are not overcrowded. This is generally done by stretching and opening the seine to form a "hammock" or "purse." The fish will then swim out of any trash and mud that may have been brought in with the seine; they then can be removed from the seine with dip nets, leaving the debris behind. If all fish are to be collected and placed in a holding tank, the fish caught in the seine should be placed in buckets containing fresh water and transported immediately to the holding tank. Several passes through the pond can be made until the numbers of fish decline noticeably. At that time, the pond depth can be lowered by at least one half, and the process repeated. Lastly, the pond should be drained and all remaining fish collected and placed in the holding tank. If the process is not conducted carefully, excessive injuries and stress to the harvested fish will result in mortalities.

Step 5. Sorting:
Tiger barbs are often sold prior to reaching sexual maturity, so sorting by sex is not necessary. Because tiger barbs are not sexually dimorphic (i.e., having different color patterns between sexes), they are graded for size using a bar grader (Figure 15). Fish are netted from the holding tank and placed into a bar grader. The smaller fish will swim through the grader bars, while the larger ones are retained in the box. By changing the widths (grader sizes),any size fish can be sorted by increments as small as a quarter of an inch. Several test runs with fish might be required to determine the size grader needed. Market size tiger barbs are usually sorted using grader sizes ranging from No. 8 to No. 14. During the grading process, any off-color fish are removed with hand nets and discarded. The fish are then sorted into bag lot numbers and placed in holding tanks, where the guts are allowed to purge over a 48-hour period, followed by bagging and boxing for shipping.

Figure 15.
Photo of bar grader
used to sort tiger barbs by size.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step 6. Bagging and boxing for shipping:
Tiger barbs can be packed at 30 to 40 fish per liter (120 to 160 fish per gallon) with enough oxygen to withstand 48 hour of transport. Depending on the distance the fish need to travel, over-packing can reduce the shipping freight cost to the customer. However, only established packing densities that have been proven successful should be used; do not assume that just any shipping density will work. Fish should be counted in bag lot numbers and placed in containers equipped with flow-through water. These containers should be made of a durable material that will not break or be damaged by handling (plastic containers work well). The containers should be equipped with a standpipe to control the water level, which when removed will allow the water to drain to a box lot quantity. Although there are several sizes of shipping boxes and bags, a standard full bag measures 37.5 centimeters wide, 37.5 centimeters long, and 55 centimeters deep. The extra depth allows for proper sealing of the bag for shipment. The bag is filled with approximately 8 liters (approximately 2 gallons) of water for shipment. This keeps the total weight of the packed box just below 9 kilograms (20 lbs.). Following this procedure enables the packer to gently lift and pour the container of fish and water into a bag without netting or handling the fish again. Having the fish counted in box lot sizes will minimize the time needed to bag the fish. The bag is purged of air by squeezing the bag to the water level and then inflating with oxygen. To seal the bag, twist the bag top tightly and wrap with a rubber band or use a banding machine. The bags are then placed in a Styrofoam box, which in turn is held in a cardboard box if the fish are to be shipped as individual boxes. The lids of the cardboard box are taped shut for air cargo shipping. Larger orders can be consolidated into LD-3 containers in which the cardboard boxes will not be needed. Consolidating orders and cooperative marketing with other farmers can open new market outlets because of increased numbers and possible varieties of fish and decrease the shipping costs to prospective buyers.

Disease

Disease Prevention, Treatment, and Management

Monogenea (Dactylogyrus and Gryclactylidae) are also commonly found on the gill and soft ray tissue of the infected fish. Transmission is usually by direct contact. After the eggs hatch, free-swimming larvae seek a host and attach themselves using a series of hooks and sucking valves at the base. They appear worm-like under the microscope. Infected fish usually exhibit what is commonly called flashing, in which the fish rub on a hard substrate or shake in attempts to remove the parasite. There are two common treatment methods. The first is a formalin bath at a concentration of 250 ppm for one hour. This is the preferred method when handling large numbers of fish because no handling is required and the tank is simply flushed after the specified time period. The second method is a sodium chloride (non-iodized salt) dip at a concentration of 25,000 to 35,000 ppm (25 grams per liter to 35 grams per liter). Duration of the dip is determined by the tolerance of the individual species to high salinity and the effectiveness of the treatment. It is recommended that preliminary tests be run on small samples of fish to determine the proper length of time and concentration.

The fungi Saprolegnia commonly occurs as an opportunistic infection as a result of injuries incurred in handling the fish. It usually appears as a white or light gray patch on the surface of the fish. Its appearance under the microscope is best described as having a cotton strand appearance. Saprolegnia can be problematic to treat because as of this writing some of the most effective compounds have been regulated out of use. However, some of the newer copper and iodine compounds work well. One of the tried-and-true methods is a formalin bath at a concentration 250 ppm for one hour per day for five consecutive days.

Formalin Preparation

Note: Use extreme caution when using concentrated Formalin.

Note: 1 ppm = 1 milliliter per 1,000 liters
Concentrated formalin = (100 liters x (1 milliliter per 1,000 liters) x (100 ppm)

For smaller water volumes, a stock solution of 10 percent formalin (90 milliliters concentrated formalin + 910 milliliters of water) is first made. By adding 1 milliliter of the 10 percent formalin stock solution to 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water, a 25-parts-per-million formalin solution is obtained. Adjust the amount of stock solution to the number of gallons of water to result in the desired concentration (e.g., 2 milliliters per gallon = 50 parts per million; 4 milliliters per gallon = 100 parts per million; and so forth). Multiply by the number of gallons of water to be treated to obtain the proper amount of stock formalin solution needed (e.g., 4 milliliters per gallon = 100 parts per million; for a 10-gallon tank, 4 x 10 = 40 milliliters of 10 percent formalin stock solution is needed to result in 10 gallons of 100-parts-per-million formalin).

Recommendation: Some test trials with healthy fish should be attempted prior to any disease outbreak to become familiar with the calculations described above. If there are any concerns, please contact the Sea Grant Aquaculture Extension Agents.

Economics

Factors Affecting Price of Tiger Barbs

Figure 16. Comparison of prices of three types of tiger barbs at different body sizes.
(Values obtained from Sunny Aquarium Company 1995).

From this pricing scenario, it can be concluded that the tiger barb is a "low value" species and consistent production of large quantities (10,000 to 20,000 per month) is necessary to turn a profit as well as to compete in the market. As mentioned previously, more than 2.5 million individual C. tetrazona, were imported into the United States in 1992. To estimate the future demand for this species, price sheets from the last 15 years were examined and the continued increase in price over time indicates a consistent and continued market demand. The data are summarized for both the tiger barb and albino tiger barb in Figure 17.

Figure 17. Comparison of prices for 31-millimeter (1.25-inch) tiger barbs and albino tiger barbs over a 15-year period.
(Values obtained from Sunny Aquarium Company, Hawaii).

Another factor affecting farm-gate prices is whether one sells directly to a retailer (highest price), to a wholesaler (moderate price) or through a transshipper (lowest price). Farmers should investigate market outlets thoroughly to obtain the highest possible price for each item produced. It is also recommended that a farmer have at least three to five different market outlets and provide the one offering the highest market price with the largest percentage of fish produced.

Start-up Costs

The report modeled three different farm sizes (small = Farm A, medium = Farm B and large = Farm C) with three different levels of production and ornamental species mix. Farm A represents a live-bearer production module, which is elaborated on by Tamaru et al. (in press). Farm B consists of 50 12-foot-diameter tanks and includes a 1,200-gallon hatchery. Farm C consists of 200 12-foot-diameter tanks and a 2,500-gallon hatchery. Using two different pricing scenarios, "all three farms in the study proved to be profitable to own and operate" (Teichman et. al., 1994), and showed that Hawaii farmers could compete with a landed cost in Seattle from suppliers of fish from Asia and still turn a profit. Hawaii farmers have a substantial advantage over competitive suppliers of fish from Asia because Hawaii-raised fish require less time in transit, so farmers can emphasize product quality (e.g., lower percentages of dead on arrivals, high health) as a primary marketing strategy. They need not rely solely on price competition to sell their products.

For the purposes of this manual, the production costs of tiger barbs in multi-species Farms B and C are considered. A breakdown of the equipment, supplies and start-up costs for a single species (tiger barb) hatchery is presented in Table 7. The equipment and supply list covers what is considered necessary to build a hatchery for the production of tiger barbs and also includes shipping of the cultured product. Based on 1993 pricing of materials, the total cost is estimated at $10,353. Using the average number of eggs produced per female (300 eggs per spawn) and multiplying by the number of spawning tanks (n = 25) approximately 7,500 eggs can be produced per synchronized spawning event. If this activity is carried out at two-week intervals, the monthly egg production of the facility can be estimated to be approximately 15,000 eggs per month. It should be noted that the start-up costs do not include labor, power, water, lease fees, or insurance costs as these will vary from farm to farm.
 

Table 7. Equipment and supplies for tiger barb hatchery
Category	Quantity	1995 Price  in US$
Equipment
12-foot-diameter tank	2	$900
ground liner	1 roll	$90
regenerative blower	1	$398
airstones (small)	25	$20
airstones (large)	2	$15
air tubing	1 roll	$27
02 bottle rental	1	$50
02 regulator	1	$70
PVC pipe and fittings	assorted	$200
bird netting	1 roll	$10
bar grader	2	$300
thermometer	2	$50
field microscope	1	$20
conditioning tanks (300-gallon)	2	$300
aquariums (10-gallon)	25	$200
spawning brushes	25	$92
lumber (hatchery)	assorted	$2,619
used pickup truck	1	$4,000
Supplies
chlorine	5 gallons	$100
broodstock	150	$41
feed (Artemia, broodstock, growout)	-	$85
rubber bands	1 bag	$10
transport bags	4	$16
transport boxes (inner)	40	$140
transport boxes (outer)	40	$100
water test kit	1	$300
misc. chemicals	-	$100
dip nets	-	$100
Total	-	$10,353

Enterprise Budget

1. the farm including the hatchery is already established and producing fish in addition to tiger barbs;
2. a production of 12,500 fry with 80 percent survival to market;
3. purchase of 150 broodstock @ 0.27 each with one year production;
4. purchase of two 12-foot-diameter tanks @ $450 each with five-year life;
5. purchase of two 300-gallon brood conditioning tanks @ $100 each with five-year life;
6. purchase of 25 10-gallon aquariums @ $8 each with five-year life;
7. the marketing of medium size (1.125-inch to 1.25-inch body length) tiger barbs at $0.24 per fish;
8. shipping at densities of 250 fish per box;
9. marketing of 10,000 tiger barbs on a monthly basis.

The total variable costs of production are estimated at $568.00. The fixed costs are estimated at $56 to $63 based upon estimates given in the "Report on the Economics of Ornamental Fish Culture in Hawaii", (Teichman et al., 1994). This results in an estimated $624.63 total monthly production cost. Using the market value of medium-size tiger barbs ($0.24 per fish, Sunny Aquarium Company 1995) the value of 10,000 tiger barbs is $2,400. The net profit of the tiger barb enterprise is approximately $1,800 per month. It should again be emphasized that these prices are based upon only one distributor and may vary from dealer to dealer. In addition, as mentioned previously, the actual farm-gate price can only be estimated as these values are confidential. However, with a 30 percent mark-up, the estimated farm-gate value would be approximately $1,050. From the information presented, there are several strategies that one must consider in order to maximize profits. These include marketing smaller fish at higher volumes, marketing larger fish, or producing another variety that commands a higher price. Using the enterprise budget allows the reader to examine the pros and cons and to plan a particular strategy appropriate for his/her situation.
 

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Literature Cited

• Alfred, E.R. 1963. Some colorful fishes of the genus Puntius, Hamilton (30):135-142.
• Axelrod, H.R. and M.E. Sweeney. 1992. The Fascination of Breeding Aquarium Fish. T.F.H Publications, Inc. Ltd. Neptune City, N.J.
• Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl. 1993. Aquarium Atlas Vol; 1-2. Mergus-Veriag GmbH Hans A.
• Chapman, F. A., S. Fitz-Coy, E. Thunberg, J.T. Rodrick, C.M. Adams and M. Andre. 1994. An analysis of the United States of America International Trade in Ornamental Fish. CTSA Project Final Report, University of Florida, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Food and Resource Economics Department. 55 pp.
• Desilva, S.S. and K. Kortmulder. 1977. Some aspects of the biology of three species of Puntius (Barbus) (Pisces Cyprinidae), endemic to Sri Lanka. Netherlands J. of Zoo. 27(2):182-194.
• Frankel, J.S. 1985. Inheritance of trunk striping in the Sumatran Tiger Barb, Barbus tetrazona. J. of Heredity. 76;478-479.
• Furtado, J.1. and S. Mori. 1982. The Ecology of a tropical freshwater swamp, the Tasek Bera, Malaysia. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Hague, Netherlands.
• Kortmulder, K. 1972. A comparative study in colour patterns and behavior in seven Asiatic Barbus species (Cyprinidae, Ostariophysi, Osteichthyes) Behavior, International Journal of comparative ethnology. 14: 1-60.
• Kortmulder, K. 1982. Etho-ecology of seventeen Barbus species (Pisces; Cyprinidae) Netherlands J. of Zoology. 32 (2): 144-168.
• Mohsin, A.K.M. and Ambak, M.A. 1982. Cyprinoid fishes of the Subfamily Cypriniod in Selangor. Malay. Nat. J. 35: 29-55.
• Munro, A.D., C. Li-Lian, and K. Nqankee. 1990. Preliminary observations on environmental control of ovulation and spawning in a small tropical Cyprinid (Barbus tetrazona). Proc. of the Second Asian Fish. Forum, Tokyo, Japan pp. 17-22.
• National Research Council. 1983. Nutrient Requirements of Warmwater Fishes and Shellfishes. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. 102 pp.
• Scheurmann, 1. 1990. Aquarium Fish Breeding. Baron's Educational Series Inc. Hauppauge, N.Y.
• Shiraishi, Y., N. Mizuno, M. Nagai, M. Yoshimi, and K. Nishiyama. 1972. Studies on the diel activity and feeding habit of fishes at Lake Bera, Malaysia. Japanese J. of Ichthyology. 19(4)295-305.
• Sorgeloos, P., P. H. Leger, W. Tackaert, and D. Verischele. 1986. Manual for the culture and use of brine shrimp Artemia in aquaculture. Artemia Reference Center, State University of Ghent, Belgium. 319 pp.
• Sunny Aquarium Company. 1995. Various price lists. Waimanalo, Hawaii USA.
• Tamaru, C.S., B. Cole, R. Bailey, and C. Brown. (in press). A manual for commercial production of the swordtail, Xiphophorus belleri. Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, Waimanalo, Hawaii USA.
• Tay, S. H. and C. S. Tan. 1976. The cultivation of Gymnocorymbus teinetzi, Hyphessobrycon Callistus serpae and Puntius tetrazona in cage-nets in a pond. Sinapore J. Prim. Ind. 4(21): 37-51.
• Taki, Y., A. Katsuyama, and T. Vrushido. 1977. Comparative morphology and interspecific relationships of the Cyprinid genus Puntius. Japanese J. of Ichthyology. 25(l);1-7.
• Teichman, J., C. Brown, B. Cole, R. Bailey, and J. Brock. 1994. Report on the economics of ornamental fish culture in Hawaii. Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture. Waimanalo, Hawaii USA. 14 pp.
• Zakaria-ismail, M. 1993. The fish fauna of the Sungai Teris and Sungai Rengit, Krau Game Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia. Malayan Nature J. 46(l);201-228.

Appendix 1. Preparation of conditioning pastes.

Step 1: Trim all the excess fat and any connective tissue or tendon (stringy material) from the beef heart and liver.

Step 2: Use a food processor or blender to grind or mash the meat into very small pieces.

Step 3: Mix the remaining ingredients (except for the gelatin in Formula 1) in a blender or food processor.

Step 4a: In Formula 1, the gelatin acts as a binder that holds the mixture in a paste. Mix the gelatin in a pot with as little hot water as necessary to fully dissolve the gelatin. Allow the mixture to cool slightly but remain fluid, then mix it with the other ingredients. Pour the mixture into "zip-lock" bags and press them into flat sheets. The paste should be refrigerated until used or frozen if it will be stored for long periods.

Step 4b: Formula 2 requires the mixture to be cooked using a double boiler until the mixture becomes slightly grainy. The mix is then placed into "ziplock" bags and pressed into sheets for storage. The mix should be refrigerated until used or frozen for long-term storage.

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Appendix 2. Hatching of Brine Shrimp (Artemia) and Preparation for Feeding

Artemia Supplies and Strains

1. cyst hatching rates;
2. nauplii size at hatch (instar I)
3. nutritional value
4. packaging method

Hatching Container

Cleanliness and Sterilization

Light

Temperature

Salinity

Cyst Density and Preparation

pH

Cyst Storage

Harvesting and Preparation for Feeding

NOTE: Do not let the nauplii accumulate on the bottom of the hatching container for more than 10 minutes.

Storage of Newly Hatched Artemia

Appendix 3. List of suppliers and organizations.

General Aquaculture Products

• Aquacenter Inc

Seven Oaks Rd., Leland, MS 38756
Phone: (800) 748-8921
Fax: (601) 378-2862
Aeration equipment, water pumps, PVC fittings, filters, nets, water quality test kits, tanks
• Aquaculture Supply

33418 Old Saint Joe Rd., Dade City, FL 33525
Phone: (904) 567-8540
Fax: (904) 567-3742
Aeration equipment, water pumps, laboratory equipment, biological filtration, algal nutrients, inoculant, rotifer starter kits
• Aquanetics Systems, Inc.

5252 Lovelock St., San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: (619) 291-8444
Fax: (619) 291-8335
Aeration equipment, water pumps, sterilization equipment, chillers, heaters, PVC fittings, recirculation systems and components
• Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc.

2056 Apopka Blvd., Apopka , FL 32703
Phone: (407) 886-3939
Fax: (407) 886-6787
Aeration equipment, water pumps, monitors, and controls, recirculation systems, laboratory equipment, nets, tanks and liners
• AREA

P.O. Box 13303, Homestead, FL 33090
Phone: (305) 248-4205
Fax: (305) 248-1756
Aeration equipment, valves and test equipment, filtration, disinfection equipment
• Grainger

4397 Lawehana St., Honolulu, HI 96818-3138
Phone: (808) 423-0028
Fax: (808) 423-0031
Pumps, filters, hoses, electrical supplies
• Southern Aquaculture Supply Inc.

P.O. Box 326, 565 St. Mary St.
Lake Village, AR 71653
Phone: (501) 265-3584
Fax: (501) 265-4146
Pumps, filters, hoses, electrical supplies

Chemical Products

• Argent Chemical Laboratories

8702 152nd Ave. N.E., Redmond , WA 98052
Phone: (206) 885-3777
Fax: (206) 885-2112
Therapeutics, chemicals, formalin, quinaldine, MS-222, specialty feeds, laboratory equipment, reference books and manuals
• Brewer Environmental Industries, Inc.

311 Pacific St., Honolulu, HI 96718
Phone: (808) 532-7400
Herbicides, insecticides, fertilizer, agricultural products
• Chemaqua

P.O. Box 2457, Oxnard, CA 93033
Phone: (805) 486-5319
Fax: (805) 486-2491
Therapeutics, water conditioning products
• Crescent Research Chemicals

4331 E. Western Star Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85044
Phone: (602) 893-9234
Fax: (602) 244-0522
Therapeutics, bacterial cultures, water conditioning products, hormones (i.e., CPH, HCG, LHRH-A) test kits, meters
• Fritz Chemical Company

Aquaculture Division
P.O. Drawer 17040, Dallas, TX 75217
Phone: (800) 527-1323
Therapeutics, water conditioning products, commercial slime
• Hawaiian Fertilizer Sales, Inc.

91-155 C Leowaena St., Waipahu, Hi 96797
Phone: (808) 677-8779
Fertilizer, herbicides, agriculture products

Netting Products

• Memphis Net and Twine Co. Inc.

2481 Matthews Ave.
P.O. Box 8331, Memphis, TN 38108
Phone: (800) 238-6380
Fax: (901) 458-1601
Seines, dip nets, gill nets, floats, lead weights, aprons, knives, rope, baskets, commercial fishing supplies, bird netting
• Nylon Net Co.

615 East Bodley
P.O. Box 592, Memphis, TN 38101
Phone: (901) 774-1500
Fax: (901) 775-5374
Seines, dip nets, gill nets, floats, lead weights, aprons, knives, rope, baskets, commercial fishing supplies, bird netting
• Tenax Corporation

4800 E. Monument St., Baltimore, MD 21205-3042
Phone: (410) 522-7000
Fax: (410) 522-7015
Plastic netting, tank liners
• Florida Fish Coop.

10503 Cone Grove Rd., Riverview, FL 33569
Phone: (813) 677-7136
Clear plastic fish traps

Water Quality Kits

• Hawaii Chemical & Scientific.

2363 North King St., Honolulu, Hawaii 96819
Phone: (808) 841-6245
Chemical reagents, test kits, laboratory supplies
• Hach Company.

P.O. Box 389, Loveland , CO 80539-0389
Phone: (303) 669-3050Z
Fax: (800) 227-4224
Laboratory equipment, chemical reagents, test kits, meters
• LaMotte Company

P.O. Box 329 Rt. 213 N Chestertown , MD 21620
Phone: (800) 344-3100
Fax: (410) 778-6394
Laboratory equipment, chemical reagents, test kits, meters

Tanks and Liners

• Integrated Construction Technologies.

150 Poopoo Pl., Kailua Kona, HI 96734
Phone: (808) 261-1863
Fax: (808) 262-3828
Concrete holding tanks
• Lim Foo W and Sons.

11 30 Wilder Ave., Suite 102, Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: (808) 521-5468
Fiberglass tanks
• Lomart Tanks Liners and Filters.

114- Kekaha Place Honolulu, HI 96825 Phone: (808) 395-5786 Fax: (808) 395-7175 Prefabricated tanks and PVC liners
• Pacific Lining Systems.

74-5606-F Pawi Pl., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: (808)326-2433
Fax: (808) 329-9170
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) custom fabricated tanks
• Plas-Tech, Inc.

Sand Island Access Road
Honolulu, HI 96819
Phone: (808) 847-2339
Fax: (808) 845-4337
Fiberglass tanks
• Rainwater Resources.

P.O. Box 62015, Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: (808) 947-3626
Steel circular tanks
• Aquatic Culture & Design.

P.O. Box 911, Kapaau, HI 96755
Phone: (808) 889-5225
Fax: (808) 889-0200
Permalon tank/pond liners

Fish Graders

• Commerce Welding and Manufacturing Co.

2200 Evanston, Dallas, TX 75208
Phone: (214) 748-8824
Fax: (214) 761-9283
Aluminum interchangeable bar graders
• Magic Valley Heli-Arc and Mfg.

198 Freightway St.
P.O. Box 511, Twin Falls, ID 83301
Phone: (208) 733-0503
Fax: (208) 733-0544
Aluminum adjustable bar graders

Feeds

• Feed and Farm, Inc.

91-319 Ofai St., Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone: (808) 682-0318
Fax: (808) 682-0639
• Fritz Industries, Inc.

P.O. Box Drawer 17040, Dallas TX 75217-0040
Phone: (214) 285-5471
Fax: (214) 289-8756
• Land-O-Lakes, Inc.

Campbell Industrial Park
91-254 Ofai Street, Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone: (808) 682-2022
• Ralston Purina International

Checkerboard Square - 11 T, St. Louis, MO 63164
Phone: (314) 982-2402
Fax: (314) 982-1613
• Rangen Inc.

115 13th Ave., Buhl, ID 83316-0706
Phone: (208) 543-6421
Fax: (208) 543-4698
• Waimanalo Feed Supply

41-1521 Lukanela
Waimanalo, HI 96795
Phone: (808) 259-5344
Fax: (808) 259-8034

Feed Additives

• Dawes Laboratories

4801 W. Peterson, Chicago, IL 60646
Phone: (312) 286-2100
Nutrients, trace elements, vitamin premixes
• Hoffmann-LaRoche Inc.

45 Eisenhower Dr., Paramus, NJ 07652-1429
Phone: (201) 909-5593
Fax: (201) 909-8416
Nutrients, trace elements, vitamin premixes, color enhancing additives
• Red Star Specialty Products

Division of Universal Foods Corp.
433 E. Michigan St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 347-3968
Nutrients, trace elements, vitamin premixes, color enhancing additives

Shipping Materials

• Diverse Sales and Distribution

935 Dillingham Blvd., Honolulu, Hi 96817
Phone: (808) 848-4852
Plastic transport bags
• Koolau Distributors Inc.

1344 Mookaula, Honolulu, Hi 96817
Phone: (808) 848-1626
Plastic transport bags
• Allied Products Ltd.

91-110 Kaomi Loop Rd., Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone: (808) 682-2038
Styrofoam boxes and styrofoam sheet material, corrugated outer boxes
• Unisource

91-210 Hanua, Wahiawa, Hi 96786
Phone: 808 673-1300
Corrugated foam core boxes

Broodstock

• Worldwide Aquatics

41-653 Poalima St., Waimanalo, HI 96795
Phone: (808) 259-7773
Fax: (808) 259-5029
• Ty's Tropicals

99670 Kaulainahee Pl., Aiea, Hi 96701
Phone: (808) 488-0716
Fax: (808) 487-7104
• Florida Fish Coop.

10503 Cone Grove Rd., Riverview, FL 33569
Phone: (813)-677-7136

Fish Wholesalers/Distributors -- Hawaii (1996)

• Worldwide Aquatics

41-653 Poalima Street, Waimanalo, Hi 96795
Phone: (808) 259-9098
Fax: (808) 259-5029
• Hanohano Enterprises

53-594 Kam Hwy., Punaluu, Hi 96717-9650
Phone: (808) 293-7773
Fax: (808) 293-1962
• Ty's Tropicals

99-670 Kaulainahee Pl., Aiea, Hi 96701
Phone: (808) 488-0716
Fax: (808) 487-7104
• Kaneohe's Pets Are Us

P.O. Box 914, Kaneohe, HI 96744
Phone: (808) 236-2717
Fax: (808) 236-7158
• Saltwater Fish Hawaii

45-512 Luluku Road, Kaneohe, Hi 96744
Phone: (808) 247-6963
Fax: (808) 235-4634
• Wayne's Ocean World

99-899 Iwaena, Unit #103, Aiea, HI 96701
Phone: (808) 484-1144
Fax: (808) 484-1145
• Superior Tropica Farms

85-748 Waianae Valley Rd., Waianae, HI 96792
Phone: (808) 696-4955
• Pisces Pacifica

P.O. Box 1583, Kaneohe, Hi 96792
Phone: (808) 239-8044
Fax: (808) 239-5014
• Tropical Fish Breeders of Hawaii

3577 Pinao St. #13, Honolulu, Hi 96822
Phone: (808) 988-1600

• Pets Business Magazine

5400 N.W. 84th Ave., Miami, FL 33166
Phone: (305) 592-9890
Fax: (305) 592-9726
• Aquaculture Magazine Buyer's Guide

P.O. Box 2329, Ashville, NC 28802
Phone: (704) 254-7334