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LABYRINTH FISH


LABYRINTH FISH

Labyrinth fish belong to the sub-order Anabantoidei which include (debated) five families; Anabantidae , Belontiidae , Helostomatidae , Luciocephalidae (controversially), and Osphronemidae . Labyrinth fish inhabit Africa, Asia,India, and Southeast Asia.

Their name is derived from the Labyrinth Organ that all the fish in the sub-order possess. This organ enables this fish to breathe in oxygen-deprived waters. This organ is located just above the gills andconsists of folded skin tissues that are lined with numerous blood vessels. This accessory respiratory organ allows Labyrinth fish to breathe air from the surface of the water. Due to this advanced organ, some species such as Anabas testudineus are able to leave the water for extended periods in humid climates. This species moves about on land by using its pectoral fins.
SIZE :The fish of this family are generally small to medium-sized.
HAB : Generally stagnant waters where little oxygen is present. Four families are from Asia, India,and Southeast Asia, while one family inhabits Africa.
S : Depends on the species
TANK : Since the sub-order of Labyrinth fish contains such a diverse group of fish, a generalization regarding tank size or set-up would be inaccurate.
WATER : Again, do to the wide distribution of Labyrinth fish, an accurate pH range can not be given. Generally a pH from 6-7.5, a water hardness from 4-15 dH, and a temperature from 72-82°F (22-28°C) is satisfactory.
SB :Although some species are pugnacious, and at least one genus is predatory, most Labyrinth fish are suitable for community tanks. Males are frequently territorial and may harass females around spawning times.
SC : See individual descriptions.
FOOD : Many Labyrinth fish accept a wide range of live and dry foods.
B : Labyrinth have developed different spawning behavior in order to adapt to various environmental conditions. These include bubble-nest builders, mouth-brooders, and open-spawners.

    (1) Male bubble-nest builders gather debris and create a nest of bubbles encased in saliva at the water's surface. Spawning takes place below the nest, and the male takes the eggs or fry into the nest. He tends to the eggs and guards the territory towards other fish-including the female.

    (2) Mouth brooding is another technique used by several types of labyrinth fish. After spawning the eggs are taken into the mouth of the male or female, depending on the species. There the eggs are incubated for a time.

    (3) Open water spawners simply release their eggs with little regard to where the eggs end up. These species do not take part in brood care.

BP : The difficulty of breeding depends entirely on the species.
DC :Labyrinth fish offer a wide range of possibilities for the beginning aquariast to even the most advanced aquariast.

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Recent news

Using fish as livestock feed threatens global fisheries

(11/18/2009) Fish doesn't just feed humans. Millions of tons of fish are fed every year to chickens, pigs, and even farmed fish even in the midst of rising concerns over fish stocks collapses around the world. Finding an alternative to fish as livestock feed would go a long way toward preventing the collapse of fish populations worldwide according to a new paper in Oryx.


ICCAT fails to protect critically endangered tuna—again

(11/15/2009) The International Commissions for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) ignored the advice of its scientists to end fishing of the Atlantic bluefin tuna. Instead ICAAT set a quota of 13,500 tons of fish. This is not the first time ICCAT has flouted its own researchers' advice: it has repeatedly set quotas well-above its researchers' recommendations.


Governments, public failing to save world's species

(11/04/2009) According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) 2008 report, released yesterday, 36 percent of the total species evaluated by the organization are threatened with extinction. If one adds the species classified as Near Threatened, the percentage jumps to 44 percent—nearly half.


Atlantic bluefin tuna should be banned internationally: ICCAT scientists

(10/29/2009) Scientists with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) have said in a new report that a global ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing is justified. ICCAT meets in November to decide if they will follow their scientist's recommendations.


The Yangtze River may have lost another inhabitant: the Chinese paddlefish

(10/22/2009) In December of 2006 it was announced that the Yangtze River dolphin, commonly known as the baiji, had succumbed to extinction. The dolphin had survived on earth for 20 million years, but the species couldn't survive the combined onslaught of pollution, habitat loss, boat traffic, entanglement in fishing hooks, death from illegal electric fishing, and the construction of several massive dams. Now, another flagship species of the Yangtze River appears to have vanished.


Freshwater species worse off than land or marine

(10/15/2009) Scientists have announced that freshwater species are likely the most threatened on earth. Extinction rates for freshwater inhabitants are currently four to six times the rates for terrestrial and marine species. Yet, these figures have not lead to action on the ground.



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Copyright Rhett Butler 1994-2009

The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me.