Nothing was mentioned by the Aquarium keepers last week. Then again, no one asked about the Pla Eesok. I hope they have bred. There's a video of them, and a few other fishy inhabitants of Chester here. http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/blog.php?blogid=51
Obviously, we are talking rarity here ..., but guys what is the scientific name of this particular fish whose vernacular and local name has been adopted here (so, we all know what we are discussing)? This time I give the answer away myself: Barbus jullieni. What makes pla Eesok so special as an ornamental fish species? Chester Zoo obviously has a major collection of rare freshwater fish on exhibit and is also well versed in their breeding in aquaria. What are the mainstays of the collection you would say?
Chester hope to specialize in endangered Mexican goodeids and also Philippine cyprids. They will be continuing to keep and breed seahorses and plan to import sea dragons. A huge offshow tank (the size of an olympic swimming pool) will be used to house arapaima and other south American fish, while the new public aquarium will be getting a huge marine invertebrate display. Last week I saw a group of 10 day old Archer Fish (Toxotes jaculatrix), this is the longest the zoo has been able to rear them. The Asian Arowanas (Scleropages formosus) have had 2 clutches of infertile eggs. The zoo's population of Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodotus fosteri) is listed on ISIS as 12, up from 6. Another breeding perhaps? 2008 breedings include Galaxy Danio (Danio marginatus) Giant Danio (Danio malabaricus) Cuming's Barb (Puntius cumingi) Denison's Barb (Puntius denisonii) Black Ruby Barb (Puntius nigrofasciatus) Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya) Banded Allotoca (Allotoca goslinei) Butterfly Goodeid (Ameca splendens) Bold Charocodon (Charocodon audax) Charocodon 'Abraham Gonzales' not yet described scientifically Golden Sawfin Goodeid (Skiffia francesae) Crescent Splitfin (Zoogoneticus tequila) Duck-billed Fish (Xenopoecilus sarasinorum) Killifish (Pachypanchax sakaramyi) Common Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) Truquoise Discus (Symohysodon aequifasciata) Lake Victoria Cichlid (Haplochromis 'argens') Lake Victoria Cichlid (Yssichromis pyrrhocephalus) Lake Malawi Cichlid (Pseudotropheus socolofi) Lake Malawi Cichlid (Labeotropheus caeruleus) Pin-stiped Damba (Paretroplus menarambo) Pungu Cichlid (Pungu maclareni) Unga Cichlid (Sarotherodon linnellii) Lekka Keppe Cichlid (Sarotherodon lohbergeri) Pindu Cichlid (Stometepia pindd) Nsesses Cichlid (Stometepia mariae) Lake Kutubu Rainbow Fish (Melanotaenia lacustris) Knysna Seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) Dusky Seahorse (Hippocampus fuscus) Estuary Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) Long-snouted Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi) Panda Cory (Corydoras panda) Emperor Peckoltia (Hypancistrus zebra) Banggai Cardinal Fish (Pteropogon kauderni) I've sent the fishes list as an attachment.
Rob are there firm plans for the design of the new aquarium and if so where can we get more info on it?
Kiang I don't think any plans have been published for the new aquarium yet. There are two sites available for this new building, so obviously there must be two plans. All I know about is that it will include a marine invertebrate tank, a tropical shark tank and a Cheshire river exhibit. It will house show fish only, all the breeding will be carried out in the new Aquatic Ark. If the existing site is chosen the aquarium will be 4 times its present size and a raised walkway will overlook the sealions and penguins. There will not be a walk-through tunnel type exhibit. Details of the offshow aquarium are here. Case File
I would expect that if they had bred either of these species they would have hundreds of youngsters (possibly thousands for the pla esok). Alan
