Celestial Pearl Danio (Danio margaritatus)

[BallAquatics]

It's not often that you get the chance to witness the introduction of a new fish into the hobby, but in the case of the 'Galaxy Rasbora', I was in the right place at the right time and that was exactly what happened.....



In the wee hours of the morning of September the 6th 2006, Kamphol Udomritthiruj of AquariCORP made the following post on the Petfrd forum, (a Singapore ?based fishkeeping website).





After the initial excitement died down, the tone quickly turned to scepticism.  It was suggested that Kamphol had used 'Photo Shop'  to produce his photo by mixing body parts of Danio erythromicron , (at the time Microrasbora erythromicron), and Danio choprai.

After a couple of days of this speculation, Kamphol silenced the crowd with his next post on September the 8th of more photos of the beautiful new fish.





At this point the questions turned to where the fish were found and when they would be available to hobbyists.  Kamphol replied that the fish was found in Myanmar just a month before, but since it was such a new discovery he was keeping its exact collection locality under wraps for commercial reasons.



More to come.....

Dennis

[LizStreithorst]

God, it must have been exciting!  This lady wants to see more.

[Mugwump]

They are just as pretty in person.....the colors shine through when they pass thru the hood light...gorgeous little creatures......

[BallAquatics]

Photo by Peter Maguire

As the clamor for these fish was still on the rise, it was announced on September 22, 2006 that Britains Aquatic Superstore in Bolton had received 800 of the new fish into stock and they would go on sale shortly. It was speculated that they would be likely to sell for 5 - ?8 Pounds, ($8 to $12 US Dollars), for the first few months.

Here in the states, on October 31 2006 an auction on AquaBid was posted for the fish. When the auction ended the fish sold for $22.50 each with a minumum of 6 fish purchased.

Photo by Peter Maguire

More to come.....

Dennis

[Ron Sower]

Gorgeous fish and Maquire's photography is outstanding!

[BallAquatics]

Photo by Peter Maguire

The next big news was to come on October 12,2006. This was when the announcement came that the fish had just been bred for the first time by fish gurus, Pete Liptrot (Aquarium Development Officer) and Paul Dixon (Aquarist) of the Bolton Museum Aquarium in the UK.

Pete Liptrot

Photo by Ivor Hilton

Paul Dixon

Photo by Ivor Hilton

When asked about the event, Paul says that he observed a brightly ?coloured male attempting to drive females into a spawning mop and Pete found seven small eggs in a clump of Java moss a week later and spotted some fry which had already hatched. Said Pete: "The eggs have been laid over Java Moss and appear to be only very slightly adhesive, they drop out of the moss very easily. We've removed the moss to another aquarium to see what else hatches. As we were moving the moss one of the smaller males was very busy hunting around for eggs or fry."

I have the following photos thanks to Glenn Axt of Amsterdam Holland.  They chronicle the life of a newly hatched CPD.


Photo by Glenn Axt

At 7 Days

Photo by Glenn Axt

At 14 Days

Photo by Glenn Axt

At 21 Days

Photo by Glenn Axt

At 28 Days

Photo by Glenn Axt

At 35 Days

Photo by Glenn Axt

At 42 Days

Photo by Glenn Axt

At 49 Days

Photo by Glenn Axt

At 56 Days

Photo by Glenn Axt

At 63 Days

Photo by Glenn Axt

As more information and photographs became available, the clamor for these tiny fish seemed to grow by the day.  All was looking very good for the new fish, but trouble was just over the horizon.....

Photo by Glenn Axt

More to come.....

Dennis

[BillT]

Nice story Dennis.
Great pictures also.

[BallAquatics]

Nice story Dennis.
Great pictures also.

Thank you Bill.  I have collected the bits and pieces of this information in the hopes of putting it all together in a story one day.

Dennis

[LizStreithorst]

I have collected the bits and pieces of this information in the hopes of putting it all together in a story one day.
Dennis

You'd better get it published and get some money for it.  You have the documentation.  Even though I don't want the fish, I want to learn more.  They are beautiful things.

[BallAquatics]

February 09, 2007

Just when things were looking very bright for our new little fish, the man who fist discovered it, Kamphol Udomritthiruj made the folling post on the Petfrd forum.

It has only been six months since the discovery of this fish, and there should be much to celebrate at this time concerning this little jewel.  The end of February should see its formal description published (w/ a new genus also accommodating erythromicron).  Also, I am amazed at the global interest in this petfrd thread (surely with record number of views) but more importantly the whole thread continues with relevant and hard core data and ensuing discussion.  Leading of course to its successful breeding, this despite withheld info on its habitat.  Sadly, these breeding projects may be their only savior.

Alas, there is not much to celebrate concerning the galaxy habitat. This past Monday I had the opportunity to visit the type locality. East of Inle Lake, it is in the highlands at 1045 m elevation. It is a micro?habitat. The water source begins with a spring.

Photo by Kamphol Udomritthiruj

This small pool is then diverted into an area for public use.

Photo by Kamphol Udomritthiruj

After which it flows into a sort of wetland, formerly overgrown with grasses. Water is at most 2?-3 feet deep.

Photo by Kamphol Udomritthiruj

This whole flooded grassland/wetland is actually caused by a man?made weir for agricultural irrigation below the spring.

Photo by Kamphol Udomritthiruj

Within these past couple of months the vegetation has all been trampled to non?existence. The catch is now at about 30? - 50 pcs a day.  You know where I'm going.

Photo by Kamphol Udomritthiruj

I have a water sample that I have not yet analyzed, but your success with alkaline conditions seems to be correct as are cool water temperatures.  It was a cool 24 degrees, and possibly lower where there were thermoclines/stratification in the fields. And, as the cat is being let out of the bag, the rosey loach Yunnanilus sp is also sympatric with the galaxy as are the D. sondhii. As soon as I have the water analyzed, I shall report. Keep your breeding projects going pet friends.

Well needless to say, the report was devastating to hobbyists who had been following the story world wide. Practical Fishkeeping magazine in the UK called for hobbyists to stop buying the fish unless their intent was to try to breed them. Shortly after this, Myanmar?s Department of Fisheries banned exports to allow officials to assess the situation.

Things were not looking good for the fish that had had such a bright looking future just months before.

Photo by Peter Maguire

What will become of the beautiful new fish?  Our story concludes with the next installment.....

Dennis

[Mugwump]

Very interesting tale....thanks, Dennis....

[Ron Sower]

I'm really loving this ''documentary'', Dennis.  Thanks....Ron

[BallAquatics]

Thanks for the support guys!  I know Liz said she was enjoying the story so I was hoping that I wasn't boring the rest of you to tears...   

It's great to hear you are also enjoying the tale!   

Dennis

[Jdmcfast]

Very interesting! Is one of the fish you breed and sell?

[BallAquatics]

Very interesting! Is one of the fish you breed and sell?

Thanks Josh, and yes they are.  My fish room has to support it's self, and the sale of these little guys has really been a big help over the past several years.

Dennis