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NFC: Fw: Re: NFC-Breeders: distributing fish

I just finished a rather torrid week at the stock market this week
...will be working tonight on the breeders program lotsa mail to sort
through..:)

Heres what Id like to do in no particular order.

1. Get a updated list of breeders, collectors and contributers for the
program

2. write an on line introductory packet for new or prospective BP members
including ehhh gads some breeding tips and shipping tips like the ones
attached...

3 set a 6 month and 1 year goals....

Id be happy to delegate to suitable volunteers :) contact me off list
with your volunteering on list with your positive ideas TIA

Robert Rice
Help Preserve our Aquatic Heritage join the Native Fish Conservancy
online
 at our website http://www.nativefish.org

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Wright Huntley <huntley1 at home_com>
To: nfcbreeders at actwin_com
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 07:34:33 -0700
Subject: Re: NFC-Breeders: distributing fish
Message-ID: <37987D79.BD09F31 at home_com>
References: <19990723.090429.-3872269.0.robertrice at juno_com>

Regarding the killy method of shipping fish and eggs,

robert a rice wrote:
> 
> The model to follow is certainly out there we just need to pick up the
> ball and run with it. So many species so little time :)

OK, here's a little hint to start out. 

The killies tend to be lumped into two camps; annuals and non-annuals.
Annual eggs are easy to mail. I just sent 16 rare Nothobranchius eggs to
Chicago for a first-class stamp. They are in damp peat, in a thin plastic
box. They may not hatch for another two months.

I have been successful at using the same technique to send *non-annual*
eggs
all over the world. We could use the same to distribute most native
species.
If African lampeye eggs can get to Japan without loss, I'm sure we could
send eggs anywhere in the US by depositing them on damp peat.

The eggs need freedom from bacterial attack, and some oxygen. They seem
to
delay hatching, if the peat is not too wet and warm, until placed back in
water. Increased CO2 or reduced oxygen acts as a hatching trigger. I
doubt
if this would work for eggs that hatch within a day or two, like some
barbs,
but any that take a week or more would be worth a try. The peat is a
wonderful bactericide!

Boil a Jiffy Peat pellet (garden dept. at K-Mart) after peeling off the
net.
I do it in the microwave in about 2 cups of water. Pour into a fishnet,
over
the sink, and rinse out the fines and tea-colored water. Squeeze dry
until
the surface of the squeezed lump is just getting brown (not black or pale
tan) but the mass still feels fairly wet.

Fluff a bit and place in a plastic Petrie dish, audio cassette case, or
other suitable container that resists crushing and ships easily. Place
fresh
eggs on top of the damp peat, and seal the case with vinyl electrical
tape.
Mail first class or Priority, early in the week, and it will get there
within 3-4 days. Insulated foam outer boxes are best, but bubble-pack
envelopes work, too, when weather is mild. Be sure to mark clearly "Live
Fish Eggs -- PERISHABLE -- keep at room temperature."

Remove the tape, at the destination, so oxygen can be reintroduced. If
the
eggs are showing eye development, dunk in cool fresh conditioned water
and
watch them hatch.

Mop-spawner eggs, like all pupfish, can also be sent by mailing a damp
acrylic ("Orlon") mop full of eggs, in a fish bag. If you use 1.5 mil
bags,
there is plenty of oxygen permeability and the mops will not dry out.
Avoid
freezer or zipper bags. [I haven't done this, but I know it works.]

If the fish will only spawn on plants, just send the plants to send eggs.
I
would use Express mail, for darkened plants respirate and use oxygen
fast.
Again, thin fish bags might help a lot.

I had mysterious babies show up among some Val I collected out in the
desert. I now have a nice little group of a very endangered species of
springfish, inhabiting a tank with a few Mexican Mollies and some
Am.-Flag
Fish. :-) I'm told that it is legal to keep and exchange them as long as
they aren't sold or shipped without a Federal permit and (sometimes)
getting
approval from the F&G Dept. of the state where they are going.

We could do some species maintenance of some interesting fish, this way,
but
the legal stuff needs to be very clear, first. I think shipping eggs, and
maintaining captive breeding populations beats the hell out of continuing
to
collect the more rare fish. No?

I have a line on some *Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis* (School Spring),
the Warm-Springs Pupfish, that were collected long before the endangered
species act was passed, so they are grandfathered. If I can get some
going,
is there any interest in them among you folks?

My dream is to find some grandfathered *Cyprinodon radiosus*, the Owens
Valley Pupfish.

Cheers,

Wright

-- 
Wright Huntley, Fremont CA, USA, 510 494-8679  huntleyone at home dot com

         "DEMOCRACY" is two wolves and a lamb voting on lunch.
     "LIBERTY" is a well-armed lamb denying enforcement of the vote.
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