Young fish 'thrive at the same temperature parents are kept in'

New research has looked into water temperature and how it affects the growth of baby fish.

Young fish should be kept in an aquarium at the same temperature as their parents if they are to grow well, new research suggests.

Conducted by Santiago Salinas and Stephan Munch, the investigation looked into Sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) collected in Florida and found adults can precondition their young to grow fastest in the same conditions they have lived in, Practical Fishkeeping reports.

Although keeping parents at a single temperature for a week did not affect the growth rate of their offspring, exposing them to a certain temperature for 30 days did.

This is known as transgenerational plasticity, the term given to when environmental factors experienced by parents influence how their babies respond to their own environment.

Mr Munch said: "There are good reasons to believe that these effects will occur in many species, but we've only just started looking."

Many fish need specific conditions if they are to be bred successfully and Practical Fishkeeping recently offered advice on breeding fantail goldfish, stating the process is best started in early March with the water kept at 17 degrees C (63 degrees F).

Posted by Lee Paul
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Tuesday, 7 Feb 2012, 5:16pm