What are the variety classifications of ornamental fish? Detailed introduction to common species
In the global ornamental fish market, ornamental fish are usually composed of three major categories, namely temperate freshwater ornamental fish, tropical freshwater ornamental fish and tropical marine ornamental fish. Different varieties of ornamental fish differ greatly in the breeding process. Let us take a look below at what the variety classifications of ornamental fish are!
Temperate freshwater ornamental fish
Temperate freshwater ornamental fish mainly include red crucian carp, Chinese goldfish, Japanese koi, etc., and they mainly come from China and Japan. The body shape of the red crucian carp closely resembles that of the edible crucian carp. According to differences in body color, they are divided into red crucian carp, red-and-white variegated crucian carp and calico crucian carp, etc. They are mainly stocked in lakes or fountains at tourist attractions, such as the “Nine-Turn Bridge” at the Old City God Temple in Shanghai and the “Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor” in Hangzhou.
The ancestor of the Chinese goldfish is the wild red crucian carp from several hundred years ago, which was first seen in the release pond in Jiaxing, Zhejiang in the early Northern Song Dynasty. In 1163 AD, Emperor Zhao Gou of the Southern Song Dynasty kept large numbers of golden crucian carp in the imperial palace. The domestic breeding of goldfish spread from the imperial palace to the common people and gradually became widespread.
Tropical freshwater ornamental fish
Tropical freshwater ornamental fish mainly come from rivers and lakes in tropical and subtropical regions. They are distributed across an extremely wide range, with numerous varieties, differing in size, with different body shape characteristics and colorful, very beautiful colors. According to differences in their original habitats, they mainly come from three regions: first, many countries and regions in the Amazon River basin of South America, such as Colombia, Paraguay, Guyana, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, etc. Second, many countries and regions in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, etc. Third, the three major lake areas of Africa, namely Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika.
Among the more famous varieties of tropical freshwater ornamental fish there are three major series. The first is the lamp series, such as the neon tetra, head-and-tail light tetra, blue triangle, cardinal tetra, black neon tetra, etc., which are small and exquisite, wonderful and pretty, appearing and disappearing faintly, and are very popular. The second is the angelfish series, such as red discus, blue discus, striped blue-green discus, black angelfish, sesame angelfish, mandarin angelfish, red-eyed diamond angelfish, etc., which are elegant and graceful, gentle and refined, carrying the air of celestial beings on land, and very beautiful. The third is the arowana series, such as silver arowana, red arowana, golden arowana, black arowana, etc., which have long been praised as “living fossils”, are precious and beautiful, and widely popular.
Tropical marine ornamental fish
Tropical marine ornamental fish are composed of more than thirty families. The more common varieties include Pomacentridae, Chaetodontidae, Pomacanthidae, Acanthuridae, etc. Their famous varieties include queen angelfish, emperor angelfish, moon butterflyfish, raccoon butterflyfish, pennant coralfish, seahorse, red clownfish, blue devil, etc. Tropical marine ornamental fish have particularly vivid colors and rich patterns on the body surface. Many varieties have a self-protective nature; some have false eyes on the body surface, some have sharp blades on the caudal peduncle, some have hard and poisonous spines, some can secrete venom within the body, some can change body color at will, and some are good at imitating body shapes. All in all, they are endlessly varied and bizarre, fully displaying the magical charm of nature.
Appreciating and keeping ornamental fish is a highly enjoyable leisure activity for people today. It allows us to appreciate all kinds of wonders of the underwater aquatic world; some resemble lakes and mountains, some resemble peaks and forests, with exotic flowers and rare plants and clustering leaves and vines, while various fish, in dazzling colors, play among them, and with the help of light and shadow, they are crystal clear and gorgeously brilliant, leaving people dazzled and lost in endless reverie. In many tourist attractions, commercial buildings, hotels, entertainment and exhibition venues, their beautiful figures can be seen. In many families, various different types of goldfish, angelfish and other tropical fish and marine ornamental fish are also kept, becoming a scene in the courtyard or hall, elegant and distinctive, pleasing to the eye and delightful to the heart. However, keeping ornamental fish is a relatively technical task and requires the guidance of scientific methods in order to handle it with ease, raise the fish well, and satisfy one's own needs for appreciation and entertainment.