News

Crested Oyster Gobies – 3 years to Commercially Captive-Bred

Image: Crested Oyster Goby – Cryptocentroides gobiodes – quite a looker! (image courtesy Matthew L. Wittenrich) – Male Above, Female Below

In a classic example of hobby & scientific collaboration, word broke today that the Crested Oyster Goby,Cryptocentroides gobiodes, should be added to our collective list of captive-bred marine fish. While the news was brought to us by Rising Tide, they are quick to cite the original breakthrough (before now not publicly known) at the hands of marine fish breeder Amy Drehmel back in 2011, who these days seems to hold her cards very close in revealing what she’s working on (Amy may be better known by her internet avatar Midnight Angel, and her work spawning, and attempting to rear, Ribbon Eels)! The fish used for Rising Tide’s work were the F1 offspring of Drehmal’s successful breeding.

So really, the news here is this; the crew behind the Rising Tide Initiative at the University of Florida Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory has succeeded in rearing the second generation of captive bred Crested Oyster Gobies, and they’re telling everyone how they did it.

Larval development of the Crested Oyster Goby - image couresty Matthew L. Wittenrich — Larval development of the Crested Oyster Goby – image couresty Matthew L. Wittenrich

Rising Tide, with it’s ongoing mission to further captive propagation of marine ornamentals, has fully disclosed the breeding, rearing protocols and life cycledetails for the Crested Oyster Gobyon their website. The best part? Rising tide relayed that, “[a] culture protocol for the species, as well as broodstock animals are currently being produced and disseminated to commercial producers. One commercial producer has already produced offspring that should be available to the trade soon. From hobby to production…in the span of three years, three generations of crested oyster gobies have been produced, fine-tuning a protocol that has been used to get this species into commercial production.”

And the latest breaking news – word just came in that FishEye Aquaculture is the unnamed commercial producer above, and the best part? FishEyejust announcedon their Facebook page that this species is available now. So yes, this pretty and rare goby just became a heck of a lot more available to aquarists – all thanks to the tireless work of innovative captive breeders.

Matt Pedersen

彼得森马特是一个互动的软件开发人员and part-time fly fishing guide originally from Chicago, IL and current living in Duluth, MN, USA. Additionally, Matt has experience as a professional orchid breeder and certified fly rod builder. Matt has been a marine aquarist for 23 years, and an aquarist for 28+. After spending time on every side of the aquarium industry (retail, commercial and private maintenance & installation, wholesale, hatchery), he currently considers himself a "professional hobbyist". Most recently, Matt has currently spawned 22 species of marine fish, successfully raising 8 of them to date including one worldwide first (the Harlequin Filefish, Oxymonacanthus longirostris), as well as attempted another 6 invertebrate species to date. Most all of this was accomplished with less than 100 gallons of total working capacity, and all in closed culture. In 2010, Matt Pedersen was selected as the breeder of choice to work with the now famous "PNG Lightning Maroon Clownfish" from the SEASMART program, and chronicles the efforts to propagate this one-of-a-kind fish online at The Lightning Project. Matt Pedersen is credited with starting MOFIB (Marine Ornamental Fish & Invertebrate Breeder's Association) and writing for multiple publications including Coral, Koralle, Practical Fish Keeping, Reef Hobbyist Magazine and Reef Builders. Matt has spoken at numerous aquarium clubs and events from coast to coast. He currently sits on the MBI (Marine Breeding Initiative) Council, a project dedicated to bringing the concept of a unified Marine Breeder's Award Program to hobbyist organizations across the country and around the globe. In 2009, Matt was awarded "Aquarist of the Year" honors by both IMAC West and MASNA in recognition of his accomplishments and contributions to the marine aquarium hobby. Last updated October, 2010.