Dirty Thirty: heavily trafficked wildlife for U.S. Saltwater Aquariums

The “Dirty Thirty” list represents the most heavily trafficked wildlife for display in personal saltwater aquariums in the U.S.

Green Chromis

Green ChromisChromis viridis Largest U.S. import 81% tested positive for cyanide Sacrificed to cycle tank

Blue Damsel

Blue DamselChrysiptera cyanea 2nd largest U.S. import 40% tested positive for cyanide Sacrificed to cycle tank

Three Spot Domino Damsel

Three Spot DamselDascyllus trimaculatus 3rd largest U.S. import Cyanide test results pending Sacrificed to cycle tank

Yellow Tang

Yellow TangZebrasoma flavescens 4th largest U.S. Import Captured unsustainably by net in Hawaii 80% of populations depleted captive-bred not available

Three Stripe Damsel

Three Stripe DamselDascyllus aruanus 5th largest U.S. Import 43% tested positive for cyanide Sacrificed to cycle tank

Yellowtail Damsel

Yellowtail DamselChrysiptera parasema #6 US Import 45% positive for cyanide Cruelly used as tank starter fish

Clownfish

Clown/Nemo/ Anemone Fish Amphiprion ocellaris (and A. percula) #7 US Import Captive-bred “Nemo” clownfish are widely available, but these imports representwildlife – not captive-bred fish. Consumers must always confirm captive-bred status of the individual animals they intend to

Four Stripe Damsel

Four Stripe DamselDascyllus melanurus #8 US Import 33% positive for cyanide Cruelly used as tank starter fish

Firefish Goby

Firefish GobyNemateleotris magnifica #9 US Import 60% positive for cyanide

Azure Damsel

Azure DamselChrysiptera hemicyanea #10 US import Not yet tested for cyanide exposure Cruelly used as tank starter fish

Banggai Cardinalfish

Banggai Cardinalfish Pterapogon kauderni #11 US import Despite the common availability of captive-bred Banggai Cardinals, these are imports of wildlife. Their populations are depleted by 90%. Unless captive-bred status can be confirmed, this species should be avoided altogether to reduce extinction threat.

Blue Mandarinfish

Blue MandarinfishSynchiropus splendidus #12 US import These fish are captured with small spears, aimed at their fins Captive-bred mandarinfish were once available, but lack of consumer demand drove commercial breeders to stop offering them

Blue Hippo Dory Tang

Blue/Hippo TangParacanthurus hepatus #13 US import 57% tested positive for cyanide Recently captive-bred for first time but not available to consumers for years to come

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse

Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabriodes dimidiatus #14 US import This species is critically important to the overall health of coral reefs and wildlife Recently captive-bred for first time but not available to consumers for years to come

Flame-Angel

Flame AngelCentropyge loricula #15 US import These fish can be captive-bred at a commercial scale, but lack of consumer demand prevents it (wild-caught fish are far cheaper)

Maroon Clownfish

Maroon ClownfishPremnas biaculeatus #16 US import Captive-bred Maroon clownfish are widely available, but these imports represent wildlife – not captive-bred fish. Consumers must always confirm captive-bred status of the individual animals they intend to purchase

Coral Beauty Angel

Coral Beauty AngelCentropyge bispinosa #17 US import Tested positive for cyanide

Sixline Wrasse

Six Line WrassePseudocheilinus hexataenia #18 US import 29% positive for cyanide

Tomato Clownfish

Tomato ClownfishAmphiprion frenatus #19 US import Captive-bred Tomato clownfish are widely available, but these imports represent wildlife – not captive-bred fish. Consumers must always confirm captive-bred status of the individual animals they intend to purchase

Royal Gramma Basslet

Royal Gramma BassletGramma loreto #20 US import

Pajama Cardinal

Pajama CardinalSpaeramia nematoptera #21 US import Captive-bred Pajama Cardinalfish are widely available, but these imports represent wildlife – not captive-bred fish. Consumers must always confirm captive-bred status of the individual animals they intend to purchase

Bicolor Angel

Bicolor AngelCentropyge bicolor Pygmy angelfish, such as this Bicolor angel, suffer very high mortality rates from shipping stress.

Lawnmower Blenny

Lawnmower BlennySalarias fasciatus Sold as a fish to counter algae problems in tanks, the Lawnmower Blenny often starves to death in captivity

Copperband Butterfly

Copperband ButterflyChelmon rostratus Promoted for their appetite for Aiptaisia, an unwanted anemone that reproduces quickly in tanks.

Blue Girdled Angelfish

Blue Girdled / Majestic AngelfishPomacanthus navarchus This species is captured in areas where cyanide use is rampant. Many die before export.

Regal Angelfish_By H. Zell – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Regal AngelfishPygoplites diacanthus This species is captured in areas where cyanide use is rampant. Many die before export.

Emperor Angelfish

Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator This species is among those that tested positive for cyanide exposure in our survey.

Spotted Mandarinfish

Spotted MandarinfishSynchiropus picturatus These fish are captured with small spears, aimed at their fins Captive-bred mandarinfish were once available, but lack of consumer demand drove commercial breeders to stop offering them

Forcepsfish, Longnose Butterflyfish

Forcepsfish/Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger spp. These fish are captured in areas where cyanide use is rampant, and also in Hawaii, with nets. Capture rates and reef surveys in Hawaii confirm population declines of up to 80% in the last 40 years

Sailfin Tang

Sailfin TangZebrsoma veliferum This species is among those that tested positive for cyanide exposure in our survey. Very young juveniles in the 2” range are typically sold for aquariums, but few are aware that in the wild, this species reaches over 15”.

Adapted from Rhyne et al (2012). Revealing the Appetite of the Marine Aquarium Fish Trade: The Volume and Biodiversity of Fish Imported into the United States, and other aquarium trade sources.
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