Fish needs a mate

[jquek]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22468206<br /><br />London Zoo is appealing to fish keepers to try to find a mate for a critically endangered, tropical species.<br /><br />The Mangarahara cichlid is extinct in the wild but the three in captivity are all male.<br /><br />Described as "gorgeously ugly", the Zoo is hoping to start a conservation programme if a fit female can be found for the captive males.<br /><br />And with two of the males now 12 years old, the quest is said to be extremely urgent.<br /><br />These cichlids were named after the Mangarahara river in Madagascar where they were first found.<br /><br />The construction of dams on the river caused the streams they lived in to dry up and the fish is now believed to be extinct in its natural habitat.<br /><br />Bachelor boys<br /><br />There are two males in captivity at London Zoo and another in Berlin. There had been a female in captivity at the German zoo but attempts to breed ended in disaster when the male killed her.<br /><br />"It's a fairly common thing with cichlids," London Zoo's aquarium curator Brian Zimmerman told BBC News.<br /><br /><br />The hope is that the much sought after female cichlid will be found in a private collection somewhere around the world<br />"They are unusual fish compared to many in that they practise pair bonding and parental care of the eggs and the fry, so there's a lot of tussling that goes on between them."<br /><br />Having carried out a search with other aquariums around the world and failed to find a mate for their bachelor boys, the team at the Zoological Society of London are now hoping that someone may have a female in a private collection.<br /><br />According to Mr Zimmerman, if you have one you're likely to know it.<br /><br />"They are not a particularly beautiful fish - they are gorgeously ugly, they are unusual. They are more a connoisseur's type of fish. They need quite a bit of space; the males are bigger than your hand, and they need a decent tank," he added.<br /><br />Given the age profile of the London males and the failure to find a mate in the world's zoos, Mr Zimmerman is not very confident for the future of the species.<br /><br />"I'm not very hopeful. This freshwater fish crisis is huge worldwide, and as water becomes diverted for human use it becomes scarcer and fish generally lose out," he said.<br /><br />"I think there's probably a very slim to no chance of this fish surviving."<br /><br />London Zoo is asking anyone with information about female cichlids to email the team at fishappeal@zsl.org