POPULAR EXOTIC ORNAMENTAL FISH SPECIES IN NIGERIA  

A total of 300 aquaria in homes, offices and public buildings, ornamental fish importers' facilities, aquarium shops and ornamental fish breeding facilities in Nigeria were surveyed between January and August 2016 to identify the different fish species present.

A total of 45 exotic fish species were identified from 2,950 fish analyzed. Varieties of Carassius auratus (goldfish); Pterophyllum Scalare);(Angel fish) and Tricogaster leeri (Gourami)were the most common and found in 65%, 60% and 53% respectively of the tanks surveyed. While Scleropages formosus (Golden Arowana) and Symphysodon aequifasciatus (Discus fish) were the rarest species.  22.2% of the identified species are being bred locally. Only one of the fish tanks and facilities surveyed housed marine ornamental fish.

Keywords: Ornamental fish; Aquaria; Exotic fish.