08/18/2026
🐠🐡 How do aquariums raise fish?
Raising fish at aquariums is a major commitment: It takes space, time, dedicated people, and specialized expertise. Our partner aquariums have shared their experiences with each other, creating a network of support that can transform how aquariums source their animals.
To get fish eggs, first you need to have parents! In aquarium aquaculture, parent fish that produce eggs and s***m are known as "broodstock." Some species disperse their eggs in open water, while others lay their eggs on surfaces, like rocks, coral, or human-made structures such as pipes, like this neon goby.
Our project team is mastering the delicate art of raising marine fish from microscopic larvae - some no bigger than a pinhead - into the magnificent creatures that captivate millions of visitors each year.
Providing healthy diets for the larvae after they hatch is essential. To do this, aquariums raise the live food young fish would naturally eat in the wild – phytoplankton and zooplankton. This can be very time consuming – aquarists typically spend at least one hour per day tending to live foods.
As fish grow, aquarists pay close attention to the changes they undergo to ensure they are developing properly. Some fish change color as they mature, while others experience physical transformations, such as changes in body shape or fin size.
This is just a sneak peek at how aquariums are relieving pressure on wild stocks of fish by raising their own. To see more, visit our StoryMap! https://f.mtr.cool/xydbyahogk
Photo credits:
Image 1: Copyright Aquarium of the Pacific
Image 2 (stages of aquaculture illustration): Courtesy of WHOI Sea Grant
Image 3 (neon goby): Copyright National Aquarium
Image 4 (beaker): Copyright Shedd Aquarium
Image 5 (phytoplankton carboy): Copyright WHOI Sea Grant
Image 6 (sweeper): Copyright Aquarium of the Pacific
Project Partners include:
Aquarium of the Pacific
National Sea Grant College Program
New England Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium
NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island
NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
UMass Boston
School for the Environment
RWU Aquaculture & Aquarium Science
Roger Williams University
