Pests & diseases

Management of aquarium (�ornamental�) fish

Introduction

Tanks of champion koi for judging at the Koi Societys Pet and Garden Show 2010. Photo by Melissa Walker, NSW DPI.

Keeping aquarium or “ornamental” fish as pets in aquaria or garden ponds is becoming an increasingly popular pastime in NSW. Many hundreds of fish species, both native and exotic, are sold for this purpose by aquarium suppliers and it has been estimated that this industry is worth $350 million annually in Australia.

Keeping ornamental fish is a great hobby for people of all ages, however it is important to make sure your aquarium and its inhabitants remain happy and healthy. Here are a few things you should remember:

Know your fish – Some need special conditions and diet, while others are aggressive and unsuitable for a community tank.
Change the water – Replace about a third of the water in your aquarium at least once a month. Tap water may contain chemicals that harm your fish so make sure you add a water conditioner available from your pet shop.
Remove sick fish – Diseased fish can contaminate others so remove them quickly.
Don’t overfeed – Feed only as much as your fish will eat in one minute and just once a day, or as advised by your pet shop.
Don’t overcrowd – Overcrowding increases pollution and aggression problems.

Cichlids are a popular aquarium fish. Photo by Alan Genders, NSW DPI.

When keeping fish, it’s also important to make sure living things in your aquarium or pond are kept away from our oceans and waterways. Most of the fish, snails, and plants you keep are not native to your local area or to Australia.

Occasionally ornamental plants and animals are accidentally or deliberately released into the wild and if they establish a population they can have disastrous impacts on native fish. Once established, aquatic pests can be very difficult, if not impossible to eradicate. To reduce the risk of this occurring, some ornamental species have been listed as noxious in NSW.

Noxious fish

A number of fish species (including some kept as ornamental specimens) have been declared as noxious species in NSW. There are 3 classes of declared noxious fish in NSW, representing the different levels of threat they currently pose to NSW’s aquatic environment. Although some of these species can still legally be kept in NSW (Class 2 with permit and Class 3), NSW DPI discourages the possession of these species in favour for ornamental fish species that are a lower risk to the natural environment.

Different rules apply for each class in regard to the possession or sale of these species and heavy penalties of up to $11,000 apply for breaking these rules. The Class 1 noxious listing prohibits sale and possession of live fish, Class 2 prohibits live sale but allows possession in fully-contained aquaria, and Class 3 allows sale and possession.

National management of ornamental fish

Ornamental koi are listed as Class 3 noxious fish. Photo by Melissa Walker, NSW DPI .

In 2006, a national strategy titled "A Strategic Approach to Management of Ornamental Fish in Australia" (the Strategy) was developed. The Strategy was created to provide consistency across the states and territories in managing ornamental fish for commercial and hobbyist operations, and for noxious ornamental fish species. NSW DPI represents NSW government on the National Ornamental Fish Management Implementation Group (OFMIG), and is implementing various aspects of the Strategy including adopting the National Noxious Fish List into NSW legislation.

Additions to the NSW Noxious Fish List

The first group of species added to the National Noxious Fish List was included in the Strategy published in 2006. This first part of the National Noxious Fish List was proclaimed in NSW legislation on 1 April 2010 (all as Class 1 noxious fish species), with the second part of the list proclaimed in NSW legislation on 17 December 2010 (all as Class 1 noxious fish species). The NSW Noxious Fish List can be found at Schedule 6C in the Fisheries Management Act 1994.

Compliance with all species on the NSW Noxious Fish List from 1st July 2011

On 17 December 2010, the NSW Government introduced further changes to the NSW Noxious Fish List as part of a consistent approach to the management of ornamental fish throughout Australia. As a result a further 66 nationally-agreed listings were added to the NSW noxious fish list (all as Class 1 noxious fish species). Class 1 noxious species in NSW are prohibited from possession and sale.

This new list replaces the list published in April 2010.

NSW DPI provided industry stakeholders and hobbyists with a six month advisory period (1 January 2011 until 30 June 2011). This advisory period has ceased and compliance with all species on the NSW noxious fish list is now mandatory by law effective 1st July 2011.

Failure to comply with the NSW noxious list may result in heavy penalties.

Please see the link below for the up-to-date NSW Noxious Fish list. The list can also be found in the Fisheries Management Act 1994 – Schedule 6C.

NSW Noxious Fish List

The 66 new additions to the NSW Noxious Fish List were agreed nationally as having high-risk pest potential. In addition, the NSW government has listed redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis) as a Class 1 noxious fish. Redfin perch are not native to Australia and are considered a pest by the majority of stakeholders in NSW. Redfin perch are known carriers of epizootic haematopoietic necrosis (EHN) virus, and redfin have been identified as a key threat to native fish populations.

Can permits be issued to keep any favourite pet fish that are listed as noxious?

NSW DPI provided hobbyists a 6 month period (1 January 2011 until 30 June 2011) in which they could apply for a short-term permit for a select group of species.

These species that were available for a short term permit included:

Acipenser ruthenus, the Sterlet,
Lepidosiren paradoxa, the South American lungfish, and lastly
Ictalurus punctatus, the Channel Catfish

Permit applications for these noxious fish species have now closed.

More information

Ornamental fish update - important information regarding noxious fish (English and Multilingual)

Frequently asked questions

Mozambique tilapia – tilapias are listed as Class 1 noxious in NSW. Photo by Gunther Schmida .

What options are there for disposing of noxious fish species?

It is illegal to keep or sell species listed as Class 1 on the NSW Noxious Fish List. Any person, hobbyist or industry member that is in possession of any noxious species must dispose of them humanely. The NSW DPI Animal Welfare Branch has provided advice for the ornamental fish industry regarding the acceptable methods of euthanasing pet fish.

I have heard more species are going to be added to the National Noxious Fish List – is this right?

Yes. The National Strategy developed in 2006 refers to over 780 species that are being risk assessed, and considered by a National Technical Working Group, which consists of technical experts in ornamental fish with representatives from industry and hobbyists. Further consultation with industry and hobby groups will be undertaken on each proposed addition to the National Noxious Fish List in the states and territories to seek advice on species proposed to be added to the national noxious fish list.

For these purposes, NSW DPI has established an industry consultation group called the NSW Ornamental Fish Reference Group, with representation from the major industry and hobby groups in NSW. Representatives from the NSW Ornamental Fish Reference Group are being asked to both provide information to and seek feedback regarding the national process from their respective associations, councils and group members. Any comments or concerns raised through this process are then forwarded to the National Ornamental Fish Management Implementation Group for consideration. NSW DPI will also provide links during these consultation phases to the proposed additions to the national noxious fish list on this website.

For current information relating to noxious listings see updates below:

Don’t dump that fish!

Species such as Eastern gambusia and carp illustrate the damage that can be caused if exotic fish escape or are released into natural waterways. For example, wild carp which are now so abundant in the Murray-Darling Basin are thought to have resulted from interbreeding between escaped ornamental (koi) carp and an escaped hybrid strain. Gambusia are now listed as a 'key threatening process' by the Office of Environment and Heritage because of their impacts on native frogs.

Other exotic aquarium species which have now established wild populations in NSW include:

goldfish (Carassius auratus)
oriental weatherloach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)
One spot livebearer / speckled mosquitofish (Phalloceros caudimaculatus)
White Cloud Mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes)
green swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri)
Jack Dempsey (eight banded) cichlid (Cichlasoma octofasciatum)
pearl cichlid (Geophagus brasiliensis)
platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus or X. variatus)
and various freshwater weeds such as Salvinia, Cabomba and Alligator weed.

Even species that occur naturally in another part of Australia can cause problems if introduced into an area outside their natural range (eg. banded grunter and aquarium Caulerpa).

For this reason, aquarium fish, snails or weed should NEVER be released or disposed of into the wild, and outdoors facilities such as ponds should be designed so that fish cannot escape or be washed out during heavy rain. Any unwanted aquarium fish should be given to a pet shop or friend, or disposed of humanely.

Native fishes can be an attractive and interesting alternative to keeping exotic fish in aquaria. Many species can be obtained from aquarium shops, native plant nurseries or water garden suppliers. (NOTE: native fish cannot be collected from the wild to keep in ponds or aquaria without a specific permit). However, the same care should be taken to prevent release of native fish into the wild, as they could still have an impact on local populations.

Importation of fish

NSW DPI maintains a list of fish species which cannot be imported (live) into NSW without a specific permit. These are species which have been identified as potentially posing a significant threat to native wildlife, ecosystems, human health or the State's aquaculture industries. Applying for an import permit.