Growth of Platyfish (Platypoecilus maculatus) Free from Bacteria and Other Micro'organisms

Abstract

An operative procedure on pregnant platyfish, a small viviparous Mexican fish, was devised that regularly yielded young free from contamination. These axenic fish were maintained under conditions free from microorganisms for as long as 4 months and during this period grew appreciably. Under usual aquarium conditions these fish would have reproduced at this age. Several diets were tested for their effect on maintenance and growth and some of them were definitely superior to others-an indication that nutritional factors may be the principal cause of the lack of continued growth and reproduction.