Cryopreservation in aquarium fishes.

Few studies have addressed sperm cryopreservation in aquarium fishes (body sizes of 10 cm or less). There are several challenges inherent in developing cryopreservation procedures for these fishes. First, their small body size and sperm volume limit experimental replication and the numbers of treatments possible without pooling of samples. This hinders research, especially if many experimental variables are evaluated. The small sample volume necessitates identification of optimal sperm-to-egg ratios to maximize fertilization potential and places greater emphasis on increasing and maintaining sperm viability after thawing. Other technical problems include the use of 0.25-ml French straws, which increase difficulties in sample handling (automated straw fillers are more common for the 0.5-ml straw) and labeling. Sperm cryopreservation of live-bearing fishes (with internal fertilization) is essentially unexplored. The sperm of these fishes is sufficiently different in structure (e.g., head shape) and physiology (e.g., energy metabolism) from the sperm of other fishes that the need to develop specialized techniques is almost assured. The requirement for artificial insemination also introduces a new variable complicating the collection of data (e.g., assessing fertilization is not straightforward with internally held eggs). Cryopreservation in aquarium fishes will assist the development (e.g., through selective breeding), protection (e.g., through germplasm repositories), and distribution (e.g., through shipment of frozen sperm) of research lines and offers benefits for restoration of endangered species.