ABSTRACT
The emergence of ornamental aquaculture from conventional aquaculture can be considered a kind of evolutionary radiation that has involved fish, fish users (farmers or aquarium owners), and fish feeds. Currently, there are almost 1800 species and varieties that are commercialized every year worldwide. Ornamental aquaculture involves not only fish but also aquatic invertebrates. As a response to the huge number of species, ornamental feeds are quite diversified, not only for different species, but more often for categories, such as freshwater versus marine species, aquarium fish versus pond fish, carnivorous versus herbivorous, vertebrates versus invertebrates. Ornamental feed diversification is excessively influenced by an erroneous humanization of ornamental fish that has caused an irrational increase of ingredients and prices. Diversification is certainly an opportunity for the ornamental aquafeed industry and for aquarists, but it should be based on science, and a rational perspective would exclude any humanization of these beautiful animals.
