princess_crocodile

*that was in reply to midas*

(i just cut + pasted from other forum cos i'm so busy) I'm not against crossbreeding, I am against INbreeding and selective breeding for traits that are detrimental to the fish. Like i said, i don't know much about it, but i have the idea that widening the genepool (like in the wild) for fish that have been selectively breed for pet shops(leopards + guppies) by letting them breed with a hardy, wild fish will give them a sort of hybrid vigor. I get this idea from the fact that crossbreed dogs, horses, and cats (the animals i have experience with) are generally more robust, mentally superior (alert, cautious, etc) and less suceptible to illness. BUT, i am not actually trying to crossbreed, they are just in the same tank, if they don't breed, it's not meant to be. It's a big tank and they do have partners of the same species. And if they did crossbreed, and the offspring looked deformed or sickly, i wouldn't allow it to happen again. ---As for leaving nature to it's own devices, fish naturally have acess to other (similar) species, and this is the part i'm not sure about..which ones are compatible, and how likely a crossbreed is to occur in the wild. What i really meant by that comment is that it's wrong to pick out the "cute" "funny" "whatever" fish, and breed from them, when the selected feature would compromise survival of the fish in the wild. I think it's really sad that people breed things like celestial goldfish, to me they look sickly, pathetic, and in pain (if fish feel pain...but don't get me started on that) Sorry for rambling, i'm just in a hurry

Alan, I'm not against crossbreeding, I am against INbreeding and selective breeding for traits that are detrimental to the fish. Like i said, i don't know much about it, but i have the idea that widening the genepool for fish that have been selectively breed for pet shops(leopards + guppies) by letting them breed with a hardy, wild fish will give them a sort of hybrid vigor. I get this idea from the fact that crossbreed dogs, horses, and cats (the animals i have experience with) are generally more robust, mentally superior (alert, cautious, etc) and less suceptible to illness. BUT, i am not actually trying to crossbreed, they are just in the same tank, if they don't breed, it's not meant to be. It's a big tank and they do have partners of the same species. And like i said, if they did, and the offspring looked deformed or sickly, i wouldn't allow it to happen again. If i did get some good offspring, i'm not going to let them loose in the wild, they'll just be my pets or turtlefood. Yeah gambusia are illegal, but better i have them in my tank than them being loose with our native fish ! (and i'm not breeding to release) I think they're cool little fish, they're tough, quick, and sneaky I've caught the 2 little males stalking my big silver dollar a couple of times actually, they'll be banished to the frog tank if they do anything to him !

They're not as extreme as some man made fish (yet), but I agree with Alan and Ira, it's not right to mess with nature, things are the way they are for a reason ! We have no way of knowing if the fish suffer any discomfort, though i'd put money on the fact that ryukins and pearscales do (hideous monstrosities) As if inbreeding wasn't a BAD idea anyway. I mean, look at persians, their eyes pop out if you look at them funny, bulldogs can't breathe properly, all freakin' german shephards have hip dysplasia ! For god's sake, leave nature to it's own devices ! (sorry i'm really, really passionate about it

Oh ok, thanks for that I don't know much about breeding but i thought it might work out well in terms of strengthening the species. I'll see what happens. If i end up with mutant/sick fish i'll separate them.

Would gambusia, leopard fish, and guppies, crossbreed and produce fertile offspring ?