princess_crocodile Posted September 19, 2004 Report Share Posted September 19, 2004 Would gambusia, leopard fish, and guppies, crossbreed and produce fertile offspring ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted September 19, 2004 Report Share Posted September 19, 2004 Not in my opinion Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interfecus Posted September 19, 2004 Report Share Posted September 19, 2004 Not likely. Generally you can assume that separate species won't produce fertile hybrids, although there are quite a few exceptions to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princess_crocodile Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter McLeod Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Don't know Don't think I would like to find out. Gambusia are very hardy and illeagal to keep as far as I know. Interesting Idea though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 I think someone here is being a bit hypocritical. In one thread, says, don't mess with nature. Now in this thread, says, she's going to give it a try. :roll: Watch those fence palings, they can get a bit sharp after awhile. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 I don't have a problem with messing with nature, just as long as the result isn't a hideous ugly monster like balloon fish or fancy goldfish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interfecus Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Well said, Ira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 i dnt think there is you will ever get crossbreeding from those three species princes_croc, for one thing guppies males r usually way to busy knocking up the females to notice anything else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princess_crocodile Posted September 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 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 ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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