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Why breed fish?

7K views 12 replies 6 participants last post by  herefishy 
#1 ·
I haven't bred fish...but I did breed horses for a number of years...

...and I'm talking about the deliberate breeding of large numbers of fish, not the breeding that takes place in a normal hobby tank situation.

I was wondering what the reasons were that people breed fish? It seems to have a slightly different politics to it...not sure why, unless most people still assume that fish are 'lesser' beings...

Good reasons to breed fish:

1. Improve the species
2. Maintain/increase numbers of endangered species

Poor reasons to breed fish:

1. Just because
2. Maybe the pet store will buy them and I'll make some money (no you won't)

Before breeding fish, you have to do a LOT of research and really know the ins and outs of your chosen species...it's not an undertaking to be done without a great deal of forethought...

...any other opinions? Any other reasons to add to the list? :)
 
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#2 ·
Hmm...I'd say a lot of people breed a lot of things w/out forethough--dogs, cats, horses (I've owned horses my whole life), and themselves for that matter! I guess I would rather see them breed fish if they have to breed something for a number of reasons: fish are easier to keep than other animals, they can at least usually manage to give the fry away (in regard to space, general care required), people can often not be disuaded from breeding something. I certainly agree with your 'good reasons' to breed fish. Yes most people do regard fish as lower forms of life (not me!). Witness tattoed and dyed fish, if people did that to another animal they would be in big trouble!
Anyway just my two cents
 
#4 ·
I've bred numerous species for different reasons and i disagree with your pros and cons.

Your first pro "improve the species" is a con in my book. Breeding two fish of the same species doesn't improve there fry, they should come out just like the parents so if you implying that mixing species to get desired colors/habits/traits then i consider that a con and bad for the over all hobby. Also the average hobiest wont be breeding endangered species so this really should apply. I do like when people try to breed fish like clown loaches that have no record of captive breeding so if they make a break through it could help the wild population or the new movement in breeding south american rays to help out the wild population.

"Just because" as a poor... some people like the challenge of breeding an odd fish that has some weird spawn pattern like some syno cats. Just because one thing challenges some and gives them interest in the hobby i don't think they should be marked down for it. And if you choose the right species for your area and the availability and interest then you can make money breeding even on a small scale in your town. So do some research and watch trends and have fun.

"Before breeding fish, you have to do a LOT of research and really know the ins and outs of your chosen species.." Shouldn't you do this with all fish before you buy them....?

So my input on this list or my reasons for breeding are:
pros
1. spread a rare or hard to obtain fish to the local public that might spark the interest in others to join or rejoin the hobby.
2. Bred fish to feed other fish in my collection
3. I've made some coin on small scale rare breeding.
4. I've done a few species for the challenge

cons
1. hybrids... no problem if you keep it in your house but don't sell fry to a lfs and introduce a hybrid to the public.
 
#6 ·
Why wouldn't you want to improve a species? If guppies, for example, have gone from being hardy tank fish to being delicate tank fish...why not attempt to breed a hardy, healthy fish again?

And you don't just go and breed any two fish together...you breed superb specimens together...and hopefully that will result in a greater number of superb fry...(let's not get into line-breeding and cross-breeding right now)...

I didn't mean hybridization, but we could discuss the pros and cons of that too, if you'd like...

I think all breeders have a responsiblity to the organisms they breed, to make certain that they're not abused...if you're breeding feeders, fine...but they need to be properly looked after until they're eaten...

I think attempting to breed a rare species of fish, or one that hasn't been captive bred to date, doesn't fall under the heading of 'just because'...those are both valid reasons for breeding...and both those take a lot of experience...

I was thinking more of the individual who picks out any old male and female guppies - with little thought to breeding quality fry - and then thinks that they are a breeder and that they are going to make money...you'd be surprised at how often that happens...

...and what happens to the poor fry when they discover no one wants them? Lots get 'flushed' and I think that's an unexceptable solution to an avoidable situation...
 
#7 ·
The reason guppys are delicate tank fish is because they were crossbred for their color to get the "beautiful" fish we have today.

My hybridization discussion would be brief- don't do it. don't think it should have been done with koi, guppys, discus. If you know where to look nature has provided a color and fish shape to suite your visual needs.

As for rare species its not always hard to do but most wholesalers stocklists are so narrow that if you spend a little time and look and research then you can find some awesome species that aren't hard to bred and can depending on your area yield some decent profits.

And if your last two comments were what you were refereing to you should change this thread to stress the importance of educating yourself to the fish you plan to breed.
 
#8 ·
...I think education is a valid part of this thread...maybe that's your reason for starting to breed fish; to educated yourself about some aspect of genetics, etc.

...were guppies crossbred for colour? Or inbred? I thought the inbreeding is what caused the current health issues with them...
 
#10 ·
I´ve almays bred in small numbers because people were happy to buy or trade the fish. The breed fish from those "hobbyists" are usually healthier than what you can buy at Petsmart, Petco or other Franchise stores.
Of course I received money or a plant as a trade which was good. I was able to choose who will be the new owner of my fish and I had influence what other people could do to maintain their tanks in a better way.

I bought my fish only from those hobbyists and I do trust those people more than any seller and I would appreciate it if more private persons would breed fish instead of huge bulk productions which comes from somewhere, kept in antibiotics to avoid any disease which might occur.
 
#11 ·
I am sure that there are members that are hoping I read this since I do breed fish.
What fish do I breed? Well, about 25 different species of cories, over 35 different species and color morphs of African cichlids(including Tanganyikans and Victorians as well as Malawian), 5 different types of angel fish, 11 different killies, about a dozen or so South Amereican cichlids, and various livebearers.
Why do I breed them? Maybe it's the challenge and the feeling of success. Maybe the reason happened last Thursday when I shipped $2700 worth of fish to various stores so that others could enjoy the hobby and I can buy more fish to breed and more tanks to breed them in.
I am very fortunate, in that, most of my breeding colonies are wild-caught or have members of the colony that are wild-caught. Most of my fry are F1. As far as inbreeding, do you think that fish do not inbreed in nature? The dominate male will almost always be the alpha.
I do not believe in hybridization. We would not have alot of some of the fish we see in our lfs's if it were not for someoned taking the time to do the job right, howerver. Ex. Veil angels, sailfin mollies, fancy guppies, ect.
 
#12 ·
fish inbreed in nature if they have the chance, normally since they have so much space in the wild they swim away from there brothers and sisters from inbreeding. In the confines of a fry tank they dont really have much of a choice and when they grow up, they mate with the closest thing they can.
 
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