[Rue]

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?

 

[Rue]

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...

 

[Rue]

...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...