A Thread To Help ID Black Diamonds (P13)

[BigShawn]

Our organization has bred hundreds of rays and we would like to shed some light here. We have breeding stock that was purchased as Bds and has produced amazing quality and average quality. We have also had common leos bred with Bds that give the same results. As DavidW said they are all leopoldis and grading of quality is based on the individual fish regardless if the parents are Bd or Leo.

Let me put it into perspective so everyone can understand. Coming from the wild a ray that is classified as Bd can be from parents of be either a Bd or Leo. Our breeding results have shown this to be true. So if the parent is a common Leo does it mean the fish is worth less. It is still being exported as a Bd and now it is in your tank and you are breeding it calling them pure.

Ask yourself who is classifying these fish?? Brazilian native fisherman!! Just because they call it Bd and sell it as Bd. I guess they have the final say.

Bottomline is.... Regardless of parents... Fish should be graded based on appearance just as the fisherman do it. The term 'pure' should not be used by any breeder because nobody really knows what goes on in the wild. Even to call them Sao Felix Leopoldis we cannot use the term pure because the exporter may not be telling the truth.

Great post, although I haven't owned rays like you have these are the words that have been on my mind as well........

 

[vamptrev]

I think that everyone uses the term "pure" because thats the only word to describe the grea looking bds that people are looking for that are comming from quality bd parents. People know for the most part that if u cross 2 great looking parents that the majority of the pups are gonna be hot. Yes alot of the rays floating around out there could be pure bds but if they are then they are on the low end and people will call them that because that wht they look like

The only thing that is hard for me to belive is- getting a pup born with a bad pattern from two good lookin patterns. I havent bred hundreds of pups yet but i dont remember 1 pup that is of lesser quality then the parents

 

[freshfishing]

I recommend only buying captive bred stock. Vamptrev, Mark H, Mike M, and many others on this site and Arofanatics have proven high quality offspring that exhibit top-tier quality, a quality at a level to be called BD if you want. When I want to purchase a very high quality P13 I ask for BD pics - breeders know the level of quality that is expected. I decide what meets my quality and price expectations. I consider my rays to be full BD's, but they are just in my tank, in my house, and it really doesn't matter what anyone interprets them to be. I'm really happy with them as are most people that see them. I'm a big fan of these top breeders that are pushing the quality, health, and physical traits that align with the best of the best P13's.

 

[shacklock]

true that.