Fun stuff! There is quality information about keeping/breeding Blue Dempseys out there… but unfortunately there is 30 times as much misinformation… ^5 to those posting here as it all seems quality so far!
　
There has been some genetic testing done. While the testing does not prove 100% that Blue Dempseys are not hybrids, there has been not one ounce of information discovered that suggests they might be hybrids…
　
The Blue trait is passed in the exact same manner as Albinism and Leucism and other known color traits… and it is not in any way passed in the forms that hybridization qualities are passed…
　
Mendelian Genetics is the term scientists use to describe the method that the Blue trait is passed, which again is the same method which albinism, Leucism and many other thoroughly explored traits are passed. This is by no means a new concept we are dealing with and it doesn’t take much research in the scientific world to make some very logical conclusions…
　
Blue x Blue does create 100% Blue babies… but the few people who have reported results report that the offspring produced this way do not survive… I’ve personally created 3 Blue x Blue pairs and all three had the same ill results (different fish in each pair).
　
It is suspected that ‘Blue Gene’ x ‘Blue Gene’ pairs will create stronger offspring, yet to my knowledge/understanding there is not any evidence to support this belief beyond rational consideration. Basically there are no comparative examples of adult specimen bred each way…
　
Do to the nature of breeding Blue Dempseys, the Blue Dempseys have been overly inbred. Taking steps to avoid/minimize inbreeding should, by logical means, benefit future offspring. This is the line of thinking that supports BG x BG pairs producing ‘better’ offspring.
　
It is very possible that the “Blue Gene” compromises the fish’s health or promotes mild deformities. To the degree that this is true, it is unavoidable. Selective breeding Blue Dempseys for qualities of health, shape, size, etc may allow for some degree of correction in deformations that have evolved through selective breeding for long fins, specific shades of coloration, or other non health related qualities.
　
In my opinino, “breeding better Blue Dempseys” is as much of an investment in genetic research/understanding as it is in fish husbandry. Bypassing the genetic studies will likely become a major limitation to the success of a program…
