hybridizing rules question

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The OPs question (to me) showed an interest in hybridization.
And I agree a reach, to super bugs. And yet,
The acute form of Flexibactor columnaris, once known affectionately as "live bearer" disease has, just at the emergence of flowerhorns and blood parrots, seemed to have become an increasing epidemic in numbers in cichlids. Is this just a coincidence?
Many people don't see a down side of hybridization.
Arguments are often almost political in nature, not considering that to bring these factory "products" to market, often requires an indiscriminate application of antibiotics to keep them alive.
I would like people to consider the big picture ramifications before they start randomly combining species, it is not as simple as a pretty pink fish with an over sized cranium.
 
duanes said:
The OPs question (to me) showed an interest in hybridization.
And I agree a reach, to super bugs. And yet,
The acute form of Flexibactor columnaris, once known affectionately as "live bearer" disease has, just at the emergence of flowerhorns and blood parrots, seemed to have become an increasing epidemic in numbers in cichlids. Is this just a coincidence?
Many people don't see a down side of hybridization.
Arguments are often almost political in nature, not considering that to bring these factory "products" to market, often requires an indiscriminate application of antibiotics to keep them alive.
I would like people to consider the big picture ramifications before they start randomly combining species, it is not as simple as a pretty pink fish with an over sized cranium.
Click to expand...

Well a disease transfering from one species to another could be caused by many factors, one of which could be fish kept in cramped conditions. Another could be from fish from different regions that normally would not come in contact with another that get kept together in home aquaria. Is keeping Asian species with American species irresponsible? Is it irresponsible for fish breeders to sell fish that may be carrying a disease to unknowing hobbyists without treating the illness so it doesn't spread? Could the rise of the global economy and Asian fish keepers mass producing and shipping livestock to other markets be a reason as well? Pig farmers keep their livestock in cramped conditions and keep them dosed on antibiotics which is causing antibiotic resistance with no hybridization of pig species.... Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is causing all sorts of problems, perhaps hybridization coupled with antibiotic use is an issue but where is the proof? There are a number of culprits that could be blamed. However, pointing to hybridization as the cause without any proof or a peer reviewed study to back up what your saying just seems like you are trying to supporting your bias.

Since we are keeping fish in unnatural conditions, they will do unnatural things. One of these things is mating with different species if the opportunity presents itself. You can be against hybrids for whatever reason you want to be but let's not rule by speculation. Let's pass along good information to those that are asking for it and hope they make the best decision and choose to educate theirselves. What else can we do unless you want to start having a Salem Witch Trials in fish keeping?
 
I agree, a theory at this point, one I hope might may be taken and run with, by an energetic grad student.
Is it not interesting though? how the acute form of F columnaris seems to have followed the flowerhorn growth in popularity, enough so, to have been given a moniker "duck lips" by so many fh keepers.
I do not think it irresponsible to point out that there may be hidden downsides to hybridization game.
 
I believe the reason why FH and blood parrots seem to obtain the disease first is because of their spread around the world. There are a huge market for them, especially amongst Asians due to them symbolizing luck or whatever. Because of the interest in flowerhorns and the breeding programs to produce new strains by breeding different individuals obtained from different areas together, they are extremely good vectors of disease, and hence they spreaded it much better than through other cichlids.

Anyways yes please separate facts from opinions, it's not cool to spread opinions as facts.
 
Aside from being susceptible to swim bladder issues, Blood Parrots have no more health issues than any other fish you find at your local store. Flowerhorn on the other hand commonly suffer from internal parasite/worms because of the poor breeding/care practices overseas.
 
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