Let me guess:
Some say flowerhorns are the ruination of mankind and will quit if there is a class for them.
Others like them a lot and would be happy to participate.
A few don't care.
So it's up to someone to make a decision.
I say leave it alone. Let the FH people do their own. The past has shown whenever this gets brought up in the "mainstream" cichlid hobby, the purists pull their tighty whities into a thong and ruin it for everyone else. Not worth the grief IMO
It's way more than a matter of "do or do not" It's how to do itr without offending anyone and more importantly how to make it so it's fair for everyone involved. We understand that you cannot please all the people all of the time so we're attempting to treat this with kid gloves and get as much "public" feedback as possible. It's true that the die hard fans of cichlids frown upon hybrids. But it's also true that hybrids are out there but what should we do about it? Embrace it? If you can't beat em join em? Or do we continue to ignor the issue? There's a lot involved than just do or do not. I proposed we just simplify it and make it an open FH class since we're not privy to all of the different types. I think if people enter their different types then people would be able to read what exactly they're looking at right on the tank. Problem is none of us would know if the labeling would be correct... I'd like to hear more from a few more people...
You're always going to upset someone in this debate. The hard part is some clubs have members pay for membership so therefore they usually don't want to upset their funding source.
I agree Nubria is in OH and might be able to help you. Realistically you need a local and to have a decent size local FH following to consider this. I think if you included FH's the class would get better as time goes on. You could do an open FH class first year or two and then break it down to different strain's as interest/knowledge of members built up. That's not a bad idea IMO.
More people will learn from the show what is good vs bad traits in FH so it should also spread knowledge as it grows if you did it. It definately would progress the hobby. In a direction you want it to? No sure. But at some point this hobby has to progress. That's up to the club board. But to think maybe the first cichlid club in the nation to allow FH's?
As long as you don't run a slander ad against hybrids to get attention like another I know, I'm ok with whatever clubs choose. Ultimately clubs have to do whats best for their survival. You just have to decide if that for you guys means allowing FH's/hybrids or even attempting it, or sticking to old ways. Do clubs need to change and evolve with the times? Or does sticking to old guns work? I would probably examine your and other cichlid clubs and figure if you're growing currently or not. Ask if any members have hybrids. How many are against. Etc. Maybe even have someone local who knows FH/hybrids come give a short presentation/talk about them, different strains, talk about the myths, etc. Sometimes people don't like what they don't understand.
"It's way more than a matter of "do or do not" It's how to do itr without offending anyone..."
Can't be done. Someone will be offended if you have a flowerhorn class. Or if you don't. It's more about if the board of your club chooses to be inclusive...or to send the message that those who keep flowerhorns aren't wanted.
"...and more importantly how to make it so it's fair for everyone involved."
I agree - there needs to be competent judging / organization of the class. But letting perfect get in the way of good enough as an excuse to not have the class...is a cop out. Many a fish show has been judged without formal standards for every fish that's in the class...probably EVERY fish show has been judged without formal standards for every fish in every class. There are people who know flowerhorns in Ohio...or available for under a $250 flight. Use them.
"It's true that the die hard fans of cichlids frown upon hybrids."
There are many die hard fans of cichlids - including me - who don't frown on responsible care and breeding of hybrids. And even more die hard cichlid fans that couldn't make a compelling argument about why flowerhorns are "bad"... other than that they don't like them.
I don't like tilapia. Do we need a public hearing before we have a tilapia class in the show?
