Perhaps the focus should be shifted to certain strains/types of hybrids (much like it is for died and tattooed fish). We might as well face it, Flowerhorns aren't going away. When someone says all hybrids should be killed, my mind goes straight to flowerhorns because they're the ones that I enjoy. Not only do I disagree with that statement, my initial reaction is to become defensive and pissed off. I can see the dislike for certain hybrids, but the stereotypical approach is what irritates me. To be quite honest it has pushed me away from every association and club that I used to be interested in. I used to attend meetings and visit the sites, but now I have no interest in being associated with the "elitists".
WHAT IS THE DEAL???
- Thread starter frazzlerock5
- Start date
Dogs are just wolves that were bred to get the best qualities (as far as man was concerned) out of them. Wolves with certain characteristics were bred with other wolves with the same characteristics to create progeny that exemplified that characteristic. People kept doing this till a dog was created. An animal that exemplifies loyalty, intelligence and to humans attractiveness. They're not really hybrids since all the animals bred were wolves originally till you got a dog. Now science is hybridizing wolves and dogs to eliminate genetic deficiencies created by all this inbreeding (ie: hyp dysplasia). Now as this refers to fish I believe people are hybridizing to create the same effect over a much shorter period of time. People want their fish to exemplify certain characteristics and are using hybridizing to attain it. They're choosing the qualities they like most in two fish and mating the two to get progeny that has both. I can understand this desire to get a fish that meets my wants. I can also understand the pride from successfully breeding a fish with these qualities that another person wants. It gives one a sense of accomplishment. It is like playing god though, but no more so than what we did with dogs. So if you're a dog lover you should have no beef with hybrids. Heck since hybrids aren't created out of inbreeding the resulting hybrid is actually superior to the original fish many times. It's usually physically stronger more disease resistent and longer lived. At some point hybridization occurs in the wild that's how come their are so many types of cichlids. They bred with other cichlids with traits that helped their survival in different biotypes. I respect both naturally occuring fish and hybrids. I also wouldn't want any of the pet trades fish finding there way into the wild. Heck our priorities aren't the same as mothernatures so the fish would be beautiful, but ill suited to specialized living conditions that occur in the wild. Wild fish developed the way they did to live in those bio-types and I respect that and their natural beauty. The same way I respect the wolves as a apex predator and the dog as a loyal companion. I think everyone should just respect everyones personal preferences. We as a species are constantly changing the face of this planet's naturally occuring state, so unless you are willing to live in a cave without modern conveniences you shouldn't damn hybridization of fish. We encroach on nature all the time, what we should be concentrating is on controlling it's ill effects on our planet. As for the fish issue, just realize your entitled to your preferences of fish as is your neighbor. So just appreciate our differences as a people and stop finding fault. I hope I wrote this in an intelligent and non-offensive way. it's not my attention to offend, but to voice my opinion I am in no-way finding fault with anyone, but trying to promote understanding which I think was the original idea of this thread.
i'll prolly regret saying this.... 
o well.
this may sound crazy to most, but those links (provided by a fellow member) of the goldfish. i've looked into this a little bit, and all goldfish are goldfish. no hybrids there. all those are deformities are line bred to create new traits. the Chinese have been doing exactly this for 1000+years. i know thats a bit to take in, but com'on 1000+years and will continue for many, many more. i don't know about you, but for me i'm only but a very, very, tiny fraction in comparison in years i've been alive. so who am i to judge or say anything bad in regards to goldfish. besides if you really think about it, that fish started it all. everything we know today about domesticated/aquarium/pond cultivation or pleasure. we owe to those ppl that domesticated the goldfish.
sorry i didn't want to derail, but i had to say something before this turned into a goldfish bashing party.
very nice post koltsix
o well. this may sound crazy to most, but those links (provided by a fellow member) of the goldfish. i've looked into this a little bit, and all goldfish are goldfish. no hybrids there. all those are deformities are line bred to create new traits. the Chinese have been doing exactly this for 1000+years. i know thats a bit to take in, but com'on 1000+years and will continue for many, many more. i don't know about you, but for me i'm only but a very, very, tiny fraction in comparison in years i've been alive. so who am i to judge or say anything bad in regards to goldfish. besides if you really think about it, that fish started it all. everything we know today about domesticated/aquarium/pond cultivation or pleasure. we owe to those ppl that domesticated the goldfish.
sorry i didn't want to derail, but i had to say something before this turned into a goldfish bashing party.
very nice post koltsix
I am all for hybrids and do not agree with the concept of wild caught fish but thats my choice and thats whats great about this country 
I am a tinker and I enjoy seeing what different crossing can do to change a fish.
You also did make an analogy of dogs and mutts going to the pound but neglected to state "designer dogs" like puggles which go for a premium and sometimes more then pure breeds.
I am a tinker and I enjoy seeing what different crossing can do to change a fish.You also did make an analogy of dogs and mutts going to the pound but neglected to state "designer dogs" like puggles which go for a premium and sometimes more then pure breeds.
i think people who complain about hybrids are just groping around for straws
to me anything that is a fish and i can keep it happy in my tanks is all i want
hybrid, wild caught, or farm breed pure lineology. i really don't care
but i would really refrain from getting wild caught fish anymore as any fish we want is already there in the hobby and can be got from fish farms so why catch more from the wild.
the gold fish thing is a tragedy and my part to it is to avoid such fish, i know its really negligible but its all i can do and if people don't like those fish and don't buy them, there will be a day when there wouldn't be those kind of fish
i just enjoy keeping fish, let it b anything a feeder, a guppy or a monster as long as i like it
to me anything that is a fish and i can keep it happy in my tanks is all i want
hybrid, wild caught, or farm breed pure lineology. i really don't care
but i would really refrain from getting wild caught fish anymore as any fish we want is already there in the hobby and can be got from fish farms so why catch more from the wild.
the gold fish thing is a tragedy and my part to it is to avoid such fish, i know its really negligible but its all i can do and if people don't like those fish and don't buy them, there will be a day when there wouldn't be those kind of fish
i just enjoy keeping fish, let it b anything a feeder, a guppy or a monster as long as i like it
headbanger_jib;1942278; said:
I'm not complaining headbanger, I'm simply trying to gain input and knowledge from all the hybrid lovers. This is not a "bash the pro-hybrids" thread in the least bit. For example, I've never even heard of people not liking wild caught fish until now. That's never even crossed my mind. This is a topic that I wanted to understand better and this thread has helped out a lot. I hope all you hybrid-lovers don't feel like I'm attacking you or anything. I really appreciate everything that you guys have said, and I hope that it continues.
wild caught species are another story altogether.... they are removed from huge lakes and put into tiny tanks, and some of them cant adapt to the change.. unlike farm bred fish who are used to being raised in captivity (thats just my view)
