Whats your take on hybrids?

[paulW]

I have mixed feelings. I am glad the hybrids help keep the hobby going. Some people love them, and that part of the hobby should not be ignored. The guy that buys the parrot fish is supporting the hobby and thus keeping the declining industry going.

Personally, I try to avoid hybrids. I don't like how things like OB Peacocks are sold without people knowing what they are getting. Same for hormoned fish, etc.

On the other hand, I don't think we are in danger of losing any of the real popular pure bred strains. For example, I believe Zebra Obliquens are extinct in the wild, but they will probably be in the hobby forever because they are pretty fish.

Also, I think some people go through great lengths to avoid the possiblity of hybridization. There's nothing wrong with that, but I think some people are given a huge guilt trip when assembling an African community tank. If you get an accidental hybrid baby in a community tank, that's ok, as long as he never leaves your own tank.. If you follow that rule, you are not damaging the pure strains.

 

[Danger_Chicken]

hybrids are cool, theyre really unique and no two really look a like

And they taste good too!

I think reposibility is the key, unfortantatley you can't count on people to be responisble. 12 years ago I had a large Austrailian Rainbow tank with 15 different kinds of Rainbows. I had to leave the hobby for 5 years and when I got back into it about 2 years ago I tried to setup another Rainbow tank. I was only able to find 4 kinds that looked good and only one that always looked good, the others I had to search out to find one in a tank that had decent colors. Hybridization was hurting Rainbows 12 years ago, now it seems to have more or less ruined them. I was also told back then that their natural environment was being destroyed so the likely hood of wild caught was demissioning as well.

 

[headbanger_jib]

i know, i was wondering how you've heard o' them!

did my undergrad in computer science
and doing my post grad in networking and internet
and a job there is quite appealing