Why hybrids?

[Chris E]

Why do some aquarists find hybrid fish so appealing? What is the over-riding reason some aquarists (or breeders) go out of their way to mix together fish that in nature would never normally mate and produce viable young? Is it vanity on our part, or just a desire to see what happens?
I know a lot of the common hybrids originate is asia where profit seems to be the over-riding motive for the commercial breeders, but wonder about the motivations behind other less common and less commercial fish species i.e. various polypterid hybrids.

I don't necessarily see it as a bad thing, but do wonder why we make hybrids out of various fish.

BTW, I do realise that having an albino sen poly means that I have got an animal that would probably never survive in the wild and is just as man made as many hybrids are.

 

[SimonL]

I prefer "natural" animals in my aquarium because I am interested in the natural world. Nothing "wrong" with hybrids or selectively bred animals (I do have a dog for example), but when fish are concerned, they're not my cup of tea.

 

[Carefree_Dude]

it would be more like a human mating with a gorilla and getting freakish offspring. On that note, I like my humarilla, no matter how mentally challenged and funny looking it may be.

 

[Oscarum monstruoso]

There is nothing "unnatural" about fish hybrids. Its nature that made them compatible for breeding in the first place.

 

[SimonL]

Depends on what you mean by "natural". Hybrids can and do occur in the wild under certain circumstances. They are not the "norm" however. Mixing the milt from a TSN and the eggs from a RTC in a test tube that only fertilizes .1% of the eggs isn't "natural".

 

[Freezekougra]

There is nothing "unnatural" about fish hybrids. Its nature that made them compatible for breeding in the first place.

Not 100% sure on this but I have heard of some hybrids being "forced" through the injection of hormones(ex. syno jaguar)
Personally I don't really like hybrids unless I know exactly what I'm getting. I don't wanna stare at my fish for five years wondering what it is

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

Hybrids are necessary because sometimes nature doesnt allow compatible fish to get to each other. People who dont like fish hybrids usually dont like people of different races getting together either, so I would ignore their complaints about "purity of species".

Firstly there is only one human species! Also many aquarist believe it is our job first and foremost to be stewards of our world. As populations are threatened or wiped out by both our trade and other industry I think the least we can do is keep them going in our aquariums(cross breeding contributes to that notion it absolutely no way). Cross breeding all the different south american cichlids has nothing to do with exposure to each other it is all artificial. Some fish are artificially breed like in a petri dish fool. FYI you are so amazingly ignorant that nothing in your entire thought is even remotely valid.

Hybridization is a novelty but really our world is full of so many amazing fish I find it a waste. We are ignoring our worlds natural beauty to intentionally buy or breed hybrids. Keeping fish for me is to try and see some of that natural beauty in my house.

That being said I don't HATE hybridization I just can't understand why people pay extra for a flowerhorn when there are fish that already look that good or better naturally without the price tag. I find hybridized fish to be something akin to a mutt and worth dramatically less. I'm not gonna by some hybridized cichlids like the often labeled pearl mutts. I actually have some accidental cross breeding happing, my white lab is spawning with some other labidiochromis in the tank. I'm not sure if I will use them as feeders or gift them to my prefered LFS. At any rater no matter how good they look I don't think they add anything to the trade or hobby so I'm pretty sure I'll just toss them in with my bichirs for filler. Or just leave them in the fry in the big tank as fodder.

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

Depends on what you mean by "natural". Hybrids can and do occur in the wild under certain circumstances. They are not the "norm" however. Mixing the milt from a TSN and the eggs from a RTC in a test tube that only fertilizes .1% of the eggs isn't "natural".

AMEN!

 

[SimonL]

Firstly there is only one human species! Also many aquarist believe it is our job first and foremost to be stewards of our world. As populations are threatened or wiped out by both our trade and other industry I think the least we can do is keep them going in our aquariums(cross breeding contributes to that notion it absolutely no way). Cross breeding all the different south american cichlids has nothing to do with exposure to each other it is all artificial. Some fish are artificially breed like in a petri dish fool. FYI you are so amazingly ignorant that nothing in your entire thought is even remotely valid.

Hybridization is a novelty but really our world is full of so many amazing fish I find it a waste. We are ignoring our worlds natural beauty to intentionally buy or breed hybrids. Keeping fish for me is to try and see some of that natural beauty in my house.

That being said I don't HATE hybridization I just can't understand why people pay extra for a flowerhorn when there are fish that already look that good or better naturally without the price tag. I find hybridized fish to be something akin to a mutt and worth dramatically less. I'm not gonna by some hybridized cichlids like the often labeled pearl mutts. I actually have some accidental cross breeding happing, my white lab is spawning with some other labidiochromis in the tank. I'm not sure if I will use them as feeders or gift them to my prefered LFS. At any rater no matter how good they look I don't think they add anything to the trade or hobby so I'm pretty sure I'll just toss them in with my bichirs for filler. Or just leave them in the fry in the big tank as fodder.

What I want to say, but was too lazy to type lol. FYI, those are "Perlmutt" not "Pearl mutt", they're actually a real mbuna species (well, a labidochromis geographical variant anyways).

 

[kamikaziechameleon]

Oscarum monstruoso

FYI breeding out color strains is not hybridization. That is perfectly fine since they are there in the gene pool but suppressed by natural selection. I'm talking about ballon belly fish that can't swim right or close there mouths. Hybridization also creates lots of messed up animals in some cases FYI. Saying its pretty much a good thing is really not knowing WTF you are talking about. Just like cloning and stem cell research there is no straight answer. I just can't understand how mixing species make a fish more valuable instead of less so since it kinda trivializes/undermines the #1 trait acquired by fish keepers and thats an appreciation for NATURE.