Wild Caught Black Belt/Rapps

[PoopSmart]

I don't understand why people even buy wildcaught cichlids. Cichlids aren't exactly the hardest fish to breed by any means. Plus look at how selective breeding has benefitted the discus. Why not just take the traits you like and breed to strengthen them.


Is it because people are lazy and don't want to fork out the effort? I would much rather prefer captive bred over wildcaught anyday for numerous reasons such as level of difficulty, color or aesthetics, or even simply from the fact that you know they are healthy to begin with.

 

[cchhcc]

I don't understand why people even buy wildcaught cichlids. Cichlids aren't exactly the hardest fish to breed by any means. Plus look at how selective breeding has benefitted the discus. Why not just take the traits you like and breed to strengthen them.


Is it because people are lazy and don't want to fork out the effort? I would much rather prefer captive bred over wildcaught anyday for numerous reasons such as level of difficulty, color or aesthetics, or even simply from the fact that you know they are healthy to begin with.

A lot of it is the need for fresh bloodlines. Many of our fish are heavily inbred. While coloration may have improved in discus (even though it doesn't necessarily relate at all to their wild cousins), many species haven't been so lucky.

Also, wild caught fish are indicative of the actual wild form, not a linebred or hybidized version. The Midas/RD mutts in most stores, for instance, don't show the clear distinctions between the two species. Many Vieja/Paratheraps species are impossible to clearly identify also.

You are right that cichlids aren't hard to breed, but just any two fish doesn't always equate to a good pair. But that goes for domestic AND wild strains!

 

[Cross127]

I breed wild fish because I enjoy them more as they show stronger parenting traits and their offspring look much better than inbred petsmart fish. I like knowing I am also putting in new genes to the hobby as cchhcc said. It keeps our fishhobby interesting. WC cichlids aren't always the easiest to breed as they stress out easier but when they do breed it's an awesome sight and they do not stop breeding ever lol. cchhcc basically took the words right out of my mouth though and explained it very very well.

GodsDead666 you need to keep your NOOB comments to your self because Rapps never sells "ugly" fish as you call them. If you ever get any fish from him you will see. Obviously that fish on top was a Juvi just by glancing at it I can tell immediately. Almost all BB get like the bottom pic as they mature but some do stay a little off white with blue.

 

[ewok]

This one was wild caught in Hong Kong.

I prefer the first one.

i'm guessing he doesn't ship well or take kindly to tank mates

 

[metalslug]

Ok, I got a wild caught wegi female from him a few months back, and my god she is awesome. I wanted a BB but he said they dont show as much red, just more yellows. I also wanted something different, but I dont want something ugly. He has WC BB's at 7-8 inches for 75$. Below is his descriptions of what he has. Let me know, what you think as you guys may be the deciding factor on what I get.
Vieja maculicauda 6-7” 65.00 adult wild black belts!! A very rarely collected species in Nicaragua

“ “ 8-9” 85.00 lg. wild adult black belts with great color and bold band

maculicauda 7-7.5” 50.00 one adult male ‘black belt’ – bright red color with bold belt

 

[mbunafishkeeper]

Ok, I got a wild caught wegi female from him a few months back, and my god she is awesome. I wanted a BB but he said they dont show as much red, just more yellows. I also wanted something different, but I dont want something ugly. He has WC BB's at 7-8 inches for 75$. Below is his descriptions of what he has. Let me know, what you think as you guys may be the deciding factor on what I get.
Vieja maculicauda 6-7” 65.00 adult wild black belts!! A very rarely collected species in Nicaragua

“ “ 8-9” 85.00 lg. wild adult black belts with great color and bold band

maculicauda 7-7.5” 50.00 one adult male ‘black belt’ – bright red color with bold belt

id go with the last one, maculicauda 7-7.5” 50.00 one adult male ‘black belt’ – bright red color with bold belt.

 

[metalslug]

the bottom one is not a wild one. You think is a good price? I may get one and one. What you think about that idea? It may be cool.

 

[mbunafishkeeper]

sorry, i meant to say the first ones.

 

[bombay_biorb]

those black belts are well nice good luck with it and rapps fish are always nice!

 

[duanes]

The cost has nothing to do with looks, although in the end the wildcught may look spectacular.
With a wild caught fish your getting that "un"inbred random gene pool you don't get mating cousins and brothers and sisters in aquarium strains.