Fish Hybridization in the hobby: Are you for it or against it and why?

Question

I'm not talking about natural non-captive hybridization. I'm talking about people purposely hybridizing fish and why you are against this or in favor of it.

What I mean by hybridization is 2 different species breeding and producing fry. I do not consider line breeding or choosing to breed a fish with a particular trait like albinoism as hybridization if it is bred to it's same species. I know there are several arguments about how breeders have deformed a variety of carp and created the wide variety of goldfish though that question is for another day.

Answer 1

Very much against it. It only serves to dilute normal and natural species and all too often you end up with a market filled with this type of trash and having a hard time finding the pure species anymore. This has happened to several species of swordtails for example as well as countless species of african cichlids.

Also, hybrids usually lead to weak fish, prone to genetic problems.

Terrible practice all in all.

And ditto to the first answer, I detest those practices as well.

MM

Answer 2

I am neutral about this issue. As long as the newly create species isn't a nuisance to the environment I am okay with it.

Just a teaser, many people aren't aware that there is no such thing as a wild goldfish. Goldfish are actually mutants created by human (who breed them for different mutated traits). The original so call goldfish is a greenish yellowish carp like fish :) The modern goldfish is totally different from what it's ancestors looks like :)

How about that? :)

There might be other common fishes that were created through hybridization or even genetic alteration (esp. colour) out there. The only other one I can currently remember is the Flower Horn and Parrot (freshwater), there should be more.

.

Answer 3

This doesn't bother me nearly as much as tattooing and juicing fish to sell. Criminy!

Addition: And why? Well, I think that if the fish can be interbred, they would have found a way to do so in nature anyhow.

Patrick~~ Would you kindly clarify what you mean by hybridizing?

For some reason I thought you meant line or selective breeding and answered on that assumption. However, if two fishes would not breed in nature, I think it is unethical for breeders to 'create' a new species of fish. The only reason I can fathom that anyone would do this is greed. Greed is not an admirable reason to practice hybridization. If I offend anyone out there with this comment: Good.

Answer 4

I object to dyed or injected fish but not hybrids such as the blood parrot cichlid.I know many people do object to them and they have some valid points but I don't have a problem with hybrids if people wish to buy them. I do think the customer needs to be told it's a hybrid before they purchase one so they can make an informed decision. The only concern I have is people releasing them into the wild but that really applies to all aquarium fish not just hybrids.