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I think its more important about limiting ourselves to the hybridized fish we keep. I dont think we have a right to say that the betta fish has trouble swimming. I mean, if you've observed it, it hardly swims at all. The thing about hybrids is for them not to be bred for them to suffer, such as the "short bodied" trait in many cichlids.

With the concept of how there are so many fish in the wild, that we should all just stick to the natural strains, well, how about dogs. There are already so many breeds, why do more and more continously show up on the market? Mainly so we can choose one that fits our interests the most.

"We have bred infertile mosquitos that mate with and dominate over female mosquitos and normal males, this is intentional and it is used as pest control to kill billions of mosquito every year. Useful it would seem, but how easy might it be to do such a thing with a fish totally by accident?"

Honestly, most hybrids simply would not be able to compete in wild. Thats why their hybrids in the aquarium. A goldfish would struggle to survive in the wild, so would a blood parrot. If they would survive in the wild, I'm sure it would have already produced in wild.

It's not just about releasing hybrids, it's more about releasing any strain into the wild, hybridized or not. A "natural" oscar released into florida waters may be the same threat as to releasing a blood parrot. The oscar released from captivity can carry new strains of diseases that can be more tolerant in the wild. A strain that once would be eradicated in the aquarium with the use of medications could not be possible in the wild. Yes, the strain would disapear sooner or later, but think about the damage it could cause. Same for hybrids, same thing applies.

Now, if we have released the "hybrid" eureka red albino aulonocara (peacock cichlid) into it's native lake, it would very likely be out competed easily due to its bright colors and lack of dark coloration to camouflage. If it bred with a "natural" strain of peacock, the albino fry would simply die off alot quicker than the natural fry, due to coloration.

In fact, most of the "big" issues that have happened with fish released in the wild are the natural strains, such as the peacock bass in lake tanganyika.

Notice that hybridized fish have not been an issue, but the release of captive bred "natural" strains are.

I think your focusing too much on hybrids. The fact is that any natural fish could have the same impact, if not far greater, than the release of hybrids.

You must realize theres hybridization everywhere. Dogs, fish, just about everything.

Now, if we have released the "hybrid" eureka red albino aulonocara (peacock cichlid) into it's native lake, it would very likely be out competed easily due to its bright colors and lack of dark coloration to camouflage. If it bred with a "natural" strain of peacock, the albino fry would simply die off alot quicker than the natural fry, due to coloration.

Er ... yes, because there are so very few bright-colored fish in Lake Malawi.
Also, there's heavy debate over whether or not this fish in a hybrid. For a more definite example, take OB Peacocks - again, there are lots and lots of bright fish in the lake; it wouldn't be easily outcompeted by any means.

In fact, most of the "big" issues that have happened with fish released in the wild are the natural strains, such as the peacock bass in lake tanganyika.

Do you mean Nile Perch in Lake Victoria?



Also, about dogs hybridizing - I suppose there are a scattering of cases of dogs crossing with wolves and dingos, but breed mixes aren't hybrids. They're all dogs.

-Molly
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There is some debate over whether dogs themselves are hybrids of various wild canid species a VERY long time ago...

As for hybrids, there is something known as "hybrid vigor", a term to describe how often, hybrids will be bigger, stronger, etc than any of their progenitors. Just look at a liger... MUCH bigger and stronger than either a lion or a tiger... I am surprised noone (at least as far as I have read) had brought that up...

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My understanding was that since they mapped the canine genome, that confusion was erased. In any case, at this point they're certainly all dogs.

And if they are, in fact, hybrids, it certainly proves the point about hybrids endangering native species - how many wild dogs (not feral - wild) live in your area? I've certainly never seen one.

-Molly
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Have you ever heard of coy dogs? They are a coyote-dog mix that form their own packs, apparently fairly common in the Northeast (friend in Vermont tells me about them), and they get quite big. Fortunately coyotes are common enough that hybridization is not a threat...

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i don't know realy but i wouidn't say i'm against them and i don't think that all hybrids are infertile cause i read in bio book that certain species(yeh well it shocked me when i read it, i thought here was only one species) of platy can hybreed and produce fertile offspring

Last edited by Darth Vader at 28-Aug-2005 18:00