Selling Hybrids?

[fry_lover]

This is not a question like "would you breed then sell", this is more, it has happened, there are lots here type thing!!!! Kind of looking for "what now" advice, rather than "how we got here" type thing

Boy this could have gone in about 5 different forums on here, but lets stick with Tropical Chat so i get the wisest (edit: typo LOL, meant WIDEST) audience i think. Mixed views.

I have a breeding pair of Julidochromis (Tangs). One is a Dickfeldi and one is a Marlieri. They are in my "Malawi" set-up currently and i am over run with their fry, whom seem to have a fantastic survival rate, they are excellent parents the Julidochromis.

I am re-organising this set-up to make it either 100% Mbuna or close to 100%.

I must have close to 100 Hybrid Fry ranging from newly born to 1 inch. They look just like a Dickfeldi at present.

They are really lovely fish.

What to do?

I can't really keep them and i dont see the sense in destroying them personally.

What do peeps think if i advertise them for sale declaring full well what they are?

Any money i make gets ploughed straight back into the hobby, so i dont see an issue with making a few £££

Any thoughts? I havent completely made up my mind, or i wouldnt be posting i guess

Thanks

 

[OohFeeshy]

You'd probably need to find out whether the fry were sterile (or at least make an attempt to). If they are then I don't see a problem providing you say they're hybrids, if not then you'd need to ensure they were housed in single sex groups with no related species.

 

[CFC]

I'd use them as feeders.

 

[fry_lover]

You'd probably need to find out whether the fry were sterile (or at least make an attempt to). If they are then I don't see a problem providing you say they're hybrids, if not then you'd need to ensure they were housed in single sex groups with no related species.

okay thanks for input, but i think i am going to have to rule that out, i just wont have the time to find out if they are sterile or not. Although i see the point you are making and why you are making it.

I have not decided what to do, its just i really have enjoyed the whole process, i love Julidochromis and their parenting skills, just a shame it's hybrids.

Initially these two fish hated each other, i was going to move one from the rucks they had, now look at them!

Gonna wait for responses to come back, on here and other forums and weigh up my options.

Thanks

I'd use them as feeders.

I have put some of the bigger ones (1") in with my Bichirs, not quite for the feeder thing but i knew it was possible. I needed to shift some out the Malawi tank.

Cant see the Hybrids anymore in the Bichir tank lol

 

[OohFeeshy]

Fairy nuff, just presume they could breed and try and sell them single sex (if you can sex them) or alone. There's nothing wrong with breeding hybrids, but it's better to be safe than sorry (as you don't know how they'll turn out as adults)

 

[fry_lover]

Fairy nuff, just presume they could breed and try and sell them single sex (if you can sex them) or alone. There's nothing wrong with breeding hybrids, but it's better to be safe than sorry (as you don't know how they'll turn out as adults)

thanks

 

[Inchworm]

Feeder fish, nothing more.

 

[CFC]

There is the moral issue to consider. You may pass these fish on as hybrids, but then what happens when the next person breeds them and the fry get into circulation in the hobby? Far too many cichlid species have had their bloodlines contaminated by hybridisation and now unless the fish is wild caught or comes from a breeder that you know there is no way of telling if you have a true blooded fish or some mutt hybrid. Keep hybrids out of the hobby otherwise when the day comes that wild caught fish are no longer available we will have lost all the captive stocks.

 

[fry_lover]

There is the moral issue to consider. You may pass these fish on as hybrids, but then what happens when the next person breeds them and the fry get into circulation in the hobby? Far too many cichlid species have had their bloodlines contaminated by hybridisation and now unless the fish is wild caught or comes from a breeder that you know there is no way of telling if you have a true blooded fish or some mutt hybrid. Keep hybrids out of the hobby otherwise when the day comes that wild caught fish are no longer available we will have lost all the captive stocks.

yes, that supports the feeder fish argument as well then obviously

 

[OohFeeshy]

^ But is counteracted by only selling them to people who aren't going to breed them (if, as mentioned, they can breed). Most people can manage not breeding fish quite easily, by not keeping pairs or related species in the same tank. I'm not saying they couldn't be used as feeders either, but you should probably give people a chance to keep them too.

 

[fry_lover]

^ But is counteracted by only selling them to people who aren't going to breed them (if, as mentioned, they can breed). Most people can manage not breeding fish quite easily, by not keeping pairs or related species in the same tank. I'm not saying they couldn't be used as feeders either, but you should probably give people a chance to keep them too.

This is exactly why i put the topic up, differing points of view.

I like what your saying Oohfeeshy.

I dont actually feel i owe the world of fish keeping a debt of responsiblity to keep hybrids off the market (not that anyone has said that so to speak - and i am not getting that from your posts Oohfeeshy) but on the other hand i want to get peeps opinions so i can modify mine if needed.

Thanks all

 

[jayjay]

Even if you do sell them to other people who won't breed them, they could end up getting passed on again, to someone who doesn't know they are hybrids. Or someone just trying to make money. I don't agree with hybridization personally, though I know it happens occasionally in the wild, I think it best to keep the species pure.

Keep them yourself or use them as feeders.