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I copied this from another topic because it seemed to warrant its own thread....so have at it!
Ok...let me start off by saying that I in no way want people to think the comments I'm about to make are disparaging people who keep Flowerhorns (hybrids). I would rather they be taken in the manner which I intend, which is to further education and conservation.
There are so many species, true species, of beautiful fish available, especially cichlids. The VAST majority of Flowerhorns come from the far east. More specifically, they come from the same places that offer the dyed, tattooed, surgically altered, and otherwise mutilated fish that we, as a community, seem to despise. So in a way, when you purchase a Flowerhorn, you're supporting those who would mutiliate other fish in the name of the almighty dollar. Furthermore, their practices of culling have created an incredible problem in Malaysia, for example, where the culls have found their way into the waterways and are now decimating species of native fish. Some would argue that this isn't happening, but the reports are out there.
Setting all that aside for a moment, let's look at it from the side of conservation. Conservation of threatened fishes takes work. It takes money. But key to both of these, it takes people. People who line breed fish such as angels, discus, or really anything else that is more than one generation removed from the wild know that eventually you have to breed back to wild or near-wild fish to maintain vigor. So these people have a vested interest in maintaining wild caught fish and their habitats. Or, put in other terms, the people who provide these fishes have an interest. Such is not the case with the Flowerhorn and other hybrids. They are always trying to make something new. Hybrids are crossed with other hybrids. Very rarely are any true species used. Thus, the true species becomes somewhat obsolete. When there is no demand, there is no incentive to cause the suppliers to protect their stock.
The problem with all this is that if someone goes into a shop and sees these fish, with no knowledge of their origins, they make a decision which I feel is regrettable. They buy the hybrid. As that bulids, the store owner orders more hybrids and the problem becomes worse and worse. The natural species become less and less available. As an example let me ask a question. How hard is it to find a pure trimaculatus now?
There are so many species available to us. Why would we need to create something unnatural? We have created so many nice strains through line breeding...a process that achieves some of the same goals as hybridization without mixing species. Some may look at this as an evil as well, but line breeding has been around since at least the 9th century...so I don't think we're going to change too much on that front.
I don't want to necessarily discourage anyone from keeping anything (within reason). What I do want to do is encourage people to fully consider the ramifications of their choices. The next time you have an empty tank, consider devoting some space to maintaining something threatened in the wild or endangered. There are programs here within the state (HCCC) and nationally with the ACA that can get you started or you can contact me if you'd like and I'll get you connected with the right people to make it happen....at very little cost, I might add.
In summary again, if I may reiterate, I'm not trying to disparage anyone here, or anywhere else for that matter. I just would like to see the hobby take a different route than it's taking. The last thing that I want to see is Flowerhorns in our waterways and the state coming down our our whole industry as recourse. I'll step off of my soapbox now...thanks for taking the time to read this.
--Charles
Ok...let me start off by saying that I in no way want people to think the comments I'm about to make are disparaging people who keep Flowerhorns (hybrids). I would rather they be taken in the manner which I intend, which is to further education and conservation.
There are so many species, true species, of beautiful fish available, especially cichlids. The VAST majority of Flowerhorns come from the far east. More specifically, they come from the same places that offer the dyed, tattooed, surgically altered, and otherwise mutilated fish that we, as a community, seem to despise. So in a way, when you purchase a Flowerhorn, you're supporting those who would mutiliate other fish in the name of the almighty dollar. Furthermore, their practices of culling have created an incredible problem in Malaysia, for example, where the culls have found their way into the waterways and are now decimating species of native fish. Some would argue that this isn't happening, but the reports are out there.
Setting all that aside for a moment, let's look at it from the side of conservation. Conservation of threatened fishes takes work. It takes money. But key to both of these, it takes people. People who line breed fish such as angels, discus, or really anything else that is more than one generation removed from the wild know that eventually you have to breed back to wild or near-wild fish to maintain vigor. So these people have a vested interest in maintaining wild caught fish and their habitats. Or, put in other terms, the people who provide these fishes have an interest. Such is not the case with the Flowerhorn and other hybrids. They are always trying to make something new. Hybrids are crossed with other hybrids. Very rarely are any true species used. Thus, the true species becomes somewhat obsolete. When there is no demand, there is no incentive to cause the suppliers to protect their stock.
The problem with all this is that if someone goes into a shop and sees these fish, with no knowledge of their origins, they make a decision which I feel is regrettable. They buy the hybrid. As that bulids, the store owner orders more hybrids and the problem becomes worse and worse. The natural species become less and less available. As an example let me ask a question. How hard is it to find a pure trimaculatus now?
There are so many species available to us. Why would we need to create something unnatural? We have created so many nice strains through line breeding...a process that achieves some of the same goals as hybridization without mixing species. Some may look at this as an evil as well, but line breeding has been around since at least the 9th century...so I don't think we're going to change too much on that front.
I don't want to necessarily discourage anyone from keeping anything (within reason). What I do want to do is encourage people to fully consider the ramifications of their choices. The next time you have an empty tank, consider devoting some space to maintaining something threatened in the wild or endangered. There are programs here within the state (HCCC) and nationally with the ACA that can get you started or you can contact me if you'd like and I'll get you connected with the right people to make it happen....at very little cost, I might add.
In summary again, if I may reiterate, I'm not trying to disparage anyone here, or anywhere else for that matter. I just would like to see the hobby take a different route than it's taking. The last thing that I want to see is Flowerhorns in our waterways and the state coming down our our whole industry as recourse. I'll step off of my soapbox now...thanks for taking the time to read this.
--Charles
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