Hybrid Clowns

[dzfish17]

I have to admit my ignorance with hybridization in clown fish. I have seen plenty of hybrids in FW but I had no idea that these existed in SW. When I first saw these platinum clowns, I really wanted to get them for my tank but then I found out that they are hybrids. Ive always had a problem with hybrids dirtying up the hobby. What are your thoughts on this subject?

Dave

 

[username in use]

they aren't hybrids. They are created by selective breeding within a single species, not cross species breeding.

 

[PiXieCath]

As Username in use said, they aren't hybrids, it's a recessive caracter of a species who have been reproduce by selection.

 

[dzfish17]

Hybridization, Selective Breeding....would this occur naturally in the ocean? Is this for profit or betterment of the hobby?

Dave

 

[MelloW33]

Couldn't it be for both profit and betterment of the hobby? Seems like the ever-evolving hobby is willing to pay high prices for new things.

 

[cakemanPA]

I don't see it as dirtying the hobby. I have not purchased one either. But if it bothers you, the best way to note your dislike is to not buy. It won't stop the process either. I like them but not enough to pay high prices for them.

 

[Costa reefing]

Hybridization, Selective Breeding....would this occur naturally in the ocean? Is this for profit or betterment of the hobby?

Dave

Both, it could happen naturally. Its not probable but it is possible. People i guess you could say say "exploit" this rare characteristic and demand high prices for them, i guess its no different from picassos. Each to their own i suppose, i love picassos but don't like platinums all that much just because i like the contrast of orange and black. As for the hobby, i say better captive bred than wild caught

 

[Luiz Rocha]

The more hybridization and selective breeding in captivity the better. Why does it matter if it occurs in the ocean or not? People these days are much more interested in those odd looking fish and will pay a lot more for them than for a wild clown, and as Costa says, that helps to keep the pressure off of wild fish populations.

 

[aquaph8]

Platinum clowns or the word betterment what is really worse for the hobby? Really? Anything that is different and captive bred at the same time is great for this hobby.

 

[d-man]

ever heard of albinos? they happen in Nature, albeit alot of times do not survive, but still occurs. I know this is not albinism, but I think most selective breeding is good. Just think about having extremely hardy animals that are found sparcely out in the wild that would normally die in transit. Frank at RCT has done this for small angels. Its great for the environment.

 

[jaa1456]

These are not albinos, What has happened here is generations of inbreeding, These fish would most likely not survive in the wild. It is dirtying the hobby and taking away from the naturalness of the hobby. The easiest way to think of it is, the same way people use to think of the deep south. your mom was your sister/wife/granmother/aunt. That is what it basically boils down to, inbred mutant fish.

 

[agreeive?fish]

taking away from the naturalness of the hobby.


what is truely natural in this hobby you (anybody) takes a fish out of the ocean and puts it in a glass box...what is natural about that

personaly i am not a fan of the exotic clowns but then again i am not gonna spend that kind of cash on one either even if i remotely liked it as far as selective breeding has been done in every type of pets/copanions kept by humans for a very long time right or wrong its happened, is happening and will continue to happen its even possible today to selective breed your own human offspring

 

[username in use]

These are not albinos, What has happened here is generations of inbreeding, These fish would most likely not survive in the wild. It is dirtying the hobby and taking away from the naturalness of the hobby. The easiest way to think of it is, the same way people use to think of the deep south. your mom was your sister/wife/granmother/aunt. That is what it basically boils down to, inbred mutant fish.

selective breeding to bring out desirable characteristics has been done for a very long time in fresh water. Salt water just didn't have the ability to get fish to breed until more recently. I do think that the clown breeders should be more discerning in terms of which fish they are breeding to maintain good shape/form of all the fish. Discus breeders work towards new colors and more intense colors, but are always mindful of the original form of the fish and because of that they you don't see discus that have weird shapes, but still have beautiful colors. There is definitely a place for this type of breeding, but I think it needs to be done responsibly.

 

[Fish Man 1983]

This does happen naturally, I have a almost Platinum Percula that was caught out of Sulawesi.

 

[snorvich]

They are not interesting to me. I do see people breeding them locally, I suppose to Make A Profit, but to each their own. Now the avatar of Luiz Rocha, THAT would interest me.

 

[Beaun]

The fish breeders work with such a small profit margin that being able to sell these guys for significantly more than an average clown, which they still get the majority of from those pairs, is a good thing for them to continue captive breeding. You dont have to like the look of them to appreciate the breeders needs to make a profit.

 

[nivekid]

I appreciate the 'designer' clownfish because the profit that they bring in helps fund breeding experiments for other species of fish (e.g. mandarins).

 

[29reef]

I do like the idea of breeding salt water fish to help remove the pressures of wild caught fish. However I do NOT like how many of the current tank raised species of clowns look. Most have very deformed faces, gills, and fins. This is not helping the hobby in any way! The high prices that these fish command is also not helping. People should refuse to buy substandard clowns, yet I see them for sale for hundreds of dollars.

In summary I belive captive breeding is a good thing when done properly in order to create a stronger fish. Unfortunatly this is not the direction it seems to be headed in.

 

[Flaring Afro]

imo selective breeding is good. If fish have bad markings and deforms, they weren't selectively bred they were just tank bred as fast as possible to make profits by selling more. Selective breeding takes two healthy, and/or at least good looking fish until the breed is consistently attractive and healthy.

 

[coral_addict]

Selective breeding in the wild is what creates new species (speciation). However, the reason you don't see many platinum clowns in the wild is because they have a lower survival rate (aside from them being a very random and rare occurence). That said, most of these are good for the hobby at large, because without them and their high price tags, captive breeding of cheap species and experiments in the breeding of more expensive species would have no funding. So even though these mutations aren't normal, they do help us sustain the hobby by allowing the commercial breeders to make a profit and continue breeding.