>However I do agree that we are changing our fishes as we breed them both in
>obvious and invisible ways and the history of the hobby is littered with
>examples. So we just have to do the best job we can and communication,
>co-operation and concern should still be our "tools".
In no way am I meaning that the species maintenance we do is not worthwhile.
A close approxmation of the real thing is far better than nothing at all. As
I said we have to accept our inability to reach perfection and do our best
with what we have. Hey if we can teach rainbows to become perfect aquarium
inhabitants surely we can teach them to be wild creatures again?
>The aquarium fish market and the commercial ornamental fish-breeding
>industry here in Australia is something of a rabble.
Which is a polite way of saying gossips, story tellers and troublemakers,
which is a polite way of saying lia....
>If he chooses to keep Rainbowfish for fun (or not) and to let others breed
>them for profit then that is up to him.
I intend to enjoy my gobies, gudgeons and even rainbows for a long while
yet.
There are only so many Rainbowfish
>breeders that the market here can support and so far no-one seems to be
>doing it "properly" as far as a truly professional approach is concerned. I
>do hope his own personal disenchantment with the possible commercial future
>for Rainbowfish with visions of "long-finned albino doubletailed Praecox"
>will not send him in the direction of using his training, contacts and
>knowledge to assist the Bureaucrats who are still trying to block us here
>in Australia from enjoying the fishes from New Guinea that are officially
>denied to us ;-)
>
Have you been hearing lies from the "rabble" Bruce. Bite your tongue. As for
the beareucrats - I'm a bit unhappy about not being able to get New Guinea
Stiphodon and Sicopterus Gobies and some of the Glass perchlets. Who needs
more rainbows - let's get some equity here :-).
WRT the commercial viability of rainbows. It is not that I don't think they
won't become a strong and viable sector of the aquarium fish market; just
that my setup and degree of husbandry is not suitable for the production of
high quality rainbows. Also I am not currently prepared to comit the effort
and finances to develop a market when there are existing markets that are
easier and cheaper to satisfy (Maybe I will later if someone else hasn't.)
>The bottom line still remains "survival of the fittest" - the outcome,
>including whatever happens beforehans is still evolution in action.
>
Actually that is survival of the fattest