> Sort of like a fishy AKA (American Kennel Association). Mabey the WBA
>(World Breeders Association) ;) In a few years we could even have our
>fish entered in the West Minster Fish Show ;) Then of course we'd have
>to have our "pit" bows put to sleep when they attack someone <g>
I think it would be our pit mogurndas and grunters :-)
> Seriously though, I think that idealy it is a good idea, but we would
>be setting ourselves up for a lot of politics, and trouble. Besides,
>who is going to decide what a "perfect" rainbow is, even if I where
>qualified, I would not want to be the one everyone asks why their
>wonderful fish is not up to snuff.
I never said perfect, I said wild type. I am a person that people come
to all the time to look at their bows. It really hurts to tell them
its a cross or a poor quality bow, but I would rather do that and
steer them to some good stuff than let them think they have great
stuff. I even have a few crosses that people have given me because
they heard I keep bows and they couldn't think of a better person to
give them to <G> I don't have the heart to flush them. There are often
fish shows with local aquarium clubs, so fish get judged all the time.
I've judged in the past myself. When I recently judged the rainbows at
my local club's bowl show, some were not even close to being up to
snuff. I explained to each person that wanted to know what was good
and wrong about their fish. We also had some rather good quality fish
show up and i explained what was right with the fish. The thing is if
people like the fish it doesn't matter what quality it is. And often
what makes a good fish is the same with most fish people keep.
Basically it comes down to having quality bows over the long term.
Either we pay attention to what's happening with the fish and trash
what isn't good or let all the fish go bad. When you can't figure out
what species a fish is anymore, you know you're really in trouble. And
some of what comes out of Florida is already in this shape. To many
fish keepers this the only source they have to get a rainbow. Even the
shop owners know what they're getting is crap and would like a better
source, but generally aren't prepared to pay a cost that encourages
anybody to raise the quality stuff.
later
Cary Hostrawser
My Rainbowfish Home Page
http://pw2.netcom.com/~caryho/home.html
Rainbowfish Study Group Web Page
http://home.stlnet.com/~gwlange/rainbowfish.index.html