> Anyway, I haven't actually purchased fish from a fish or pet store in quite
> some time, but I'm very interested in learning more about the supply of
> both fresh and saltwater fish. I know that $$$ is a big factor but it's not
> always the only one, and information is not always so forthcoming from some
> folks in the business
Most of the folks in the retail business (in the US) know squat about
rainbowfishes. That's why the washed out crosses continue to exist. Most of
them don't have a clue about how to take care of them they really couldn't tell
you the proper manner.
<g>. You mentioned you saw these rainbow crosses at
> both Ekkwill and Segrest Farms.
Segrest really couldn't care less about what they have just so they sell.
Allen mentioned to them in 1989 that all of the butterfly fishes they had were
incorrectly identified.
EkkWill was told in 1989 about their wanamensis but they were pretty so they
didn't bother to change. I really did give them a working over about their
parkinsoni though (which were some sort of splendida cross). I sent them fish
(that came from Ron Bowman) and two years later they won best new introduction
with that fish. A few years back they finally purged their lacustris and reset
them but unless you're careful you end up with dull fish all over again. I've
heard rumors that they aren't so careful anymore and it has been reported on
this list that shops are getting bags of mixed rainbows from them. Not a good
sign.
Gary Lange
gwlange at STLNET.com
Rainbowfish Study Group of North America
http://home.stlnet.com/~gwlange/rainbowfish.index.html
Did you ask them about the crosses and the
> possibility of getting better stock? If not, why. If yes, what was their
> response?
>
> carvi