From: peter.unmack at ASU.Edu[SMTP:peter.unmack at ASU.Edu]
Sent: Saturday, 1 June 1996 19:38
<<Do we really think it is possible to breed the colour out of
rainbowfish?>>
A good point Peter - just as it is possible to "fix" more colour in a particular strain of fish we may be keeping by continually selecting breeders for the next generation that have the best (whatever that is - e.g. intensity, surface area of colour such
as width of stripes ets) colour I feel it is possible to produce lesser coloured fish by not selecting.
Where the dividing line is between calling this an aquarium strain or a sport is an interesting question since we have been treading around this with our albino topic. Perhaps if the final product is significantly more coloured than the "best" found in th
e wild populations.
My approach to selecting breeders has been to raise my intended next generation outside in my pond where they get plenty of live food, plant matter and swimming space. When I select at the end of summer it is not too difficult to select a dozen of so that
show the expected spectrum of patterning and intensity that I wish to maintain.
I agree with you Peter, if the fish are given the right conditions they will tend to show their colour. However I do feel that an aquarium maintained strain may have had some of potential for best or better colour for that species lost along the way.
Bruce Hansen ANGFA