Originally Posted by
timebomb
I know I'm opening a can of worms when I say this but sometimes, I think some of us are becoming a tad bit obssessed with maintaining the collection codes. It would be a pity to relegate the fish to "mosquito-controllers" just because there's some doubt about their identity.
oooohhhh... and a big can of worms it is!
Kwek Leong, when I first got mauled by the killie bug, I've already commited myself to keeping the 'lines' straight. It was a choice I made readily, especially when I looked around to find hybrids everywhere... discus, guppies, rams, angelfishes, danios, platies... well... you get the picture.
Obssessed? No... I don't think so (ok, maybe slightly :wink: ), but you knew that even before we met! (remember how your search for killies in KillieTalk ended up at my previous home?)
Anyway, even as mosquito-controllers, these fishes still live a fruitful life, instead of being euthanized, or worse... flushed down the toilets!
"Never to be released" was a bad phrase. It should have read "Never released as coded fishes". Still, I wouldn't release them to hobbyists either.
During my house move, my helpful son consolidated 2 bags of females... Fp. gardneri N'sukka and Baissa females, and these ended up in other fish-lover's tank, to my friends and relatives and even the kids around the block... but never in the sewer!
Whether Ijube-Ode or Lagos, it's still a
Aphyosemion bitaeniatum. The genus and species are not in doubt. There's always "aquarium strain"
True, but if I could help it, I wouldn't want my 'accidents' to return and haunt me.
It's very likely that many others here like myself, started off with aquarium strains, but that was when there wasn't a choice. If there was, honestly, what would have been yours?
I will be acquiring live 'uncoded' killies when the weather warms up. I will maintain them for what they are... beautiful fishes that will do my tank proud. I'll have no qualms about distributing them as is, ie. aquarium strain.
The fish I gave you came as eggs from Karl Walters of Canada. On his fish list, he has 2
A bitaeniatum, one without a collection code and the other Ojube-Ode. The eggs were supposed to be from the latter but it could very well be they got mixed up in Karl's tanks.
During my research into the different locations, Karl's past "Fish & Egg Listing" at the AKA turned up. Subsequently, I did ask whether such ambiguity or 'corrupted codes' be corrected before the listing goes into print. FWIW, we're all subjected to the seller's integrity, knowledge and perseverence (I used this word, since it takes a great deal of effort to actually maintain a line of fishes and not fall into temptation of hybridizing them).
Collection codes are only as good as the breeder who describes them.
That's truer than true, nor did I doubt Karl's integrity. He might be tagging his fishes as the day he originally acquired them (I'm likely to have done the same).
...read somewhere that some professional Killifish breeders either intentionally mix up their collection codes or refuse to reveal them so that when buyers breed the fish, they can't sell the offspring at the same market prices.
Professional or unethical? Would it be 'professional' not to release females as well, just so we can never breed them? Yup... that's real pro alright but I have a nasty habit... I never buy fishes without females :wink:
To extend it a little, how 'professional' would one be, to use a female from another population, because his 'coded-female' bellied up? He's a pro, in that he breeds and sells them commercially, but by actually doing so, how 'pro' is he, especially we 'end-users' will never get to know the truth?
Both of us know what killie-keeping entails and that such practices aren't in line with what the AKA preaches. I ain't no preacher but I practice what I believe in, and in part, that's the conservation of the species, population codes notwithstanding.
In short, I wonder sometimes if we are taking things too seriously when we speak of maintaining pure breeds.
It's not out of context when killies are concerned, otherwise what's to justify the expenses in collection trips? If we question eminent killie-keepers like Dr Barry Cooper or Dr Brian Watters on this, I'll bet we get our bottoms spanked! 
It's good to keep only pedigrees but if the mongrels look just as good, I wonder what's the fuss all about :smile:
I had a 'un-pedigreed' golden retriever... a discard from a rich man's estate. Anyone can scoff at it, a mongrel, but to me, she not only looks good but was also a loyal companion. Nope, she doesn't have a Kennel Club Cert.
So what's the fuss about? Personally, it just reflects on how we want to approach this ball game and at the end of the day, it's all about individual preferences and I have decided.
I'm back & keeping 'em fingers wet,
Ronnie Lee
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