Call for help to work on Simpsonichthys myersi 'Kinky'
Dear all,
While my friend is on vacation, I'm charged with the caring for a group of his Simpsonichthys myersi sub-adults and am under the instruction to cull those with anomalies.
Any half-decent breeder will tell you that in order to maintain a high standard, it's SOP to cull and to cull mercilessly.
However, I recall a wise man mentioning that such deformity may not be bad genetics alone but also environmental (perhaps and IIRC) metal poisoning, sudden shift in water parameters, etc.
The Simpsonichthys myersi is not established locally and instead of calling upon the regular core-members to sacrifice yet more tank space, I'd like to see a show of hands for volunteers to help breed the next generation, to see if the defect is genetical or a once-off incident.
For those who're offering help, please bear in mind that updates will be expected of you and none of these deformed fishes or the subsequent generation is to be released. It is strictly for study purposes.
From the more experienced and knowledgeable fish keepers, I'll appreciate any advice regarding how we can approach this study objectively.
Depending on how balanced is the sex ratio (now unsexable), I'll try to allocate 2 pairs per volunteer. Spawning, fertility, hatch rate and further observation of deformitites should be recorded and these results will be compiled, hopefully, by another volunteer.
The said specimens are now still young and I will raise them to maturity if there's active participation.
In the event of zero volunteer, the whole lot will end up in the freezer... it's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it.
I'm back & keeping 'em fingers wet,
Ronnie Lee
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Originally Posted by Tyrone
I kind of keep misfit animals anyway 
(my dogs were all strays, my horse was starving to death when I got her).
)
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