Looking for someone who likes to help others with this hobby.

[MaddEnemy]

Hey,

I want to learn more about African Cichlids and some questions just can't be answered with out asking people who have experience.

I asked this on another forum but only got 1 feedback....

When collected snakes when I was younger we would have some snakes that were sold for $20.00 or so but you also had snakes that were "rare" to most people who didn't know a Grass Snake from a Rattle Snake. These snakes were available to those who knew what they were looking for, what they wanted and with a little looking around could find it.

I am in the boat of just learning but do not know what is considered a "prize" fish or one that when someone who knows fish comes into your house and says, "You have "so and so! WOW! Where did you get it, I always wanted one of those". I find that Snakes with a higher price tend to have better colors or something that = the reason for the price and not that it really is hard to come by, some are.

I was wondering if someone or some of you could drop some African Cichlids names here so I can research them; see what the "experts" go after....

Thanks for your time.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Well i'll have to think of some certain names but i can tell you that Wild fish are more prized because of their color. Not washed out from all the breeding. And they have pure bloodlines. Let me think of some names and get back to you. Good question though.

 

[TaffyFish]

featherfins

 

[MaddEnemy]

When I raised snakes the last thing I wanted was a wild caught snake.

First, we are advanced enough to breed fish so why take out of the wild, I would think that how man plays GOD we could at least keep the color in the fish, is it something the eat? Sort of like how the poison arrow frog eats something in the wild that gives it its poison but once in captivity it loses the poison?

with snakes at least, came parasites, scars and who knows what else.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Basically after years of breeding (not selective, these big companys breed for money and don't worry about selective breeding) the wild genes slowly disappear causing a new faded look...or new look period to these fish. Some keep their color because of this select breeding. But the majority don't. If the species is under no threat of extinction (spelling) then whats the problem with keeping wild fish? If there are tons then why not? It would acctually help us develop a better feel for the fish. Yeah we can breed deer but why would we when they are so plentiful? Unfortunently some species are not to plentiful, and that is why they need to be protected. Real hobbyist understand this and don't keep these fish.

 

[MaddEnemy]

I see your point but that is what they said about the American Alligator and how many years did it take till they could be hunted again under the supervision of the government?

If collecting wild caught fish is to protect the blood lines I have no problem with that, sort of.

Problem is demand and as the quantity goes down the demand goes up and then you get poachers who will collect them to feed their families or to make that $$. Just ask the Rhinos, Apes and so on. You hear every so often we are over fishing the ocean and some fish are harder to find or catch but we still fish till none are left.

 

[Cichlidian]

I would not consider wild fish as a specimen. Rather i'd consider it as a store of a Gene Pool. For eg., there r anacondas today but experts could not find 40 feet anacondas. The biggest they could see are around 25 feet. The reason is the bigger ones got poached and never had a chance to breed and extend their bloodlines or in other words "todays anacondas lack a 40 feet gene".
The same goes with some wild caught fishes. For eg., if an alpha male is caught frm the wild then the loss is obvious. May be if people who catch wild caughts gain some knowledge and maintain a certain discipline in catching then wild caughts can be groomed in aquaria.
We should remember that wild fishes are not just another guy but it plays a distinct role in that particula eco-system.
But one big prob is be it a breeder or a catcher most dont even damn consider to maintain a discipline. All they need is money and they're least bothered bout habitats or niches or gene pools.