Re: Thoughts on SMP

[swaldron@slip.net (Steven J. Waldron)]

I'm hoping to participate and glad to see Julio is spearheading the new
SMP. A few thoughts:

I think it is imperative for participants in the program to understand and
apply the need for maintaining genetic diversity in captive bloodlines.
Therefore, we should enact some sort of protocol for keeping records and
tracing the genetic integrity of our fish. I think this should be a
prerequisite for participation (i.e. is the breeder producing outbred stock
from unrelated parents). With the frequent influxes of wild caught fish
these days- maintaining diverse apisto bloodlines in captivity shouldn't be
an unreachable goal.
However, what to do with those fish with unknown backgrounds but seem
worthy of species maintenance? For example,I have a particularly beautiful
strain of A. eunotus (yes there is such a thing ) and I would love to
participate with the maintenance of this species. I have no idea of their
genetic background. Perhaps we could have a class for fish like my eunotus
as "hobby sports" and another for fish with genetic backgrounds known (i.e.
F1's). Just mi dos pesos
- - Steve Waldron