Fish Inbreeding

[LethalResistanz]

I was thinking about picking up some tiger barbs for my empty 29 today. I was thinking about maybe getting like 4-5 but I have a worry. I was planing on getting the juveniles because they are cheaper. When i went to the petsmart the small ones were all the same size so I assumed they were from the same parents. If I get males and females from one batch will they inbreed? Is that a bad thing in the fish world?

I don't want fish with 6 eyeballs.:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

[Lab_Rat]

Fish will breed with whatever mates are available.

[jaysee]

You have nothing to worry about, unless you plan on seriously breeding them. If you were going to make lots of little tigers, it would be good to swap out females every so often to get a fresh bloodline in.

You may run into aggression issues with only 4 or 5. I'd start with 8 little ones (unsexed). Once they get big enough to sex, you'll want to finish off the school with whatever sex you need to maintain a roughly even split. It's good to have a couple big females to help keep order in the tank.

IMO, it's best to stick to one variety (regulars, greens, albinos), but thats only becuse I don't like to mix color morphs in the same tank. I also think the school looks best with a few different sizes of fish, rather than all the fish being the same size.

[LethalResistanz]

Well i was only going to get 4 because I changed the media in my filter that's going on that tank in my 55.

I want to make sure my bacteria can redevelop and add slowly, I was going to try to do 15 regulars. That would be it for the tanks.

Maybe I'll wait and let the bacteria build back up then get them all.

[Little Embers]

Even if not seriously breeding them, I do feel that without a fresh/different genetic bloodline as jaysee said, over time each new set of offspring if constantly inbred, will gradually become weaker and any defective genes may become more prominent and could cause deformities and internal abnormalities down the line.

[jaysee]

Even if not seriously breeding them, I do feel that without a fresh/different genetic bloodline as jaysee said, over time each new set of offspring if constantly inbred, will gradually become weaker and any defective genes may become more prominent and could cause deformities and internal abnormalities down the line.

This is true, but if he's getting rid of the offspring then the integrity of his strain ought to hold steady. For the most part, you really only run into a problem with this when you are actively selectively breeding for specific traits.

But to answer an origional question, yes, there is a high likelyhood that most, if not all of the fish in the tank are from the same breeding stock.

[jaysee]

Well i was only going to get 4 because I changed the media in my filter that's going on that tank in my 55.

I want to make sure my bacteria can redevelop and add slowly, I was going to try to do 15 regulars. That would be it for the tanks.

Maybe I'll wait and let the bacteria build back up then get them all.

I have 12 in my 29....not sure about 15.

Have you thought putting a crayfish in with them?

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[kaimarkhirst]

I dont agree with any sort of inbreeding at all. When i started breeeding my convicts and oscars I made sure that the parents that I got when they were small were from completely different bloodlines (basically I ought them from shops with different suppliers)...

I mean look at dalmations. They are predominantly inbred and they suffer from all sorts of problems in later life and, I do feel that you get the same with fish.

My advice is that if youre not planning on breeding, then dont worry about it, but if you are at some point looking to breed. Consider the above factor. Also, there is th etank isues and size if you are looking to produce livestock, but im sure that youll get to this at some stage if you are....

Hope this helps..

Kai

[jaysee]

I dont agree with any sort of inbreeding at all. When i started breeeding my convicts and oscars I made sure that the parents that I got when they were small were from completely different bloodlines (basically I ought them from shops with different suppliers)...

I mean look at dalmations. They are predominantly inbred and they suffer from all sorts of problems in later life and, I do feel that you get the same with fish.

My advice is that if youre not planning on breeding, then dont worry about it, but if you are at some point looking to breed. Consider the above factor. Also, there is th etank isues and size if you are looking to produce livestock, but im sure that youll get to this at some stage if you are....

Hope this helps..

Kai

Dalmations (and other dogs) have been selectively bred for generations. Problems like that are systemic with all pure breeds. As for fish, this is particularly true for fish like guppies and killis. Problems usually don't start to show up till the later F's.

[DrNic]

I wouldn't really worry about inbreeding unless you are purposly going to try to breed your barbs. I've got an even M/F barb tank at the moment and although the females seem to drop eggs now and again i've never seen any fry.

Overall though most domestic fish species have been interbreed for many generations. Hopefully the breeders crossed in fresh blood once in a while but most of the time they don't. I honestly wouldn't worry about inbreeding until you get to a point where you are seeing obvious genetic defects. On the other hand if you are that concerned about it you should think about trying to find fish from different stores, which are likely unrelated.

[LethalResistanz]

Interesting debate. I'll do 3 trips and get 5 every time form different pet stores. I've never seen any crayfish at petsmart or petco.

[jaysee]

Interesting debate. I'll do 3 trips and get 5 every time form different pet stores. I've never seen any crayfish at petsmart or petco.

You have to go to a fish store :ssmile: