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[Killietalk] Sanctioned naming conventions? Proposal?
Long time lurker here, putting my asbestos suit on: (I don't post
much... plz pardon the looong post)
I've trolled around the various aquarium internet venues for a looong
while, and of all the various segments of this hobby: the killie
segment, IMO, has the most eclectic mix of "Hobby" & "Science"...I see
this odd dynamic being the result of; the non-commercial nature of
killiefish,the conservation status & species maintenance of killiefish,
and material/stock originating from academia & hobbiest as opposed to
"fish farms". Hence, In short:there are very few "commercial names" in
this hobby sector (and refreshingly perhaps for good reason). This is
kinda a mixed blessing...
However, given the conservation status of the species we keep, I'm
wondering if something else must be done with regards to naming
conventions if we are to keep some control of genetic integrity of the
fish in our charge, I sorta see a disaster waiting to happen (if it
already hasn't)...(how sure are you of your walkeri GH2/74's?..or
whatever the correct name is :-?)
Hence, I'm wondering if we should shift away from enforcement via
"verbal beatings" from the more senior "metaframe old guard" (like
misspelling of genera and such) and towards letting more "commercial"
dynamics enforce bloodline integrity..plz try and follow...
If we bear in mind, regardless of the abundant gray matter that floats
around here, that this is still a "hobbyist activity", and as such, I'm
pondering if commercial forces need to shape/enforce it, not "scientific
education" via embarrassment in these electronic venues. I'm suggesting
a lot of hobbyist don't read $300 atlases, nor hold doctorates, yet we
are still dealing with the reality of conservation and genetic
integrity, and the reality that some "new and rare" fish might find
their way into the hands of the less educated...Education is ALWAYS
good, but kinda difficult to enforce and distribute (again, is this a
hobby or a science?)...NTM, is there is a feeling that the N&R is sorta
reserved for the Experienced/Academic/Metaframe group?...I kinda
question when it's suggested that one is "unworthy" of this fish or
that..is this right or wrong?...Again, we must consider the actual
reality that a fish can disapear "genetically" if not totally,,,
IMO, woebegone when conservation, science and hobby crosses paths..IMO
that's kinda a recipe for disaster..while we hate to think that
"rare/endangered" species and "Aqua bid" should even mix, they will, and
when they do, gotta wonder if the dollar provides a better incentive for
"genetic enforcement"....Is the N&R program of the AKA all encompassing?
I'm pondering if a different methodology is more effective....
I'm wondering if we kinda see this "enforcement" already in the form of
fish labeled "aquarium strains" commanding a few dollars less than the
"N&R" labeled fish. I see it kinda like buying a dog; similar to a
American Kennel Club registered bulldog costing $1000 as opposed to a
for free dog pound mutt. I'm not dropping that "$1000" unless I see AKC
verified paperwork...(bear with me...)
Issue being; there is no "sanctioning body" for pedigree and/or genetics
enforcement with fish. Given the international portability of killi
eggs, I'm wondering if a naming/pedigree system amongst the major world
wide killie orgs, or even just amongst hobbyiest will drive verifiable
pedigrees (again kinda like the AKC, etc)... Do we need a true Stock
Center?, or could we simply start naming our fish with some degree of
logic? IMO, the eclectic mix of ever changing latin names, locations,
and "aquarium variants" is wacky and again IMO, a drag on hobby growth
and recipe for disaster...
...NTM, the constant informal "enforcement & correction" of names under
the guise of "educating"is kinda a turn off to a newbie (IMHO)...even if
the intentions are good...
Question remains: Do we keep up the difficult task of education &
informal enforcement? or could we try and actually sanction and name the
actual fish that enter the hobby along a more "user friendly" pedigree
slanted naming convention?. Perhaps the confusing and constantly
changing genera names should stay in the "pickled fish arena" and for
those fish whose gills are still moving, maybey we shift towards more
"pedigree based" names:
For instance:
Perhaps commercially or traded fish should be "tagged" in the form of 3
letter abrv + <location> + "variant" + #origin/breeder...(dashes
separating fields)
Example #1 FP Nigeranius Misajae Albino from craig becomes:
NIG-<misaje>-"albino"-#14156
Example #2 Orange red Australe from Petsmart is:
AUS-<>-"Orange-Red"-#Petsmart
Point being: locations, variants, subspecies ect get all mixed up (is
SJO "Niger Delta" a variant or location?...don't answer, just for
example),
Anyway, this way, the actual fish, where its from, the variant and
breeder are clearer..not perfect, but clearer! Also, those example were
"examples"..my point here is a simple, clear, and consistent naming
convention "might" mitigate "some" disaster....
Perhaps lets provide monetary incentive to maintain genetic intergity,
especially if the breeders name is attached....
In other words, let "market forces" enforce genetic integrity (Again,
esp if the origin/breeder attribute tag has someones AKA number behind
it). Perhaps even the location code should all be changed to GPS
coordinates? (How this plays out with respect to generational data
and/or character length, etc is open for suggestion/improvement).
Again, just a suggestion...Granted, endangered fish ain't dogs and cats,
but I got more faith my AKC Schauzer is "as advertised" more so than the
Makurdi reds I got from "the preacher" on Aquabid....
All I'm saying is rather than punch holes in my suggestion, perhaps
someone could come up with something...(looking for opinions or ideas as
opposed to flames)..maybey all this has been brought up before (I really
doubt this is a original revelation), but IMO the time is at hand to do
something...This post is more a question/inquiry than a hard wired
suggestion...
KC (I'll go back to lurking now, heck I'm vasilating on hitting send
right now...arrghhh <send>)
1st the proposal:
we start naming our stock in the form of: 3 letter
abrv-location-variant-breeder
Example:
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