[Killietalk] A Little Bit of Everything!

["Curtis Smith" <cskillies at hotmail_com>]

First of all, I'm a hobbyist.   Like Edd, I enjoy my fish and working with 
them and I do not wish to reach the point where it becomes a job!   After 
all, it is a hobby!  Hobbies are supposed to be fun!

I would like to comment on a few things that have recently been under 
discussion.   First, concerning the gentic diversity and defects found in 
Killies.   I have spawned and reared Red / Orange Australes and an aquarium 
strain of Clown Killies for almost 10 years and they have no visible 
defects.   I have had Simp. boitonei , S. zonatus, S. hellneri and S. 
magnificus almost that long and they are still healthy.   Like Bill 
Shenefelt, I think the secret is in selecting the biggest and most robust 
fish from your grow-out tank for your next breeders, before selling, trading 
or giving the others away.  Also, I almost always have extra fish of my 
species around and should I not get adequate egg production or start to have 
defects in fry, I swap out the male.  As I keep 2 to 4 females with each 
male that is logical.   In nature I'm quite sure there are a lot of bad 
males but the numbers eliminate that problem.

Secondly, about the need to acquire new members.   My Dad always said, "Talk 
is cheap!  Show me!".   Don't just talk about a problem, do something about 
it!   I've attended most of the last 10 conventions and I find one thing in 
common with all of them.   No one sends out "news releases" to the local 
media before the event.   We do not encourage "walk-ins"!   Only we members 
even know that it is taking place and not too many of us even attend.  That 
is sad!   If we would make an honest effort to saturate the convention area 
with low-cost advertisements the month prior to the event it would certainly 
encourage many of the local aquarists to check us out and, should we be 
prepared, some would join on the spot.   I didn't join until two years after 
my first conventiuon because the membership chairman demanded a check with 
my adress and would not accept my cash.   Let's face it, Killies are not an 
everyday pet store fish and many aquarists have never really seen them.

And last of all concerning the need for new species and how to distribute 
them.   I think distributing new species ( or old ones brought back after an 
absence) without including detailed information on their maintenance and 
spawning is largely a waste of time and money.   Most of us don't like to 
admit it. but we all have a lot to learn about Killies, even Wright!   I am 
saddened by the fact that most of the South American annuals I sell, trade 
or give away never seem to be spawned.   Of all the pairs I sell at shows 
and the convention, I only see a very few at the follwng events.   Several 
years ago I had a jet-black nigripinnis that was covered with bright blue 
dats.   It spawned too easy for me and I ended up not being able to even 
give them away.   I had sold several hundred pairs.   After giving them up 
for a time I decided to get them back and they were nowhere to be found.   I 
have never seen that strain again.   Apparently others did not enjoy my 
success.  The same can be said for Lepto. minimus, which I just now got back 
after several years without them.   So, I think giving species without 
adequate instructions included does make make much sense.   I once bought a 
new & rare fish that originally came from Nevin and he included excellent 
instructions with the fish.   I learn something almost every day about my 
fish, and I still have much to learn.

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