Re: [Killietalk] Commercial imports; what to label them?

["lee Van Hyfte" <littleleeper23 at hotmail_com>]

Hi Wright and all,

A few things I will add into this.

I had the good fortune of getting MANY new imports from Toyin when he was 
importing cameroon fish.  Only once did I see a mix up of a female.  On a 
exiguum, and that was probably a wildekampi female.  She was small and the 
error was mended very quickly on my next order.

I have friends that get in fresh wild imports and they often get the added 
bonus of mixed species all from the same location.  ie: wild riggenbachi 
with frazwerneri mixed in.  Cameronense with a few herzogi mixed in.   That 
is generally a good thing and evidence that these fish were actually 
collected together out of the wild and shipped out.

I would like to mention the INCREDIBLE illustrations in Wildekamps book.  
This is of great use in identifying females amongst different species.  
Great care has been taken to assure accuracy.  on aphyos this can be tough 
because of non-distinct females.  Even that can be overcame with reviewing 
the dorsal insertion points.  Body shape and size.   THANK YOU Rudd 
Wildekamp your work is more than an art!!

My experience with the wild imports is that with a little TLC they have 
proven to be excellent breeders.  The 5 generation issue??  Breed 98% of any 
killies in a single line for 5 generations and see what you end up with.  
Experience with: batesii, cameronense, amoenum, exiguum, elberti's, 
mirabilis, procatopus and others.  Never did I see anything that 
demonstrated evidence of a hybrid.

On the group breeding I agree and think that is a bad Idea.  So many times I 
have tried this method. What you get may be natural selection but not in the 
best interest of long term conservation.  One male often proves dominant and 
will end up breeding all of the females.   MY EXPERIENCES!  Instead they 
really ought to develop 3-4 different lines keep track and blend them back 
in continuously so as to avoid brother to sister breedings.    But all to 
often 1 or 2 pair may be all that is available so you can only work with 
what is available.

I would like to emphasize that it is EXTREMELY important to maintain any and 
ALL collection data provided on these fish.  Even if you question its 
integrity.  If you see something that does not JIVE with standing knowledge 
of the fish either take the time to clarify or flush the fish.  I have spent 
hours on emails and phone calls digging up a location on a few fish.  It 
usually pans out well.

It was not all that long ago. Bivittatum was a single species.   NOW LOOK!! 
last I checked it is 11 different species and probably more.   The CI-n 
epithet is still necessary to identify a locations year of introduction.    
A bivittatum aquarium strain back in the 80's is for all practical purposes 
a HYBRID!!  Rivulus punctatus is being broken into 7 different species.  
Pictus even more.  Without a location these species are worthless.  Riv. 
ornatus will be the same way as soon as they can figure out how to decipher 
all the cryptic species as suggested by Huber.

For anyone listening.  LABEL THE DAMN BAGS!!!!!  I see this all too often 
that bags are improperly labeled or insufficiently labeled.  If you cannot 
take the time to identify locations properly or provide a key to identifying 
the fish.  DON'T SELL and DON'T trade; it will lead to errors and errors are 
no good to the hobby or the fish.

God Bless, Lee Van Hyfte <><

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