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Post by Roxane on May 9, 2011 18:43:00 GMT
I have been reading my text book on fish genetics and apparently (i've heard of this before actually) you can introduce hormones during a fry's development and maniuplate the sex. This has to be done during the stage where the sex organs are developing - testerone for males and oestrogen for females.
As far as the aquatic fish trade goes (especially with bettas) this could mean that breeders can control the sex mix of spawns. The question is, is it morally right to do so? On one hand you're playing god manipulating the outcome of a spawn of living creatures, but on the other hand by creating a higher yield of males (more popular in the aquarium trade) it potentially reduces the amount of females culled (this does happen in the wholesaler market - horrible i know!)
The reality of it all is that this type of genetic manipulation is carried out all the time in the ever growing demand for bright and colourful fish. It is highly likely that if you've purchased a male betta from pet shop, he has experienced some sort of control in his creation or development. But is it wrong?
What are your thoughts on the subject?
Roxy
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Post by charliem177 on May 11, 2011 11:16:12 GMT
Personally, I dont agree with it - but then culling females is also a bugger, i wonder whether this process makes them infertile. I read an article once that was to do with altering the proportions of male:females and the conclusion was:
Breed a young male with an older female and you will get more males Breed a young female with an older male and you will get more females.
It was a proven study and the reasons behind it were that in the wild if a young male breeds with a mature female, the likely hood is there is a lack of mature males in that area and therefore to balance this more males will be produced in the spawn so in the future there would be a more balanced number. The same is the other way round
Charlie
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Post by charliem177 on May 11, 2011 11:24:44 GMT
I kind of think that messing with animals which could hurt them or damage them be it dying, tattooing or using hormones to alter their gender itsnt cool. I dont know much on the use of hormones to alter gender but they are also used when transporting fish to artificially get them into a breeding state which of course is when their colours are strongest, so they come out of the bag looking great but are increadibly stressed and very agitated.
Im not a massive fan of lfs bettas, they are always so poor in quality and it doesnt surprise me that this kind of thing happens in mass producing them.
Charlie
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Post by Roxane on May 11, 2011 13:23:22 GMT
Charlie,
My exact thoughts too. I think the furthest i would ever go is line breeding. Pairing up and breeding fish based on colour and other aesthetically pleasing traits is as far away as the natural conditions i would subject a living creature to.
Roxy
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Post by nataliey on May 20, 2011 21:53:12 GMT
Is it true what iv read that depending on certain heat variations in your fry tank depends on what sex of betta you get?
Me myself would never want to manipulate the sex of my fry im happy with what i get but i guess professional breeders who are in it to make money and such have different opinions on the matter.
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Post by charliem177 on May 22, 2011 13:13:49 GMT
im not sure about the heat affecting the gender but it works in other animals such as turtles so it might be true
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Post by Roxane on May 24, 2011 17:14:47 GMT
With fish, development of sex organs is hormonal. I think reptiles are demendant on heat. Very fascinating stuff!
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Post by charliem177 on May 24, 2011 22:45:55 GMT
is that by any chance the books thats on ebay now that im bidding on?
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Post by Roxane on May 25, 2011 6:43:46 GMT
Indeed it is! I paid £35 for that book! It does contain some very interesting and useful facts, but i wanted to know which genes were dominant and recessive but the book doesn't go into anything like that! It's mainly aimed at fisheries than aquarium aquaculture and goes into great detail on cloning and manipulation of the fish genome - not really what i was after. Still, if you get it cheap the history and genetic make up on fish is very interesting and useful to know.
Roxy
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Post by charliem177 on May 26, 2011 18:22:03 GMT
the auction was closed down for some reason
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Post by Roxane on May 28, 2011 20:24:55 GMT
Charlie,
Sorry, I've decided to keep the book for the moment. I have a very special project in mind which you may be able to help me with. You can have the book for free afterwards.
Roxy
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Post by charliem177 on May 30, 2011 22:03:56 GMT
did that parcel ever reach you?? im sure it didnt look like there that much in the little tubs but it took me hours to get it right
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