Hybridising

[VaegaVic]

Very soon I shall be (possibly) hybridising some of my guppies. My current ones are getting old (5 years) and I would like some offspring rather than buying all new strains.
I just have some questions on the matter:

1) I would be using a female endler with my male guppies, in order to achieve impregnation, this way I can keep the girly girl for future breeding without having to buy another female each time. Is this the most effecient way?

2) What are the general benefits of having a hybrid? With all the over and inbred guppies out there, I would have thought it would atleast strength the genes?

3) What are the cons of having hybrids? Is there anything I should be prepared for? I won't be selling the unwanted babies on to any pet shops, but they will have a nice time in my sister's 300L.

4) What are your general feelings on hybrids? And why?

I personally like the idea of hybrids, a stronger strain of guppy which is unique and different to any other, giving that extra bit of specialness to any tank. Not to mention the colours you can get.

I know there has been alot of speculation about the actual difference between Endler and Fancy, considering they both come from the same habitat and readily interbreed, but if that's the case, is it not possible that all guppies are already hybrids?

 

[hughessomefish]

having a endler-guppy hybrid in my opinion just mine (well maybe others) is a big no no i am not a complete exspert but i am sure others will comment on this telling why it is a yes or a no

 

[OldMan47]

I own guppies and I own endlers. I do not allow both in the same fish room, much less the same tank. They do not occur naturally in the same locations although their habitats are similar.
There are lots of hybrids that have been bred and have resulted in very nice fish but it was not a random breeding of just any fish. The males and females were chosen to enhance color patterns or fin shapes or similar items to make the resulting fry prettier in the eyes of the breeder. The endlers in general are healthier and hardier than guppies because they have not been line bred simply for colors or fin shapes.
There is nothing about an endler that is inherently a healthier fish than a wild guppy. A wild guppy added to an existing strain can result in healthier fish but that means carefully selecting the wild stock, with the knowledge about guppy genetics, to not ruin the looks that have been developed over so many generations. Randomly crossing an unselected guppy female to an endler male will result in progeny but who knows what they will look like. They will not be the high quality fish that we have come to associate with the hybrids that have been developed for a purpose.

 

[VaegaVic]

I'm assuming male guppy and female endler would also result in offspring?

My breeding will not be random, it will be select. I will be developing the young to replace my already aging guppies (all males). Any young that are not desired will be spread across my other 3 tanks.

having a endler-guppy hybrid in my opinion just mine (well maybe others) is a big no no i am not a complete exspert but i am sure others will comment on this telling why it is a yes or a no

Why do YOU think this is a big no no? You must have some reasons rather than jumping on the band wagon?

 

[helterskelter]

I dont know why u need to introduce new blood.
If you pick the best fish for breeding then this is not a problem.

If you breed from poor fish your asking for problems

We have been breeding some lines of fish for over 30 years with no problems.