@Byron
Why are hybrid fish such a big deal to you?
We need to be clear as to what hybrid and hybridization mean. We are not talking about varieties of livebearers, or selective breeding to obtain varieties as with the gourami Trichopodus trichopterus. But we are talking about distinct species being forced into hybridization to create a new distinct species.
The scientific community does not support nor agree with such hybridization. No responsible aquarist in this hobby should encourage hybridization or be complacent about it. As a race we have done more than enough to destroy this planet, there is no point in furthering this destruction.
The "animal rights" people would like to end this hobby completely, and people being irresponsible only gives them fuel for their fire.
Corydoras species were the primary issue here, so Ian Fuller's explanation covers it; Ian established and owns CorydorasWorld which is the prime source of reliable information on the Corydoradinae. He has spent over 50 years investigating and collecting species of Corydoras, and there are very few with more knowledge on the subject.
In nature some species do occasionally cross, especially at a time when severe conditions bring species together that would not normally be found in the same place. This is known in science as speciating. In the Hobby the species would have to be purposely put together and that would create unnatural crosses, and then we would end up with these hybrids expanding into the hobby and ultimately spoiling the two crossed species.
This page was originally set up to compliment the Corydorasworld.com website, and promote the keeping, breeding and well being of Corydoradinae Catfishes, with a view to maintaining and establishing species that maybe/are endangered in the wild. There are probably in excess of 300 naturally occurring Corydoradinae species, many of which are in danger of becoming extinct in their natural homes and I would like to see efforts being made to preserve these species. I realize that it will be an almost impossible task to try and reinstate aquarium bred specimens back into their natural homes, mainly because these are being or have been destroyed. It is possible however to maintain these species in aquaria and that is what I would like to see. To this end a new data base of registered keepers/breeders has been established on the web site.
A post has been made showing and promoting hybridization of Corydoradinae species. This is something that I am 100% against and therefore I will in future delete any such posts that promote this activity.
