Selective Breeding

[conner2008]

Im thinking about selective breeding with triops, Im thinking about taking the eggs from the bigger triops only and then in turn continously doing this until im left with alot bigger "bodybuilder" triops, or triops with a better average longetivity,
just wondering what peoples thoughts on this are

 

[three-fingers]

Triops have barely changed in over 200million years, I would hardly rate them a candidate for selective breeding.
Furthermore, most of them are hermaphrodites.

 

[conner2008]

Triops have barely changed in over 200million years, I would hardly rate them a candidate for selective breeding.
Furthermore, most of them are hermaphrodites.

Yes i know, thats what makes it so easy you simply put the lone triop in a tank on its own and collect the eggs.

I wouldnt expect them to change because theve never had to, but there are slight variations in size, and longetivity, if there raised in the same tank under the same conditions one would assume it is genetic

Just a blurp, a thought, nothing more, would make an interesting experiment on this side of just generally keeping them

 

[three-fingers]

Yes i know, thats what makes it so easy you simply put the lone triop in a tank on its own and collect the eggs.

Well no, that would be impossible, the most common method of reproduction T.longicaudatus, T.cancriformis and the species we buy as T.australiensis use is parthogenesis - a method of asexual reproduction where the eggs develop without being fertilised.
The hermaphrodites can sexually reproduce, but most of the time don't, and when they do some of thier eggs will develop parthogenicly anway.

I wouldnt expect them to change because theve never had to, but there are slight variations in size, and longetivity, if there raised in the same tank under the same conditions one would assume it is genetic

These varations are due to age (the first triops hatching get a huge head start in aquariums) and chance (what the indiviual has eaten, how often it gets injuries from fighting, ect)- not genetics. The only way you are going to get noticably different phenotype is when you take triops cysts from a population that has been isolated in a different environent for hundreds, or far more likely thousands of years.

Just a blurp, a thought, nothing more, would make an interesting experiment on this side of just generally keeping them

It would be interesting, but would require sooo much time, more than your lifetime, and alot of space for different tanks.
You should try something like fruit flies or livebrearers if your interested in selective breeing .

 

[conner2008]

Yes i know, thats what makes it so easy you simply put the lone triop in a tank on its own and collect the eggs.

Well no, that would be impossible, the most common method of reproduction T.longicaudatus, T.cancriformis and the species we buy as T.australiensis use is parthogenesis - a method of asexual reproduction where the eggs develop without being fertilised.
The hermaphrodites can sexually reproduce, but most of the time don't, and when they do some of thier eggs will develop parthogenicly anway.

I wouldnt expect them to change because theve never had to, but there are slight variations in size, and longetivity, if there raised in the same tank under the same conditions one would assume it is genetic

These varations are due to age (the first triops hatching get a huge head start in aquariums) and chance (what the indiviual has eaten, how often it gets injuries from fighting, ect)- not genetics. The only way you are going to get noticably different phenotype is when you take triops cysts from a population that has been isolated in a different environent for hundreds, or far more likely thousands of years.

Just a blurp, a thought, nothing more, would make an interesting experiment on this side of just generally keeping them

It would be interesting, but would require sooo much time, more than your lifetime, and alot of space for different tanks.
You should try something like fruit flies or livebrearers if your interested in selective breeing .

Okay thats cool, thanks for your imput, ive dried the sand out for about a week now can i fill it with water again tomorrow and hatch my next generation?

 

[three-fingers]

Sure . If you want a higher hatch rate though your best to freeze the sand for at least 24 hours, this effectively simulates winter passing for the resting cysts .