2 replies to this topic

[MinnowEnthusiast]

Probably a better way to word the title, but its a question I've had for a while. I was watching some videos on people breeding their own unique guppy strains, and it got me thinking about taking on a similar project myself with a species around here. Part of my motivation is that I think creating a hardy, consistently good looking lineage of native fish might help more people get into keeping them, and thus get more people to appreciate them in general. 

 

 

I was considering Pimephales promelas, since I had heard from one reliable source that interbreeding could lead to a fish with both normal and xanthic coloration, but then I realized most people would probably just think that such a fish looked sickly. I've also been looking at all of the (non-endangered/threatened) livebearers, and I can definitely see some potential with the bayou and lined topminnow, but I'm not sure what characteristics I would want to breed for with those. 

The Rainbow Shiner was an obvious choice at first, but I'm not sure about how consistent their spawning colors are season to season, and if they'd be able to pass certain shades and tinges down genetically,

 

What do you all think? I'm just planning for the future currently, but ideally this will be something of a "lifelong project" for me. 
 

[gymrat987654321]

What would be the potential in something like a lined top minnow? I don't see what characteristics you'd want to breed for to make that fish more attractive. My first thought was least killifish. Some of them have some orange accents on them, but it is a very slight accent and not all have this. It'd be cool to see them with this orange color being more prominent. 

[MinnowEnthusiast]

What would be the potential in something like a lined top minnow? I don't see what characteristics you'd want to breed for to make that fish more attractive.

Prominence and clarity of the stripes, mainly. Its a fairly small and common fish that isn't hard to breed, and I think a bit of selective breeding could make it really striking. Its not easy to find aquarium fish with really distinct, clear vertical lines like they have. 

Edited by MinnowEnthusiast, 04 February 2025 - 03:55 AM.