Longevity
as a Guppy Breeder; a shared common single trait?
©
Alan S. Bias
Permission
granted for nonprofit reproduction or duplication of photos and text with
proper credit for learning purposes only.
January
20, 2013
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| Blond Vienna Lower Sword |
Have
you ever noticed when visiting a breeder, attending a show,
sale or meeting those that stand out?
Not in the traditional sense of being the most well-known for breeding
stock, show results or breed promotion.
I’m referring to those who have been around for years. …and years.
…and years. Likely to be around
for many more years. These breeders all share
a single
common trait…
It really does not matter what strain of guppy they
prefer to raise. It does not have to be
a guppy at all. For that matter it does
not have to be a fish. These individuals
are found in all venues of livestock breeding and have a passion for what they
do.
There is a common philosophy in the world of large
animal livestock breeding that basically states; a new breeder will be around
for 3-5 years. If you are marketing pedigree
seed stock this is the time frame you have to work with. Most individuals are attracted to a
particular species or variant within a species for a host of reasons. Breed preservation and ornamentation aside, initially
for many attraction starts with eye appeal or as something new. For a smaller subset of breeders it will fall
under genetic potential. Be it for
marketability or research and study. Each
group normally has a set period of “longevity” within the breed. In each case a clock has been set in motion,
and as it winds down so does involvement with not only the animal, its
maintenance and propagation, but interest in associating with fellow breeders.
 |
| Grey Vienna LS w/Mg |
As long as you actively breed it will largely be by
pattern as decided by Mother Nature and influenced by your actions. If primary interest is showing, timing has
been largely decided for you. If genetic
study some freedom of choice is allowed in timing. Simple pleasure allows for the most freedom
of choice in choosing if and when to breed.
The basic cycle is as follows:
1. Obtain
needed resources to house and feed your initial stock,
2. Choose
your breeders and mate them,
3. Rear
your young and evaluate them,
4. Cull
for genetic and environmental defects,
5. Adjust
feed rations for age classes and cull those that do not meet expectations,
6. Retain
superior offspring for grow out,
7. Market
individuals and your breeding program through sales / exhibition / show,
8. Review
both feed and environmental inputs,
9. Determine
progress towards program goals,
10. Adjust
and obtain food resources / space, in accordance with retained animal numbers,
11. Balance
breedings and direction by consideration of potential new breeders.
 |
| Grey Vienna LS w/blue peduncle, Z-bar and X-link yellow |
A true stock farmer garners a sense of appreciation
not only from the end result, but the effort to produce it. One of the first breeder groups to normally meet
their demise is associated with limited interest in farming livestock. Those who quickly realize that raising
animals takes a lot of time, effort and resources. It is often dirty, mundane and repetitive. Often they are in it for the wrong reason;
time to kill, money to spend, or impress
peers, friends and neighbors. These
individuals have the shortest clock. It
was never wound that far.
Breeding livestock is on slow time. Regardless of breed of choice, rearing
livestock is cyclical in nature. Your
goals should be defined and stated from the start; define your breed plan. These well help determine your
longevity. If not you will likely doom
yourself to failure, and in so doing lesson your interest. In a fast paced society many breeders fail to
adjust to these requirements. This is the
second group to meet their demise. The
clock was wound a bit further, but not long enough.
Those that make it past the initial 3-5 years will
often survive for 8-10 years or more.
This grouping is comprised of overlapping interests to include: A.
Commercial, B. Showing, C. Researcher, both professional and amateur, D. Dabblers, E. Genetic
Breeders.
A. Commercial
breeders are just that, in it for the monetary value. Individuals or farms may show in the process
to help market results. Others will
not. In the end their clock length is
solely determined by how long they are able to profit from the venture. In many cases demise is not realized until
long after they are gone.
B. Most
breeders, regardless of level of interest will have some familiarity with the
names of top show breeders. This elite
group will always have a revolving door and membership will come and go. If you wish to verify this statement, review
the names of class champions for a set period of time. It is surprising to see how many individuals
have come and gone as they are often the first to burn themselves out. Others persist while
showing less with passing time. Some are
easily recalled having left their mark for a specific breeding strain(s) which has been passed down. Others, not nearly so as
sights were set on point totals with limited overall genetic contribution. The clock for each not only seems to wind
down, but often stops abruptly.
C. Sometime
back I read an online posting by a fellow breeder and friend whose stated
primary interest has always been research in nature. In short he pondered why an active breeder
would devote time and effort to promote guppies as a hobby. His stated goals and objectives had been
satisfied. For this individual the clock has nearly wound down. Time will tell if he is able
to revitalize his interests, thereby add more time to the clock.
As a rule, most researchers, both
professional and amateur, from the start have a set longevity. It normally encompasses a specific grant, a
portion of their career or is limited to a single, sometimes broad scope of
research. At the end of which we can
hopefully expect to benefit from publication of results, which can be
amalgamated with that of others, and passed down to future generations. It seems few have the ability to evolve this narrow
focused mode of interest into another, with less rigidity, that will add time to their clock. Invariably, they too have a clock that comes
to an abrupt halt.
D. Comprising the bulk of breeders, Dabblers loosely follow the rules, though to their own interpretations. Many have been around for uncounted years and make appearances at annual functions or regional events. Seem to leave and re-enter active breeding status on multiple occasions for many reasons. Have varied interests and are often a good source of buyers for “serious” breeders. Sometimes producing a quality end result and others not. Often, inadvertent preserving genetic diversity. More often than not they are happy with their level of interest and degree of involvement. Frequently being one who regularly devotes time at local venues. While their clock often needs repair to add time, it seems to run for some time thereafter.
E. This group is comprised of elite breeders with the most overlapping interests. They are by far the professional breeders who produce true foundation pedigree livestock. Without them there would be no stock breeding as we know it. Such individuals gain the knowledge needed to produce reliable breeding strains, via consistency, research and study. Have the ability to balance a sustainable breeding program regardless of fish-room size or number of strains raised. Then in turn market the results through sales &/or showing. The breeding Program is regularly passed down to successive generations. While some take time to document efforts, many do not. When demise comes, it is often with the longest clock after many rewinds.
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| Blond Ginga Sulphureus |
All classes of Guppy breeders seem to come and go from the
scene with regularity. So, what is this
one single
common trait among seemingly
perpetual breeders that allows for longevity with an overlapping of interests? In turn, fosters enthusiasm for the
promotion of guppy breeding for future generations. While appearing to allow for the addition of
time to the ticking clock?
For myself, and I suspect others, it goes back
to a simpler hands on time in our youths.
When we looked at a guppy with amazement in our eyes and have never lost
focus in this wonderment. No matter how
much we study genetics, show our fish, market our breeding program or interact
with other breeders. It is still this sense of wonderment and reward we get
from raising a Guppy that holds our interest.
In the end it seems our clock is only determined by time itself…
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| (l) Blond Vienna LS & (r) Grey Asian Blau LS |
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Have some older fish to nice to cull but need the tanks? Ship some one way to a show and donate to the club auction in support of their efforts...
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