The IFGA At A
Crossroads; Can re-evaluation of standards
and adherence to
goals stave of demise?
© Alan S. Bias
Permission granted for nonprofit
reproduction or duplication of photos and text with proper credit for learning
purposes only.
May 26, 2015
Schim. Plat Big
Ear Red Mosiac, courtesy Sathu Damkham
First
and foremost let me state the following thoughts and opinions are not intended as
a direct criticism of the IFGA (International Fancy Guppy Association) or its
officers past, present or future. I
simply state as a request to IFGA membership and officers for consideration
based on personal observations and interactions with member breeders, based on active
membership in the association going back over 30+ years. Having
supported the intended stated purpose of the IFGA through uncountable show
entries and positive writings on its behalf; based on a general understanding
of the genetics found within modern Domestic Guppies.
Simple
economics is often blamed for declining membership, interest, entries and
attendance at IFGA shows. To a degree
this is not only true today, but just as true yesterday in the heyday of the
IFGA. No one can deny that income of the
average working American has not kept pace with inflation over the last fifty
years. To quote an old saying, “Where
there is a will there is a way”. The
truth can often be found when personal preferences are put aside, and an open
mind is used to look in other directions.
Interest
in Domestic Guppy breeding in the US and worldwide has never been greater.
Interest in raising and showing under aged and static IFGA standards, and more
importantly associating with the IFGA has never been lower. A simple fact is evident; not many breeders wish to raise traditional IFGA delta guppies. The IFGA has set itself on a pedestal and a
common feeling is expressed among non-affiliated young breeders of inaccessibility. Not towards breeders in general, but the association
as a whole. Most long-time IFGA breeders
are very generous with both their time and stocks when genuine interest is perceived.
IFGA
leadership is to be commended for their efforts as voluntary officers. Many of whom have served numerous terms over
many decades. But herein lays the paramount
ongoing problem. That being lack
of recruitment to replace them.
Leadership has been primarily comprised of individuals whose primary
interest is in breeding and showing to existing standards. To
many it appears these “senior members” lack the ability to take notice of
modern breeder interests and evolve towards them. For those who take offense being referenced
as seniors, this will mark my 46th year breeding guppies in my own
right.
Metal
Moscow Snakeskin, courtesy Mk Khaw
A
check of any large animal pedigree breed association shows that common practice
is for an officer, outside of clerical positions, to serve several consecutive
terms to be replaced by prominent new breeders in good standing. Over the last 30+ years of my membership, the
IFGA has a negligible history of recruiting and retaining experienced new
members. Those with not only new ideas
to foster the association, but also put effort into putting on shows.
Currently
the IFGA maintains a declining and very small footprint in the overall scheme
of World Guppy breeding. Yes, our
standards have created a stable population of delta strains recognizable
world-wide. Yet interest in them by
non-members continues to decline in favor of new and diverse stable phenotypes
created through both genetic understanding &/or trial and error breeding’s. Rather than acknowledge and attempt to
understand the genetics involved in their creation, they are often labeled as “inferior”
to IFGA stocks.
X-link
Schimmelpennig Royal Platinums,
courtesy Carl Groenewegen
A willingness to understand strain genetics
will often reveal “genetic limitations” that can preclude adherence to existing
IFGA standards. Does this make them
inferior? Not at all. It just makes them different. Yet, successful IFGA breeders have and will
continue to quietly incorporate European and Asian advances into their gene
pool to compete at sanctioned IFGA shows.
Current
IFGA standards seek to produce a “perfect” fish in a limited number
of solid patterns, halfblacks and snakeskins set to a single delta body type. It has reduced the IFGA gene pool to a
homogenous state through ignoring and culling much of the former diversity
found in past genotype. Attempts at
creating "provisional" classes have been geared to failure
with short time frames allowed, while retaining existing classes no longer
viable. It took several decades for the
IFGA to finally come to terms with declining interest in a former staple of
Domestic Guppy breeding; the Veil Tail. In the end multiple veil classes where
combined into a single class, as they should be. If in the future interest decrees, veil classes
can again be expanded.
While
many new phenotypes found worldwide are considered inferior or unstable by IFGA
criteria, it should be remembered that many IFGA classes can only be maintained
by “compatible”
breeding schemes used to create or preserve them. In essence, many classes are supported by the
product of outcross from within existing lines; a result of genetic limitations
imposed upon phenotypes found worldwide.
These same genetic limitations can also preclude development towards current
IFGA standards. Yet, they can be “perfect”
within themselves.
ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
Section
2.1 - Purpose
2.1.1 To
promote interest in, and scientific knowledge about guppies
2.1.2 To
promote interest in guppies through exhibition and the distribution of
information
Somewhere
along the way during the last 50 years section 2.1.1 of the IFGA constitution
fell by the wayside. Focus has been near
exclusively oriented to section 2.1.2; exhibition. Either we fail to distribute our genetic
knowledge or we do not understand it. A check of IFGA archives and publications will
show articles have primarily dealt with “how to produce a show guppy” under
existing static strains.
Breeding Domestic Guppies for most is about color,
pattern and finnage. As breeders our
interests will change over time. Not all
breeders find the traditional “IFGA body type” of interest. To quote one of my prior articles, “Each of us is bound by our narrow focus on not
only how we describe a quality guppy, but the breeding technique(s) we use to
obtain them. If a breeder is not careful self-imposed limitations may
hinder our interpretation of accrued knowledge from all sources and its
possible uses. To further compound events as breeders we often do not
document results of our crosses very well. Breeders should consider the
possibilities as they present themselves. In example; a cull is not just
an individual who fails in expectations. You can still learn from
it. Did it come about from crossover or simple recombination of
alleles? Worse yet, will a gene complex inhibit your desired goals or is
a form of gene regulation preventing it?”
Our standards were
formulated towards delta tails with little understanding of than current or
newly discovered genetic limitations.
Nor, did they take into account the possibility of newly developed
colors, patterns or fin types. Worse
yet, they failed to consider future interest and improvements to old
established finnage types. The latter
being forced into extinction within the realm of IFGA breeding's.
Grey Full Platinum Roundtail, courtesy Dede Law
Just as a breeder can impose limitations on
progressing a breed program, so too can narrow breed standards impose
limitations on breeder interest by failing to allow an avenue in which to show results. Much of the
current interest in breeding modern Domestic Guppies results from the vast
amount of genetic knowledge garnered over the last several decades. At the time IFGA standards were contrived
this knowledge was as alien as Buck Rodgers to an Elizabethan Englishman or Appalachian
hill farmer. No one is at fault, yet
current interests and genetic understanding needs to be acknowledged. There exists a vast array of diversity in
color, pattern, finnage type within established breeding programs, and the
breeders have no outlet to show it under IFGA auspices.
Leopard
Snakeskin, photo courtesy of Akrawat
It
is time the diminishing ranks of long-time breeders and limited recruitment
come to grips with a single fact. Blatantly stated: IFGA
fish are no better than the top end entries at European or Asian Shows. IFGA
fish simply meet IFGA standards, and often would fail to place under another
standard. Preference to adhere to or not adhere to IFGA delta standards is a
personal choice. It does not signify higher status upon another set standard,
unless you choose to breed toward it.
Nor, is it a reason to alienate other breeders, such as myself, who
express diversity of opinion, show and promote the IFGA, wish to become members
of the IFGA, or are members of another Guppy association. There is little need to compare in a derogatory
manner entries in overseas shows against IFGA standards, unless you wish to
incorporate their genetics into an IFGA breeding program. It is OK to openly acknowledge the
accomplishments of our brethren breeders in the World Guppy Community without
negative comparison.
I recently received
an email from a breeder with decades of success breeding betta and
killifish. In excerpt he stated, “I always wondered why I
wasn't excited about my fish. I would purchase eggs from all over the world… …place the eggs in water and it would be just
like a miracle with all the fry appearing from the moss. VERY EXCITING. The fry
would mature and I would breed my new killies to get my own eggs. My own eggs
would hatch and grow and there they were more fish that looked exactly like
their parents. Deja vu. …the next generation, Deja vu all over again. Breeding became
boring for me with no chance to create. …[now]
I only have guppies in my fish rooms. I do not have any other fish. I have been
breeding for IFGA standards and the fish are beautiful but..... And then you
[Alan S. Bias] said it "IFGA standards
make little allowance for diversity, creation and genetic understanding".
I love my fish but I also enjoy being able to create, maybe even more. It is
very exciting to be able to watch a new genetic cross mature into fish that you
are the first to see and if you are successful, that's the most exciting of
all. What I don't like is being criticized for doing this
type of breeding and sometimes feeling like an outcast in an international club
that I love just as much as any other member.
Albino Ginga Merah, courtesy Kanlaya
Suknipitporn
A common observation of member breeders
at Asian show is the comparative age of hundreds of individuals in attendance each day who have no entries entered. The
majority are reported to be under the age of 40 with a majority well under the
age of 30. IFGA show attendance is often
limited to a few dozen individuals, often retired, who have entries, help with
the show are required for judging. While we should continue to welcome “retirees”
within our ranks who have renewed their former interest in guppies, emphasis
should be geared towards recruitment of those youngsters who have the urge to
create modern domestic strains. Not
simply re-invent the wheel by maintaining those of old.
The IFGA is at a critical
crossroad. The loss of a dozen active breeders could cripple
it. The loss of two dozen active
breeders would signal its demise, or at least that of an 8 to 10 show
circuit. Not only do these individuals
provide the bulk of show entries, but also the serve as judges, officers and manpower
putting on shows. To continue along our
current course geared towards the showing of aged standards will not increase
recruitment of new breeders in it for the long-haul; 3-5 years if not 5-10.
A complete evaluation of our current standards
geared towards modern strain and phenotypical interests is needed. Correlated with efforts to make ourselves
more accessible, not only as a pedigree breed association, but as breeders in
general. Only after we as breeders come
to grips with our own shortcomings can the IFGA as an organization follow
suit. Are we on the right path? It would not seem so.
Magenta Red Albino, courtesy Krisztian Medveczki
Failing
to formally acknowledge with minimal sponsorship & funding the 18th WGA
show continues the IFGA down a road to self-instituted isolation and oblivion. As a
pedigree breed association we recently missed a tremendous opportunity to
positively advance our image on home ground.
This at the insistence of a few individuals enamored in
their own static interpretation of what constitutes a modern Domestic
Guppy. Yet those of moderate interpretation
in leadership roles are just as at fault for not further pursuing.
But
there is still a dim light shining, the number of prominent long-time IFGA
breeders indicating planned attendance at the 18th WGA show continues
to grow, as does that of non-aligned and overseas breeders. An opportunity exists to see those diverse
phenotypes found on the internet in person.
More importantly, for those breeders who will persevere and remain in
the hobby for an extended period of time exists an opportunity to develop
personal relationships with your counterparts around the world.
At
this very show sponsored by the World Guppy Association (http://guppy-online.com/wga/) one of
the founding fathers of the IFGA, Stan Shubel, will be honored with a Lifetime
Award for his dedication, contributions, and longevity in the world of Domestic
Guppy breeding. I plan on honoring him
with my attendance. Hopefully other IFGA
members will put aside their personal and political differences by doing the
same…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is The IFGA Sustainable As A Guppy Organization Geared Solely To Delta Caudals With A Single Body Type?
5.29.15 Addendum in response to both positive and negative feedback received.
Comparison of the WGC and IFGA is nearly the same as Apples
to Lemons. It’s not even close enough to
consider Oranges. The WGC is simply an
administrative attempt at bringing breeders together with acknowledgement of
worldwide Guppy associations at (inter)national levels and their member clubs who
host WGC annual shows.
If you wish to be realistic a comparison between the IFGA and
IKGH should be made.
The IFGA has 24 male delta tail color classes of a single
body/caudal/dorsal description (Red, Blue, Green, Black, Purple, Yellow,
AOC, HB Red, HB Blue, HB Pastel, HB Yellow, HB Purple, HB Green, HB AOC, Red
Bicolor, Blue-Green Bicolor, AOC Bicolor, Multi, Solid Snakeskin, Var.
Snakeskin, Red Albino, AOC Albino, Gold, Bronze). 2 Swordtail classes (Single & Double). There are 9 female classes (Red,
AOC, HB AOC, Blue-Green, Gold, Black, HB Red, Bronze , Albino). There is one Veil class (combined). NO OTHER caudal, color/pattern, finnage trait
known to exist in fixed strains is recognized with a class for entry. IFGA Master Breeder criteria is based on and
geared toward delta class and BOS placements, with value for same in swordtails
valued at 1/4 the point value.
Our European Counterparts in the IKGH have recognized
classes allowing for: 10 base body
colors, 19 body colors / patterns. Each
can be shown under the following 12 body/caudal/dorsal descriptions; 4 broadtails (Fan, Triangle, Veil, Flag),
4 Swordtails (Double, Top, Bottom, Lyre), 4 small tails (spade, spear, round, pin). As I understand more are being considered. Even so, this is still a limited fraction of
the diversity of “fixed type” strains found in breeder tanks around the world.
The average number of entries at any given IFGA show is
between 500-600 entries. This includes
duplication from single and pairs within the same delta classes. The IKGH at last check was running in the 400
entry range. Taking into account the
number of shows on the IKGH yearly circuit the overall number of yearly entries
between the IFGA and IKGH is minimal.
The IKGH currently recognizes 25 or more active clubs in
Europe. Membership likely exceeds IFGA.
The IFGA currently recognizes 18 active clubs. Of which several are token and for the most
part inactive, and two are outside US borders.
IFGA active membership is static at just over 180, which includes
overseas members in the 18 clubs. Many
of these members do not show or are senior emeritus who no longer actively
breed.
Of the 180 paid IFGA members, 23% (percent) or 42
individuals took all 140+ First – Fourth placings in the overall 2014 Class
totals (Novice / Junior / Grand totals are not considered as not representative
of any set class). They range in
age from 15 – 80+. The average age of
these 42 individuals is just at 60 years of age. One individual is 15, 2 are 35, 2 are 45, and
the remainder are well over 50 years of age (ages averaged to nearest 5 year
increment). Over half of these
individuals have been active in the IFGA for 30+ years.
Between 8-12% (40-45+) of entries at an IFGA show are
represented by the sole non-delta classes (Single and Double Swordtails). These numbers are sustained by 2-4 breeders.
Based on solely on Swordtail entries how much interest in
breeding to IFGA standards and recruitment of younger individuals could be
gained from an evaluation and broadening of classes without the constraints of
a non-pointed two year probation test period?
In twenty years the majority of the 42 IFGA
members active in 2014 will no longer be around. Is the IFGA sustainable geared toward a single body description and delta caudal as an organization past this time frame?
Attrition vs. recruitment & retention over the last two decades says
likely not…
The
Michigan Guppy Breeders Show is June 6-7, 2015: http://ifga.org/show_rules/2015/mgb_2015.htm.
One of our premier IFGA shows and a strong host club. Show your support and promote your breeding
program by taking the time to send some entries. Better yet, find the time to take them
yourself. This will be my first personal
IFGA show attendance in quite some time…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~
Well said! (I was wondering why guppies have gone out of favor among tropical fish hobbyists.)
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