PlanetCatfish.com

The industry needs to breed pygmy versions of the big cats. Like a tiger shovelnose bred to be 2' instead of 6'. Why does this not happen???

Using the TSN as an example, it's kinda hard to selectively breed for size when it takes 10-12 years to reach full grown. It would take a lifetime just to do a few generations and you probably would not have reduced them in size by much.

The demand for the catfish will also never reach the level of say, neon tetras or albino corydoras, so there's really very little financial incentive for anyone to do so.

If it ever happens, it will be with koi.

Silurus wrote:The demand for the catfish will also never reach the level of say, neon tetras or albino corydoras, so there's really very little financial incentive for anyone to do so.

Mmmm, but a lot of people buy Arius and Pangasius and such a pygmy could muscle in on these. Little red-tails are very cute... I would think that hybrids are more likely if looking for something for the casual fishkeeper? The whole thing must be viewed as risky, I mean, look at the trouble red parrots caused.

Mind you, what's more "cruel", buying a farm bred big fish that will die before it reaches adulthood becuase it grows too big or buying a farm bred pygmy that will probably live a longer life but may well suffer from internal problems.

If someone wanted a 6" pretty pim or similar, I would tell them to go buy one, there are loads out there and not look for "pygmies".

Jools

Mmmm, but a lot of people buy Arius and Pangasius and such a pygmy could muscle in on these.

Still, the demand for these fish is never anywhere like neons or albino corys. There is also a primary market for Pangasius hatchlings for aquaculture, and the easy availability (plus low prices) of these fish in the aquarium trade is partly a result.
I'm just asserting that the potential demand for the fish will never make it financially viable to try raising pygmy varieties of large pims, especially when they are not spectacularly different from the normal versions otherwise.

Thanks for the responses. The fascination and allure of big and beautiful catfish that actually have personalities and get big, etc etc, will continue. It is unstoppable. It has occured since the beginning(these types of fascinations with animals). I will just close in saying that I am [u]always[/u] willing to have a price of a catfish increased a percentage so that the extra money will go toward preserving the amazon region. If we never saw any of the wonderful creatures that came out of the amazon and fell in love with them, it would really have no chance. Money has a real power. Also, where's all the tv shows on the fish of the amazon??? I am really disappointed about this? Such a huge industry and no shows on DSC. The last one I saw was like 7 years ago.