Jump to content

The Term "Breeding Pair"


Ant

Recommended Posts

Is it me or is the term "breeding pair" thrown around a little too much. Where i work i witness people all the time stating that they want a "breeding pair", even when it comes to africans. It sounds to me like a buzz word used for the purpose of selling fish. It might be a term that has some validity with fish such as discus or other American species. The term "breeding pair" also suggests that the fish will continue to breed for the rest of their lives, which would be ambitious to say. I think it is an issue mostly with african species, especially when the customer thinks you are just trying to sell them more fish by saying they need at least 3 females.

What are peoples thaughts?

Anthony thumb.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A breeding pair is what it is, isn't it? blink.gif

If people are after a particular species, you should let them know whether they are a monogamous or polygamous species to begin with.

1 M and 1 F polygamous species when sexually mature can become a breeding pair but this isn't ideally how the fish behaves in nature.

1 M and 1 F monogamous species when sexually mature can become a breeding pair which is how the fish normally behaves in nature.

Sometimes a male and female species will never pair up or bond for reasons unknown. Sometimes the breeding in pairs have come to an end or come close to an end. Sometimes dodgy people gather males and females of species and sell them off as breeding pairs when they should at the most just sell them as pairs.

These can be issues of contention on the market between buyers and sellers as the buyer doesn't get what he/she paid for. Bad luck to the buyer (Buyer beware: always research what you intend to purchase) you've just learnt an expensive lesson perhaps. Ask for proof of fry or mouthfuls as well.

Anthony since you work in an aquarium - it's your job to educate the people about how the fish behave and breed (If you don't know about the species get some info from reliable sources). If they're after breeding pairs of a species, give them a pair that you know have bred or are breeding.

Cheers

Paul

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re fish being sold as "breeding pairs", from certain people i take it with a grain of salt. i think everything Paul has said above is 100% correct, and back it completely. it is the buyers responsibility to know what they expect from a certain species of fish, cause at the end of the day a seller will say anything to make something seem attractive.

Grace

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep, "breeding pair" is a buzz word used to sell fish. And that's not going to change, it's a tidbit of info ppl can use or not in deciding to buy the fish. When ppl use it to sell really easy to breed species best to just laugh and move on. LOL.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good info paul,

Sometimes no matter how hard you try to educate a customer they think you are ripping them off (especially because i'm young they think i dont have the knowledge), customers will keep trying untill you tell them what they want to hear (which never happens). As for the sale of fish that have bred i never say "breeding pair" i say "pair that have bred" or pair as you mentioned.

thanks for the info smile.gif

Anthony thumb.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Remember also that 'breeding pair' does not necessarily mean fry.

I have had fish that have bred but eaten the eggs - so technically, they are a breeding pair but not good enough in my opinion and this needs to be told to the buyer.

I take the term 'breeding pair' very loosely when buying fish especially if I don't know the person - I prefer the term 'successfully bred pair of.....'

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Personnaly the "buzz" word (technically a term wink.gif ) that drives me crazy is "German bred". And when this is applied to Americans that are not even legally importable! Someone was selling Uaru that were from "German" stock a while back on a forum. Hmm I wonder what was so unique about them? Except of course the price. dry.gif

I do realize what a German bred fish is but the way people just throw it around! Some fish come straight from the wild or Asia to Germany, then get sent some where else, and that is a German fish. Pah.

Cheers

Alistair

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree entirely with the other answers you have received.

If staff at an LFS told me they were selling me a "Breeding Pair" of Africans I would laugh myself silly(bit late, is the cry blink.gif ).

Monogamous pairs usually lose, or have it destroyed, their Pair-bond when their nest is disturbed. I have witnessed Chalinochromis males kill their female partner, as if blaming her, when their nest has been destroyed...the way to reduce this resentment is to add more fish to the species mix, the pair will blame the intruders rather than each other, generally.

Having no experience with SA/CA species I am not sure if they are subject to this same aggression.

As for Polygamous fish why would you bother with 2 of these fish? It is not the way they like things and not the way to appreciate the behaviour of the species.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alistair if YOU have a problem with fish i have or sell then thats your bad luck... their is a reason you are deleted from my MSN!! I very rearly ever use the tern german blood and only do so when i want to point out that the fish are a totally different bloodline to what is commonly available... as for the price i was selling for less then i paid considering my pair of uaru are very large and are a BREEDING pair (raised young)... dont have a cry because you didnt like the price of fish i am breeding that you wanted and others were more then happy to take them.....

ps.. how are all these new fish coming in that are not on the legal import list? If you are willing to pay anything is available...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Settle dowm Spooky, the young bloke did not metion your name or even hint at your name or location, huh.gif so know one here knew he was talking(possiblly) about you until you "let him have it", l thought he was just making a "general statement" as others here had been doing, not pointing the finger at anyone, take a moment and think before you type... after all it is a hobby not a cattle station wink.gif

let it be a friendly and informitive forum

woot.gif Where is the speeel chuck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with boots, he wasn't exactly "having a cry" he was stating a personal opinion rather than placing a personal attack smile.gif.

Anthony cool.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep, "breeding pair" is a buzz word used to sell fish. And that's not going to change, it's a tidbit of info ppl can use or not in deciding to buy the fish. When ppl use it to sell really easy to breed species best to just laugh and move on

dan didnt i see a "breeding pair" of Placidochromis electra at your place the other day LOL.gif i wish

dosent bother me as long as their nice quality fish but if it says "breeding pair" you either look for signs of a future spawn or fry wink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't believe this topic has raised such bitter words from so many! 

E4G13M4N's response was simple accurate and clear, everyone else has been whingeing about something or other, without even coming close to answering the initial question.

I don't think that's completely fair. Only a small handful of replies were directed at particular people.

The only sentence I saw end in a question mark was:

What are peoples thaughts?

A pretty open question that allows people to elaborate on their thoughts IMO.

But I agree that E4G13M4N gave a very good reply.

Cheers

Paul

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't believe this topic has raised such bitter words from so many!  ohmy.gif

E4G13M4N's response was simple accurate and clear, everyone else has been whingeing about something or other, without even coming close to answering the initial question.

hmmm....and the point of your post was to????

...up your post count. zipit.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I couldn't give a rats about my post count

I just think for a relatively simple question re:the term 'breeding pairs'

We have 2 pages of material now that doesn't really get to the question, IMO the term merely refers to a pair (m/f) of fish that has spawned, it indicates to a buyer that the fish in question are a Male and a Female, it also suggest they can produce viable eggs. Thats it.

I don't think it's only use is a way to suggestively sell, but it's clear that many people think it is or have been duped by it. If we don't like the term how else can we refer to a pair of fish that produces viable eggs?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mate I think you have totally misread the question. It was meant to stir up conversation and debate. It wasn't a simple yes or no question, it started with "is it just me or" and invites people to share their experiences and thoughts on what constitutes a 'breeding pair' of fish for sale.

I think we pretty much all agree that it means fish that are fertile and breed together successfully - however, the original post to me suggests that Ant is looking for a bit more than simple definitions of what a breeding pair is, and invites the discussion.

I also dont see what the point of posting to say you think peoples comments are pointless is? Surely thats got alot less merit than people actually discussing the term breeding pair, whether that is what he post was about or not?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't believe this topic has raised such bitter words from so many!  ohmy.gif

E4G13M4N's response was simple accurate and clear, everyone else has been whingeing about something or other, without even coming close to answering the initial question.

hmmm....and the point of your post was to????

...up your post count. zipit.gif

Maz,

Saying that is far more pointless than commenting on the topic under discussion IMO.

The same problem with the term "Breeding Pair" is also evident in aviculture.

It should mean a pair that have bred successfully before before, but more often that not it just means a male and a female.

The real question is... What can we do about it ?

Ask them if the "pair" have bred before, and if no, then tell them they're not a "breeding pair"

Ask them about how the fish under discussion breed. Correct them if they're wrong.

Abuse them if they're too stupid to listen. woot.gif

Cheers,

Andy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...