Mattfinn
Aquarium Advice Addict
Yes I do. This comes from a 40+ career in the fish business. You meet a lot of people in that time. As for breeding kingpin...... I may need to take the second position on that. See the above comment for who I give that crown to. I'll take the crown for leading the charge for better fish to be available in the stores. Ironically, the 2 friends I just visited both were saying that today's fish are nothing like what we used to have. They were bigger, brighter and in better condition back then. For example: Libby Bettas that barely fit in the bowls at the IBC conventions ( 1 friend was an IBC judge at one time) , HAHNEL Guppies that would make today's guppies look like feeder fish and swordtails that could eat today's swords for breakfast. The list is long and extensive. What we are seeing today are the results of creating all these new colors. Size was genetically sacrificed for the color lines. It will take decades of constant work to bring these old kinds of fish back if they can be brought back. Sadly, I doubt I will see it in my lifetime but I'm willing to lead the change.
woah sounds like a bit of prodigy this guy, my neighbour that set me up with my first killis is the closest I know to breeding supremacy. Breeds over 15 different killis at a time plus his annuals, fancy guppies and cory strains. He does his best to just to keep killis alive here in australia, we don't have many species but he and the rest of his club are keeping enough out there to keep that section of the hobby alive. So completely understand what you mean about quality of fish and all, hopefully the more younger generations like me can take on and continue the standards out there.