> >One of the things I find really annoying about these things, is that you
> >can't keep them. I breed a different pupfish, C. veronicae, that's
> >extinct in the wild. I doubt these fish would ever catch on as popular
> >aquarium breeds, but it seems that if I fish is on it's way out, it may
> >not be a bad idea to allow people that care enough to keep them, so at
> >least they'll be around. Heck if they were to catch on as a popular
> >fish, there would probably be more public support to save the wild ones.
> >They could still be illegal to catch in the wild, just have a few taken
> >by those in control, start them out at a few public aquariums and allow
> >them to pass them on as they see fit. A few would eventually get to
> >dedicated aquarists.
>
> The Devils Hole pupfish represents a complicated case. First of all, the
USFWS
> maintain the fish at several refugia, one at Ash Meadows and the other at
Hoover
> Dam. Specimens from these refugia help supplement Devils Hole stock. So,
> basically, there's little chance of this species going extinct unless our
buddy
> "Rush" rotenones all three locations. (And before you get in a huff, Rush,
on
> how much the feds are paying for diabolis refugia, please know that it's a
> bargain. A couple holes in the ground, a little ledge, a fence and a lock,
some
> photosynthesis, and the pups take care of themselves.)
>
> Propagation of Devils Hole pupfish in captivity is exceedingly difficult.
Most
> conservation and public aquarists have failed. Something to do with
Devil's Hole
> unusual water chemistry.
>
> Also, EXTREME CARE must be taken with captive diabolis offspring -- they
grow
> almost 2x larger than their wild brethren and actually develop rudimentary
> pelvic fins (C. diabolis are pelvic fin-less). In just a few generations
they
> stop being C. diabolis. Apparently. selection pressure on the species
changes in
> captivity, resulting in a gradual evolution of a type better adapted to
the new
> habitat. Thus, the gene pool is altered and the original C. diabolis is
gone.
>
> Rhonda, have you noticed any change with your C. veronicae? What efforts
are you
> taking to maximize genetic heterogeneity?
>
> Chris Scharpf
> Baltimore
>
>
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