My self-cloning crayfish have been at it again. I checked today to see if the offspring have been released from the mother and to my delight they have been. There are about 20 or 30 miniature crayfish running around the aquarium now.

I am going to let them grow to near adult size and then try to sell them! If you are interested in buying some, please let me know!

Please bare with me as I am updating the site… The new layout will be streamlined and help the site load faster and be much more user friendly. The process of changing it over, on the other hand is not so streamlined and there will be some odd happenings over the next week or so!

Check out the wiki and blog and let me know if you like the new look?

I have 3 juvenile Self Cloning Crayfish for sale.

The price is $45.00 and that will include FREE shipping!

The first person to contact me using the contact us form will receive all the information on how to order. I look forward to hearing from you!

Bill over at ArizonaInverts.com (one of our sponsors) has announced that his forum is having an article-writing contest. 

There are quite a bit of prizes to be won with this contest, including Dwarf Shrimp such as Blue Pearl Shrimp, Tiger Shrimp and Crystal Red Shrimp (S grade and higher), as well as many different types of hardware.

It is a simple contest to enter and the prizes are great!  You can find out more about ArizonaInverts.com’s contest by visiting http://arizonainverts.com/forums/index.php?showforum=26 

Good Luck and Enjoy!

Over the past few days I have been discussing Hybridization of Dwarf Shrimp and attempting to show my arguments against it. Today I am going to attempt to refute arguments for it. Here are a few of the arguments for hybridization that I have come across.

• Possibly genetically stronger shrimp
• Possible better-looking shrimp
• Greater control over aesthetics

Possibly genetically stronger shrimp

A genetically strong shrimp is a possible outcome of a cross breed and there is no argument that it is not a possibility. There is also a possibility of a genetically inferior shrimp. Either way, I don’t like the idea.

Dwarf Shrimp, in general, are fairly robust and easy to care for. The need for a genetically stronger shrimp is not great, if at all. Many of the popular Dwarf Shrimp can be cared for by a beginner hobbyist and the more advanced shrimp are easy to care for by and season aquarist.

The biggest problem with a genetically stronger, or weaker Dwarf Shrimp goes back to possible release into the wild. A genetically superior shrimp will eventually eliminate a genetically inferior native population.

So the need for a genetically stronger shrimp is low and the possible ramifications are great!

Possible better-looking shrimp

Again, the possibility of a better-looking shrimp cannot be dismissed. There is a possibility that a hybrid shrimp could be better looking, as well as less aesthetically pleasing. The process of hybridizing a shrimp could lead to some amazing looking shrimp, but so does selective breeding of a single species.

There are no dangers presented to a native population by a selectively bred shrimp. The selectively bred shrimp is the same species as the native population, with specific traits being displayed more. Again, no need to possibly mess up a species just to accomplish something that may be accomplished with selective breeding.

Greater control over aesthetics

I have never understood this argument. I have seen it a few times but scientifically this is just not the case. Control over the outcome of a hybrid is limited and experimental. Sure, the results can be replicated if the conditions are right, but there is no where near the control with hybridization as there is with selective breeding.

So those are my thoughts. I highly encourage further discussion about this topic!

Update:
To Hybridize or Not to Hybridize, That is the Question! (part 1)
To Hybridize or Not to Hybridize, That is the Question! (part 2)