Wild Sunset Variatus?

[Melody]

Hmmm.... :idea: if a fish is released into the wild, breeds, and then someone fishes them out, is it then classed as wild? Wild I guess, but not a wild-type, correct? Is it just me? lol

I have these things in my tank as we speak. As far as I know, they're a fancy color strain, not a wild-type. Red-tailed Gold Variatus. Maybe there's something I don't know? :Dunno:

I do know one thing, you can get the regular finned color form for $3 in a good fish store....lol....I guess fishing them out of the wild makes them worth $25/trio? :Think:

I really could be missing something, but I don't think this is a wild-type.

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwlivebearersw&1177896040

Thoughts? :Confused:

Oh! Here's a thought! When it warms up I'll go throw some Platy's in a pond and someone else can fish them out & make a killing! :ShakeHands:

[CACAdmin]

Just some thoughts on the subject:

Despite trying to educate people about the ecological impact of aquarium fish being released into the wild, I'm sure there are many which have been. And, given the temperatures in Florida many probably survive. IMO, if caught in the wild, I would say they are wild but they wouldn't be a 'wild-type' (which to me is a wild fish native to it's location).

Does catching them in the wild, mean they are worth more? Maybe because some captive bred fish have been pumped with all kids of meds to ward off infection, etc. To me their value would be the same as fish bred by a local hobbyist.

:Dunno: Maybe someone might pay a little extra for the novelty idea that they had been caught in the wild... but 3/$25? Who knows? But not me.:no:

[Melody]

There are Variatus populations which are blue with a red tail & yellow dorsal, but that gold body is exactly the same as the captive strains. I could be wrong, happens all the time, but I think its a domestic release. The vertical bars are a Swordtail trait for the most part, so maybe they hybridized out there.

I don't doubt the guy got them in the wild, I just question if they are a wild strain or not. The price blows me away when I have them swimming in a tank behind me:laugh: . I think it should be listed in domestics if its not a bonified wild-type strain.

Pretty fish, the variatus, wherever they come from.