Explanation of the Program:

This is not the Breeder Award Program.  A species or strain is

to be managed for the duration.  A single strain can earn

an aquarist points for decades.  The participating aquarist

can register any species of tropical fish or even multiple

strains of the same species.  The idea is to keep the lineage

going.  One pair may produce offspring for years but

eventually they will need to be replaced.  The participant should

not wait to generate new breeding pairs since real success

in this program requires a string of generations.  Fry turned

in for points must be descendents of the fish originally

registered.  This does not mean new blood was never added,

just that some of the breeders in every generation came

from the participant's stock.

Precautions should be taken when breeding for species

maintenance.  The best method changes from fish to fish,

and depends on the time frame - two years, ten years, or

one hundred years.  We do not know whether a preserve   

   will be formed, a location will be found to stock with fish,

or how long the wild population will last.  The long term

requires the aquarist's skill in noticing what the fish require.

The aspect of genetic diversity will be new to many participants.

Continued inbreeding leads to populations that have fewer

variations in traits.  In small populations, random chance

sometimes leaves the entire population with a deleterious gene.

What traits are needed for this fish to be kept?  By an

aquarist in a different part of the country?  Which traits are

needed to survive in the wild and the occasional year with

bad weather?  One sure thing, the availability of wild stock

for out crossing will only diminish in time.  The number of

maintained breeders should be balanced against burn out.  

Meter your goals knowing an extended effort is required,

 balanced against extra effort as prudent insurance!