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Jim Cormier has started a program to network people who are keeping West African cichlids and keep track of what is being kept and bred. One of the problems with westies is that species that were once common in the hobby, or were once commonly imported, seem to disappear from the import lists. This is mostly due to a shortage of collectors who move to other places with new species rather than continue to collect the know areas. Great for getting new stuff, but not so great if you are looking for a male or female to complete a pair. For example, wild Pel. subocellatus 'Matadi' have not been imported in a long time, and P. s. 'Moanda' have all of a sudden fallen off the lists as well. Toyin asked Jeff and I if we had any for one of his customers!
One thing I like about Jim's program is that is elegant in its simplicity. All we are asking for is that aquarists keep track of where they get their stock, get it verified (not all that onerous) and try to keep it for as long as possible. The advantage to the hobbyist is that being in the program will get access to a list of others keeping the fish. Hopefully we will all be willing to trade fry for fry in order to provide outcorsses for our wild strains.
The program is being organized on Jim's website: http://www.jmtrops.com/wacmp.html
Jim is looking for people to step up to be a group coordinator. If you want to help out let him know. If you are keeping westies, please participate.
Ted
One thing I like about Jim's program is that is elegant in its simplicity. All we are asking for is that aquarists keep track of where they get their stock, get it verified (not all that onerous) and try to keep it for as long as possible. The advantage to the hobbyist is that being in the program will get access to a list of others keeping the fish. Hopefully we will all be willing to trade fry for fry in order to provide outcorsses for our wild strains.
The program is being organized on Jim's website: http://www.jmtrops.com/wacmp.html
Jim is looking for people to step up to be a group coordinator. If you want to help out let him know. If you are keeping westies, please participate.
Ted