Ethics of Breeding Hybrid Animals

[MountainMan]

So there is a debate out there as to whether it is ethical or not to breed hybrids. Some say that we need respect evolution and the time it took to for a species to come into existance via natural selection. Others say that hybridization leads to better health in those animals; hybrid vigor and genetic diversity. What do you think?

 

[Azhael]

The argument that hybrids are wrong because they go against evolution is silly as hell...
I have two basic problems with hybrids in the hobby. The first one is the motivation for creating this hybrids, which boils down to commercial interests...i hate that. The other reason why i don´t like them is dishonesty. In most cases, where hybrids are produced, they are then bred back to the parental lines. This usually produces animals that can pass as non-hybrids, specially to the average hobbyist. In the end, there is a situation in which you don´t know what you are buying...you may think you are getting a certain species, but in reality you could be getting a partial hybrid. This is a problem at all levels of hybridization, not just between separate species. Hybrids from different localities, different subspecies, etc, are also very common. The majority of hobbyist couldn´t care less, but those who do find that they have no access to what they are looking for.
Rather than generating genetic diversity, what this mentality of "it´s ok to cross anything" produces is the opposite..an homogenization of the captive gene pool and the loss of regional variants.
There´s also another aspect of the generalized mentality in the hobby that is indirectly related which is the need to breed what you have, no matter what. If in order to breed you have to create hybrids, well, who cares...

I have no problem with an hybrid so long as it is a healthy animal, if it´s going to be kept as a pet. Its genetic background is largely or totally irrelevant. The problem is the complete lack of honesty and integrity in the hobby which means that hybrid and non-hybrid lineages are not kept separate.
We have an excellent example in our neck of the woods with "axolotls". Even though most of us at this point are aware of the genetic introgression, they are still labelled as axolotls with no acknowledgement of the fact. As a result, if there were any lineages in captivity that were 100% axolotl, they are almost certainly lost because people would never think to keep "axolotls" separate from axolotls. Now the result is that most probably, there are no original bloodlines in the hobby and that even if there are, you can have no guarantee whatsoever.

 

[Talen]

In most cases, where hybrids are produced, they are then bred back to the parental lines. This usually produces animals that can pass as non-hybrids, specially to the average hobbyist. In the end, there is a situation in which you don´t know what you are buying...you may think you are getting a certain species, but in reality you could be getting a partial hybrid. This is a problem at all levels of hybridization, not just between separate species. Hybrids from different localities, different subspecies, etc, are also very common.

There are some types of Salamander though that naturally hybridize, or in the case of various Ambystoma require hybridization to ensure the continuation of their species as they produce only female populations. These female only species breed parasitically as they require the sperm stimulus to reproduce while using little to none of the males genetics.

 

[Azhael]

There are some types of Salamander though that naturally hybridize, or in the case of various Ambystoma require hybridization to ensure the continuation of their species as they produce only female populations. These female only species breed parasitically as they require the sperm stimulus to reproduce while using little to none of the males genetics.

Of course, there are many examples of natural hybrids and obviously i couldn´t possibly have anything against them. In the hobby, there are examples that are very artificial, though, like carpballs (Morelia sp. x Python regius). I have nothing against the animals themselves, but i do have something against the people creating them for profit and the entire mentality behind it.

 

[Bellabelloo]

I personally do not like the idea of intentionally hybridising an animal. I am very concerned about the offspring polluting the 'purer' lines.
The animals below look to me like regular wild type axolotl, but they are Axolotl x Andersoni hybrids. These could potentially be sold as regular axolotl, but more concerning to me is that some of these animals look more like Ambystoma andersoni . I could potentially sell these for a lot more money and the owner will be unaware that they are not pure bred animals. There are not that many Ambystoma andersoni here yet in the UK, I would hate to think of the consequences should a few of these 'get out'

 

[oceanblue]

Like all ethics problems it's complicated. I've a garden full of hybrid plants, they are beautiful but do not substitute for the original species or wildlife. Some people sow wildflower red poppies, others go for the large varied and pastel "Shirley" strain or other carefully selected forms.

Since Bellabello has raised the mexicanum x andersoni hybrid as an example I will concentrate on this example as she and I both have some of the same batch of hybrids!

Are we trying to create a captive bred backup to wild andersoni, if so we need a studbook, proper exchange of stock and knowledge of where it came from? Keeping hybrids out of such a programme would be a high priority.

If we are just trying to sell good pets then maybe the hybrids have a place, they are shaping up as slower growing but attractively marked and docile and healthy. They could also potentially add new traits and a wider genetic base to the "pet axolotl" currently on the market.

At the moment axolotls available as pets appear to be a rather inbred mish-mash of lines usually bred from laboratory stock without much thought as to maintaining genetic diversity and strongly favouring visually atractive forms. Humans artificially select their pets.

There is a risk hybrids like these could be fraudulently passed off as andersoni, these animals will not and by reporting on what they look like as they grow and mature will help inform people looking for andersoni.

Summary
Hybrids may make good pets, they may be vigorous and have an attractive appearance. They have little conservation value and this particular hybrid could be fraudulently passed off as pure andersoni, so it relies on people acting ethically, buyer beware or maybe even buyer sue if defrauded which might deter some of the more shifty characters around!