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Hello everyone. Im just curious. Is there such thing as tarantula in breeding? I mean would the quality of my tarantula deteriorates if I use brother-sister as breeding pairs?
It isn't as much an issue with inverts but people prefer to pair 'non-related' Ts for breeding.Hello everyone. Im just curious. Is there such thing as tarantula in breeding? I mean would the quality of my tarantula deteriorates if I use brother-sister as breeding pairs?
Definitely yes! There are at least several more or less common species in captivity, all of whose members can trace their lineage back to one or a very few eggsacs or mothers imported several decades ago. At this point, genetically they're all very nearly identical twins!... Is there such thing as tarantula in breeding? ...
At this point in the hobby we have not been inbreeding enough to be able to see any glaring disasters. But, it's getting to the point where almost every week someone else reports or asks questions about some defect they just noticed in their favorite pet tarantula.... I mean would the quality of my tarantula deteriorates if I use brother-sister as breeding pairs?
+101 I agree.Definitely yes! There are at least several more or less common species in captivity, all of whose members can trace their lineage back to one or a very few eggsacs or mothers imported several decades ago. At this point, genetically they're all very nearly identical twins!
At this point in the hobby we have not been inbreeding enough to be able to see any glaring disasters. But, it's getting to the point where almost every week someone else reports or asks questions about some defect they just noticed in their favorite pet tarantula.
And, other industries and hobbies breeding all the common domestic and pet animals and plants see the results of intense inbreeding every day. Our time will come.
I have participated in several heated discussions on this subject in the past, with a generally negative or even antagonistic response from other enthusiasts. They refuse to see the writing on the wall. You can read some of these by going to these links:
http://thebts.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?2828-Cross-breeding
http://thebts.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?3303-breeding
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=100533
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=109401
Also, use the Search link in the gray bar across the top of this page to look up the following search strings
inbreeding
selective breeding
Lastly, perform similar searches in other forums you may be a member of. Just be sure to put on another pot of coffee or make sure you have an ample supply of your other favorite beverages. And, clear your schedule. You have a lot of reading ahead of you.
Enjoy your inbred, 7-eyed, 9-legged little marvels!
Not exactly true. It can be done perfectly, besides there are ways to slow down growth for males. I've done it with sac mates and the sac was very healthy...I would think that brother and sister would not be likely; rather, son to mother. Brothers and sisters are going to mature too far apart from what I understand.
This makes no sense to me...it contradicts itself with the primary advantage of sexual reproduction, which is genetical variability.Actually, with some species, it's recommended to use specimens from the same sac (so: brother+sister). I'm not an expert, but I've heard several times that Poecilotheria metallica has a higher chance of producing a succesful eggsac when 'incest' happens.
But you cannot cheat Mother Nature. If you take the easy (some of us would say lazy) way of breeding them, sooner or later your family line of metalicas will suddenly begin to display too many eyes, or no eyes, or no spinnerets, or crippled legs, or high mortality rates during molts, etc. The Devil must take his due.Actually, with some species, it's recommended to use specimens from the same sac (so: brother+sister). I'm not an expert, but I've heard several times that Poecilotheria metallica has a higher chance of producing a succesful eggsac when 'incest' happens.
This is yet another interesting thread in the vast fabric of life on Earth.This makes no sense to me...it contradicts itself with the primary advantage of sexual reproduction, which is genetical variability.
Are you speaking of Arautums StanMeanwhile, enjoy your little 8-legged flame throwers!
"Hybridizing" is still frowned upon there thoughBrother and sister breeding is ok if in West Virginia!!!:barf::barf:
Evolution by adaptation -Natural Selection- doesn't work as ''species benefit'', but as INDIVIDUAL survival and reproduction, and the successful advantageous characteristics are passed on through generations. In an extreme case, it would depend in what kind of organism we are talking about, there are many strategies to avoid endogamy...but an organism doesn't act ''for the survival of their species''.This is yet another interesting thread in the vast fabric of life on Earth.
In an extreme situation, perhaps where all but a very few individuals survive some calamity, it is better for siblings to produce offspring than for the species to go extinct. Mother Nature (again, please forgive the anthropomorphism) would then deal with any deleterious results over the following generations through normal variation and natural selection.
Indeed, that's also a very good point.I look at my dubia roaches. I have a colony that has been inbreeding for at least several generations in my care. I still have plenty of roaches, but I have noticed more smaller females, but many are still very large. I've been feeding the smaller females to the T's and saving just the larger females. I think the same principle should be used with T's. Don't breed the small ts, the poor eaters, those with defects or lesions, but if they're healthy, breed them.
I've read that Poecilotheria metallica have a severely fragmented range/ distribution. I'd have to do some digging to find it, but if was true then wouldn't the members of a 'pocket' be related in some form or fashion?Actually, with some species, it's recommended to use specimens from the same sac (so: brother+sister). I'm not an expert, but I've heard several times that Poecilotheria metallica has a higher chance of producing a succesful eggsac when 'incest' happens.