New Discus choices

[poimaster]

I have a dilemma that many of you might have faced in the past. I want to grow beautiful discus and eventually for them to breed. As I begin choosing my base stock from all sorts of places do I only choose the same or similar discus strains? so that one day (hopefully) when they pair up and breed I don't end up with hybrids that may end up contributing to polluting the Discus population.

The advantage of choosing similar strains is that I'm helping to fix the best characteristics of the strain (with strong culling etc). However the disadvantage is that I don't get to keep and enjoy a multitude of different varieties in my tank.

Looking at many of the tank photos on this site many people have a variety of beautiful discus. Sods law states that if I choose one strange strain as a 'special' fish this is the one that is going to breed with the others. Perhaps I'm being too optomistic and should get a variety and have nature take its course. Interested in the wider opinions.

A second question. I thought breeding brothers and sisters (from the same brood) would be a bad idea for genetics. Some fish shops tell me this is 'line-breeding' but my understanding of line breeding was in-breeding generations apart ie grandmother with xx or cousins etc.

All advice appreciated

[ILLUSN]

Your very correct with line breeding v's inbreeding, I guess the question you want to as yourself is why are you keeping discus, to be enjoyed as pets or as a comercial venture? if you just want pets a mixed tank is fine and always eye catching, and if you do get some babbies then good for you, cross strains or pure, they will still be beutiful fish. of course you could start as pets and as you want to move into serious breeding source a partner for the fish you want to breed. this will proably give you better results as you'll limit inbreeding and you can pick which traits you want to breed for. just my thoughts :ug