I had to jump in here. JeffP, Slip and the Mighty Pixie hit the nail on the head. It's just a good looking fish that meets the standards set by the judges. Something as crazy as the fish not coming to the front of the tank (depertment) will deduct points from the overall total of an otherwise perfectly beautiful specimen. Generally the judges will be versed in that particular type fish and judge size and appearance accordingly. A missing scale or tiny nip out of a fin could be enough to knock it out of the winners circle.
Jamison: Your comments about "genetic flaws" if you breed the fish could only possibly happen if you continued to line breed a fish for many generations with it's own progeny. A common Goldfish can be a show quality Goldfish if it is in good shape and has the qualities the judges are looking for. Their is no special "genetic soup" other than the genes that makes that particular fish appealing.
Serrateeth: If you ever see an Arapima Gigas at a fish show...call me. It won't happen. One of the criteria used for judging is against the size...adult size...of the fish. They knock off the majority of points if it is smaller than the average adult. Same will hold tru for a Red Tail Cat. You are using the term "bio-engineering" a little out of context. No one is swapping DNA with a microscope to make the perfect fish. They are giving good condidtions and quality food.
Here's an interesting debate. Inorder to preserve the fins and qualtiy of say ...a gourami...you can scoop it out of your home tank in a big container and never touch the fish...perfect fins. If you enter a big fish like an Umbee...how would you do that and preserve it's mint condidtion. It would be tough to net an Arapima. See my point?
crenicichla: Good looking Citrinellum. Unfortunatel what I have been told is that the judges like the pure bright red colors. Stupid...I know...but I found out the hard way. I entered a fish with similar coloration at an ACA convention. The judge gave me that little tid bit after the show.
Just out of curiosity...how many people here have actually entered a fish in a show? Serateeth? Jamison? Anyone?
Jamison: Your comments about "genetic flaws" if you breed the fish could only possibly happen if you continued to line breed a fish for many generations with it's own progeny. A common Goldfish can be a show quality Goldfish if it is in good shape and has the qualities the judges are looking for. Their is no special "genetic soup" other than the genes that makes that particular fish appealing.
Serrateeth: If you ever see an Arapima Gigas at a fish show...call me. It won't happen. One of the criteria used for judging is against the size...adult size...of the fish. They knock off the majority of points if it is smaller than the average adult. Same will hold tru for a Red Tail Cat. You are using the term "bio-engineering" a little out of context. No one is swapping DNA with a microscope to make the perfect fish. They are giving good condidtions and quality food.
Here's an interesting debate. Inorder to preserve the fins and qualtiy of say ...a gourami...you can scoop it out of your home tank in a big container and never touch the fish...perfect fins. If you enter a big fish like an Umbee...how would you do that and preserve it's mint condidtion. It would be tough to net an Arapima. See my point?
crenicichla: Good looking Citrinellum. Unfortunatel what I have been told is that the judges like the pure bright red colors. Stupid...I know...but I found out the hard way. I entered a fish with similar coloration at an ACA convention. The judge gave me that little tid bit after the show.
Just out of curiosity...how many people here have actually entered a fish in a show? Serateeth? Jamison? Anyone?
