Eugenics Issues

1466 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Knotyoureality, Sep 22, 2012

SpecGrrl

Discussion Starter · Sep 21, 2012

I have a strong civil rights background.

And the thought that I am selecting snails to live and die based on their species and sometimes their color makes me feel guilty.

Now that I have a variety of ramshorns that have hitchhiked in as eggs or small size, the gold ramshorns with pink feet and the leopard spotted ramshorns are my preferred ones.

But I have a brown footed brown ramshorn that was one of my first snails. I can't bring myself to put him intot he assassins' tank.

I wish I could give him a contraceptive! I don't want him impregnating the little pink ones with gold shells!

Gah! I am species-ist!

*goes off to work on her issues*

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

starrlamia

· #2 · Sep 21, 2012

You crack me up, what about a small two gallon snail tank? Though that does bring up issues of segregation.

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MABJ

· #3 · Sep 21, 2012

Hmm. I'd say we are different for our cognitive thinking, however that doesn't make your point worth less.

This hobby already has these issues. The shrimp you buy? Selectively bred. I would say don't think of it as a color battle, more of a battle of the fittest.

And in our world, attractive colors make you fit lol.

I selectively bred brown spotted mini ramshorns myself

I'm bored now and I want red or blue! Lol

From MABJ's iPhone
2G Fluval Spec ~ fauna and flora in the works!

dougolasjr

· #4 · Sep 21, 2012

I have a tank that I have been trying to keep only gold rams with pink feet, and I also feel bad picking out the brown and spotted ones and moving to another tank. Espically since the tank they are moved too has Assassin snails in it.

somewhatshocked

· #5 · Sep 21, 2012

Who says they have to die or go into a tank with Assassin snails?

Set up another tank for them and give the extras away.

Knotyoureality

· #6 · Sep 21, 2012

I'm not selectively breeding my snails as such--but I don't see much difference between pulling one at random to squish and feed my GBR and shrimp and my pulling just the pond snails (but not the ramhorns) to squish and feed or pulling ALL the snails out of my vase should I decide not to raise 'em as food and converting them into involuntary fertilizer for my houseplants.

So long as you're not being careless with rare/endangered bloodlines, creating high levels of genetic deformities and weakened populations from excessive inbreeding (or worse, sending them out into an unknowing general population rather than cull), or breeding an animal that is harmed by the change (structural deformation creating a impaired functioning or shortened life span, etc)--then go for it.

SpecGrrl

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 22, 2012

dougolasjr said:
I have a tank that I have been trying to keep only gold rams with pink feet, and I also feel bad picking out the brown and spotted ones and moving to another tank. Espically since the tank they are moved too has Assassin snails in it.

I have a jar with a pink footed gold ram and 2 leopard spotted rams in it.

And a critter keeper with assassin snails in it.

I have put pond snails in that critter keeper. Today a small ram also went into that tank, but I couldn't tell what color it was.

It was so small. And I consigned it to death.

There is also a tank at work with 3 goldfish in it, they were the death squad before someone gifted me with assassins.

SpecGrrl

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 22, 2012

somewhatshocked said:
Who says they have to die or go into a tank with Assassin snails?

Set up another tank for them and give the extras away.

I don't have that much room!

Or organizational ability at the moment--my schedule's very busy.

SpecGrrl

Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 22, 2012

Knotyoureality said:
I'm not selectively breeding my snails as such--but I don't see much difference between pulling one at random to squish and feed my GBR and shrimp and my pulling just the pond snails (but not the ramhorns) to squish and feed or pulling ALL the snails out of my vase should I decide not to raise 'em as food and converting them into involuntary fertilizer for my houseplants.

So long as you're not being careless with rare/endangered bloodlines, creating high levels of genetic deformities and weakened populations from excessive inbreeding (or worse, sending them out into an unknowing general population rather than cull), or breeding an animal that is harmed by the change (structural deformation creating a impaired functioning or shortened life span, etc)--then go for it.

I am just a wussy. I haven't squished one yet.

acitydweller

· #10 · Sep 22, 2012

Not a spiciest but a racialist since they are all snails

I originally felt guilt feeding my pond snails to the assassins but after camping out for hours capturing them and scuds, my will to keep my assassin snails fed became stronger.

I also just realized that my betta loves scuds so I realized that I have a live food source at my fingertips. How cool!

SpecGrrl

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 22, 2012

acitydweller said:
Not a spiciest but a racialist since they are all snails

I originally felt guilt feeding my pond snails to the assassins but after camping out for hours capturing them and scuds, my will to keep my assassin snails fed became stronger.

I also just realized that my betta loves scuds so I realized that I have a live food source at my fingertips. How cool!

I am hoping to catch a couple for the girls' tanks too!

I fear the assassins will breed, and the cycle will continue. They are, um, enamoured with each other.

I named them Mr. And Mrs. Smith.

chibikaie

· #12 · Sep 22, 2012

I picked all the snails I could find out of my shrimp tank and put them in a litter box with the "dying but not quite dead yet" plants (mostly hornwort), some duckweed, and an airstone. So far, the snails are thriving with minimal effort from me. I hadn't really thought about the whole arrangement - I didn't want snails in my tanks, but couldn't bring myself to kill them outright - but I kind of like them now. I might upgrade them to a bigger tub.

In general, I don't support breeding for appearance while sacrificing health. It just doesn't feel right to me. As long as the animal's health isn't compromised, though, I don't really mind. I personally prefer wild type shrimp over the fancy colors, but after a week of never finding my well-camoflaged shrimp, I completely understand why the red and other color morphs were developed. If I'm lucky, I'll get to see one shrimp a day (I think I have eight shrimp left).

SpecGrrl

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 22, 2012

chibikaie said:
I picked all the snails I could find out of my shrimp tank and put them in a litter box with the "dying but not quite dead yet" plants (mostly hornwort), some duckweed, and an airstone. So far, the snails are thriving with minimal effort from me. I hadn't really thought about the whole arrangement - I didn't want snails in my tanks, but couldn't bring myself to kill them outright - but I kind of like them now. I might upgrade them to a bigger tub.

In general, I don't support breeding for appearance while sacrificing health. It just doesn't feel right to me. As long as the animal's health isn't compromised, though, I don't really mind. I personally prefer wild type shrimp over the fancy colors, but after a week of never finding my well-camoflaged shrimp, I completely understand why the red and other color morphs were developed. If I'm lucky, I'll get to see one shrimp a day (I think I have eight shrimp left).

I specifically am considering red cherries bc my parents' eyes are bad (they're 86 and 85 -- the tanks get them engaged!).

Also mom wants a nice male betta with long red fins.

After the shrimpies I think. Separate tank.

xenxes

· #14 · Sep 22, 2012

We're neglecting the whole living in captivity, poked and prodded with nets and sticks, lured with year-old freeze-dried food, all for our eye-musement.

Shrimp slavery. It's a cruel hobby.

*Awaiting ACLU+PETA to merge into a super monster*

Elppan

· #15 · Sep 22, 2012

Awwww. I feel the same way. I think snails are awesome. If you ever need it I'll be willing to take some off your hands. I don't have the heart to kill any animals. Hell, I'm even taking care of the pond snail hitchhikers I got. Just let me know and I'd send you money for shipping.

Now, if it was an annoying person... I'd take them out to a hole in the desert... *shove*

Knotyoureality

· #16 · Sep 22, 2012

SpecGrrl said:
I am just a wussy. I haven't squished one yet.

Start small--the littlest ones crawling on the wall are dead easy; you can't even feel it. And your shrimp will find their tiny bodies and feast like there's no tomorrow.

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