releasing baby ribbons far from original habitat?

[jitami]

In my (professional?) opinion, it's best not to mix populations in the wild.

Even babies? Due to possible illness/parasites/etc? Or for another reason?

[Stefan-A]

Even babies? Due to possible illness/parasites/etc? Or for another reason?

Illness and the possible long-term impact on genetic diversity. There are certain problems with releasing fish from other rivers or lakes, for example. Either they get outcompeted by the local population, they outcompete it and thus eliminate a unique set of genes (which leads to a reduced biodiversity), or the sudden influx of more animals increase the pressure on the food source and cause the whole population to collapse, although the last one is more of a problem with bigger release projects.

Sorry, I'm too tired to go into details. It's just a bad idea to release animals in the wrong area. If you don't have any idea what the consequences will be, it's best not to do it.

[jitami]

Makes sense, Stefan. Thanks.

[Hornets23]

Animals from different areas have evolved to deal with different ecological pressures. They are genetically equipped with the ability to deal with certain things and if you release them in a different area, they might not be equipped. I know that you're not located THAT far from where you got them but it could affect their ability to survive.

[Stefan-A]

Animals from different areas have evolved to deal with different ecological pressures. They are genetically equipped with the ability to deal with certain things and if you release them in a different area, they might not be equipped. I know that you're not located THAT far from where you got them but it could affect their ability to survive.

Reproductive isolation may still have occurred.

Does the new habitat resemble the old one? Is it at the same altitude? Is the climate the same? Are the prey animals the same? Do they follow the same yearly rhythm? There are so many factors that may have guided the development of that particular population in a different direction than the populations that surround it.

This is more general, doesn't necessarily apply to this case.

[drache]

here's my update
Johann brought me five of the babies the night before last
he's keeping two and is planning to release the mom where he found her next time he goes
I got some guppies for the babies and my . . . - are they aggressive eaters!
I had to break up several food fights, one of them a three-way
anyway - here's a pic of a couple

[infernalis]

Rhea that is great news in more ways than one....

Kudos to both of you

[anji1971]

What a nice way to work it out!
Very pretty babies...........congrats!

[drache]

they are available for adoption and the remaining ones will probably end up in the PS107 science class room, after we work out some security kinks to protect them from the occasional moronic type of young person that invariably occurs mixed in with all the wonderful, smart and thoughtful ones we know to be in the majority
with the appetite they showed, I doubt that switching them to pinks will be much of a problem - I'll start them the moment they start going for fish-scented finger

[jitami]

Very nice Rhea & Johann! Thanks for the pics, too. They're adorable!