wow, these threads seem to re-born on every forum related to darts....lol when i first started looking into frogs, i was definitely all for mixing. now, i am kind of on the fence, leaning towards no.

while many arguments could be made one way or the other, i think the darts purist's point of view is a bit convoluted (i think is the word i am searching for). as i understand it, the point of keeping species blood lines pure because of their declining numbers in the wild, is pure, unadulterated poppycock. IF that were true, then i ask this one question of those people: How many of your frogs have you donated to help restore the species? and i don't mean to just randomly release frogs into the wild, but how many have donated their frogs to conservation programs designed for just that purpose?

now, the absolute best reasoning i have read, and i truly agree with this stand point, is for quality control. i believe that if a person want to purchase a d. tinc. 'new river', than that is what they should receive. not a hybrid that was advertised to be a new river. the problem lies in irresponsibility of the frog keepers who say "i'm gonna mix, but it's just gonna be for me", which in turn becomes a sale because the owner needs cash. now that hybrid is out there and could possibly contaminate the gene pool of other's collections.

now,i propose this question to purists, Why are you worried about hybrids in the marketplace, don't you purchase your frogs from reputable breeders? i'm sure the purists are NOT buying their frogs off of Juan at the bottom of the off ramp (I got oranges, mangos and Dendrobates!), so exactly how would their gene pool get contaminated?

ok, now as far as fighting and aggression, that should be a no brainer, although it's not to some people.

i think hybrids DO have a place in this hobby. provided they are bred by experts in the field. i mean come on, who wouldn't want to see their "terrestrial dart" climbing up into the top parts of their tank because they have a bit of Leuc in them. but see, i'm thinking like a beginner in darts (because i am). a lot of people are put off by the shyer species. well, with hybridization, those "pretty blue ones" that are only for the hardcore frogger, will most likely be purchased by someone who will love and care for them, just as if they were pure line. provided of course, if boldness is a trait passed on. THAT is why i said by experts. The average Joe, should not try this at home. but i am also a realist who knows it is happening as i type this.

and last but not least, parasites and toxicity.......well, no arguments from me on that one....LOL

also, may i remind you that i am the person who think it's poppycock that frogs will drown if water is higher than their chin (sick frogs excluded of course), so i may just be full of ****. and just for the record, i am an advocate of single species tanks. i believe you get a more wonderful understanding of your frogs behaviors and habits when they are by themselves.