Mutagens: would it help to develop a new strain?

[Albanets]

Hi, here is the thought:
I heard that when russians were developing famous Moscow strain of guppyes, sometimes they used low dosages of mutagens (e.g. radioactivity).
It would give very high amount of potential "culls" or sterile parents, but there is always a chance of coming into something.

After all, Blue Diamonds were developed from a single mutation...

http://www.aic-kumamoto.co.jp/

So, the IDEA:
If some of breeders with extra space could try this???

I know, discus is not guppy, but outcome is also soooooo much bigger!

[Jason]

Dr. Schmidt-Focke tried x-rays and UV rays in the 80's to induce mutation but did not get any results.

[Jason]

second thought, maybe its just cold war-era propaganda.

The Soviets using radiation to sucessfully mutate new guppy strains is about as likely as the Americans actually put a man on the moon.

don't beleive the hype :-)

[Albanets]

LoL, there WAS a man on the moon! :))

As I have PhD in cell biology, I would say that it is perfectly possible to use radiation to get a new strain. You increase a number of mutations, and vast majority of them will be bad, but there is always a chance of getting a good one, and if you keep careful breeder's eye, you can get lucky.

Discus even has an advantage over guppies: they have large batches of fry which grow raither quickly.

One guy tryed and failed, but this should not stop others ;)

Another thing: who told you that he failed? ;)

[CAGE-RATTLER]

Put a couple in the microwave and let us no how it turns out ;)