Cirrus
Arowana blogger
I have been asked in a PM to explain what a BD/Leo is exactly. What follows is my reply. Please add onto it if you can and we can create a useful sticky:.
BD/Leo is the term many use to describe hybrid rays that are a blend of various P13 geographic variants found in the wild. In the 1970-1990's there was only one kind of P.Leopoldi on the market, a ray which to be honest did not have a lot of white spots. Then BD or Black Diamond rays came along. To my knowledge they were "discovered" and introduced to the international hobby in the early to mid 2000's. Initial prices for breeding pairs was high, in the range of $20,000+ per fish. Brazil banned exports at the time and so there was incredible shortage of supply at the same time that economic growth in Asia was skyrocketing leading to extreme demand. Quality of BD's was determined by presence of more spotting, "doughnut spotting", and belly spotting. I remember back in 2008 being asked to broker a deal for a pair in Singapore that was for sale for 20,000-30,000 Euros.
A big factor in prices being so high for so long had to do with the embargo on ray exports Brazil maintained during the early to late 2000's. Once the embargo was replaced with a quota system, exports of high end rays occurred at levels that allowed for overseas breeders to become established (mainly in Europe - Netherlands and Germany - and in Asia - Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and elsewhere). Over time there was inevitably some interbreeding that occurred amongst the various strains of P13 ("normal" leos, Black Diamond, maybe even the odd bit of P.Henlei/P14). The fish that have emerged are now called by many BD/Leos, since they are somewhat of a hybrid of what were geographically distinct P13 variants.
The outcome for hobbyists depends on your point of view. If you are a purist and are after pure "wild caught" type blood lines you may be a bit disappointed. If you after beautiful black rays with lots more large spots and belly spotting then you are happy. Most overseas breeders continue to sell their "improved" P.leopoldi as just "leos". The same farms have done a good job of keeping blood lines clean for the highest end Black Diamond rays and sell them as being "Black Diamonds".
BD/Leo is the term many use to describe hybrid rays that are a blend of various P13 geographic variants found in the wild. In the 1970-1990's there was only one kind of P.Leopoldi on the market, a ray which to be honest did not have a lot of white spots. Then BD or Black Diamond rays came along. To my knowledge they were "discovered" and introduced to the international hobby in the early to mid 2000's. Initial prices for breeding pairs was high, in the range of $20,000+ per fish. Brazil banned exports at the time and so there was incredible shortage of supply at the same time that economic growth in Asia was skyrocketing leading to extreme demand. Quality of BD's was determined by presence of more spotting, "doughnut spotting", and belly spotting. I remember back in 2008 being asked to broker a deal for a pair in Singapore that was for sale for 20,000-30,000 Euros.
A big factor in prices being so high for so long had to do with the embargo on ray exports Brazil maintained during the early to late 2000's. Once the embargo was replaced with a quota system, exports of high end rays occurred at levels that allowed for overseas breeders to become established (mainly in Europe - Netherlands and Germany - and in Asia - Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and elsewhere). Over time there was inevitably some interbreeding that occurred amongst the various strains of P13 ("normal" leos, Black Diamond, maybe even the odd bit of P.Henlei/P14). The fish that have emerged are now called by many BD/Leos, since they are somewhat of a hybrid of what were geographically distinct P13 variants.
The outcome for hobbyists depends on your point of view. If you are a purist and are after pure "wild caught" type blood lines you may be a bit disappointed. If you after beautiful black rays with lots more large spots and belly spotting then you are happy. Most overseas breeders continue to sell their "improved" P.leopoldi as just "leos". The same farms have done a good job of keeping blood lines clean for the highest end Black Diamond rays and sell them as being "Black Diamonds".
Last edited:
