Hi..

At the moment Opaline Gourami and Black Lace / Golden
Angel hybrids (I don't know if there is a name for that).

Fine..

[...hobbyist breeding versus commercial breeding...]

Well.., hobbyist breeding and commercial breeding sometimes
seem to be two different universes. ;-)

Before these spawns I read a lot about the prevalence of
deformities, and therefore the need to cull, and how it is
common for growth rates to be so dissimilar that is
possible for faster growing fry to eat the
smaller ones.

Hmm., in nature smallness means danger of life and only the
smartest and fittest fry will survive. The magic word is
selection. That's real life and the necessity of selection
is the first lesson a hobbyist breeder has to learn. Well
sounds a little bit precocious I know..

I'm inclined to believe the algae and critters were
helpful in early development.

Good luck..!
--
cu
Marco