Zebra Hybridization?

[PredatorFish]

I have 3 zebras in my mbuna tank. They are all different color morfs, a red top cobalt, an ob, and a pearl cobalt. If these fish were to breed would it be considered hybridization?

[morleyz]

I believe they're all the same species, so you would simply be mixing up the color genes a bit...

[ChilDawg]

It would be considered hybridization of morphs, and these morphs may actually be found to be different species or subspecies, and you may thus have hybridization. Ask the original discoverer of the Endler's Livebearer what he thinks of the little fish as it is seen in the hobby today--he'll see that it is not the same due to people thinking that these were just guppy colour morphs at first...so, in summation, don't let them cross, especially if they are Rift Lake cichlids, because we don't know enough about the ichthyofauna to know if they will be classified as different species later!

[morleyz]

According to malawicichlids.com all 3 of those "morphs" are present in nature and interbreed naturally. I don't see any harm in allowing a "hybrid" of something that hybridizes in nature.

[PredatorFish]

Thank you for the input. I am not sure if they are male or female yet. They are between 1.5"-2" right now. I guess I will find out if they are all males soon but they are getting along great right now. I thought that the best way to sex them was to look for egg spots but I have heard from several people that egg spots aren't the best way.

[Faramir]

No harm as such, but there is the danger of the domesticated population becoming like plasticene three days after you give it to the kids - homogenous and brown.