Ok I know with a topic header like that, I've gotta get responses! People have some very BIG opinions in this area. Ok here's the deal My mother bought a Jellybean Cichlid about 3 years ago, and her tank started to leak. She decided to give him away, and I took the Jellybean (Pete) thinking he was a small severum. She kept him in a 1 1/2 gallon hex, and I thought maybe his size was stunted. She used no filter, and the water would evaporate 1/3 of the way before she would change the water. When she did water changes she would wash the tank and gravel with dish soap--- I can't believe this fish lived! I have since found out that he is a hybrid (which I DO NOT agree with), but he's got so much (mean) personality I can't part with him! Some of you may have heard me talk about this little 2" (without tail) fish that would lock jaws with my 4" Jack Dempsey. He definately protects his area. I have him alone now in a 10 gal.
Anyways the thing is that I have him in breeding colors, pink body, with bright orange fins/accents (He's lost all his dyed color which was blue). He's digging pits and charging the glass every time I pass by the tank trying to defend them. Also I think I see his "vent" extended to fertilize any eggs that may come along. I've never seen this part on him before. He's constantly cleaning a flat topped rock and trying to move the fake "grass" I have in one area.
Now I don't like to corrupt the gene pool, but would I be wrong to buy another female Jellybean and try to mate them? I've never bred any fish and I hear it's VERY rewarding! I also hear that these fish are great parents like convicts and act similarly. Anyone have any insight into this? I hear convicts are easy to breed, so maybe these are too.....maybe not. Anyway, any ideas on what to do with the offspring? Feed to my Blackbelt and Jack Dempsey? I don't want to promote Hybridization. It's just very difficult watching him do such a great job at establishing a home for he and a mate, only to be left alone with no chances of this. I don't want to mix him with other fish, as he has surprised me with his ferocity. He'll tangle with the best of them, and he's got quite a bit of fighting experience too!
What to do????
Anyways the thing is that I have him in breeding colors, pink body, with bright orange fins/accents (He's lost all his dyed color which was blue). He's digging pits and charging the glass every time I pass by the tank trying to defend them. Also I think I see his "vent" extended to fertilize any eggs that may come along. I've never seen this part on him before. He's constantly cleaning a flat topped rock and trying to move the fake "grass" I have in one area.
Now I don't like to corrupt the gene pool, but would I be wrong to buy another female Jellybean and try to mate them? I've never bred any fish and I hear it's VERY rewarding! I also hear that these fish are great parents like convicts and act similarly. Anyone have any insight into this? I hear convicts are easy to breed, so maybe these are too.....maybe not. Anyway, any ideas on what to do with the offspring? Feed to my Blackbelt and Jack Dempsey? I don't want to promote Hybridization. It's just very difficult watching him do such a great job at establishing a home for he and a mate, only to be left alone with no chances of this. I don't want to mix him with other fish, as he has surprised me with his ferocity. He'll tangle with the best of them, and he's got quite a bit of fighting experience too!
What to do????
