Hybridization in progress...UGH!!

Pink Convict Cichlid(F) and a Rio Grande Cichlid(M) that are spawning...should I:

  • Allow them to spawn to see what the fry will look like as they grow up

    Votes: 55 58.5%
  • Kill the eggs

    Votes: 4 4.3%
  • Separate the pair

    Votes: 10 10.6%
  • Use the fry as feeders only

    Votes: 25 26.6%

  • Total voters
    94
It is all up to you man. Lots of people here and everywhere for that matter, dont agree with hybridization. If you dont have a problem with it than go for it. You need to know that you probably will never be able to sell the fish to an LFS, you will probably have to do it through the newspaper or something. And the offspring probably wont be really healthy and wont have a very long lifespan. But then again they could turn out to be awesome fish and you might find an LFS who will take them just cause they may look cool. So again it is totally up to you.
 
I voted to allow them to spawn and see what they look like, However there are so many factors involved in this that it really is tough. If you don't wish to house and raise fry, Don't wish to kill baby fish later etc. you might want to kill the eggs and make life easy on yourself.
Dave
 
labont865 said:
It is all up to you man. Lots of people here and everywhere for that matter, dont agree with hybridization. If you dont have a problem with it than go for it. You need to know that you probably will never be able to sell the fish to an LFS, you will probably have to do it through the newspaper or something. And the offspring probably wont be really healthy and wont have a very long lifespan. But then again they could turn out to be awesome fish and you might find an LFS who will take them just cause they may look cool. So again it is totally up to you.

The LFS in this area (Pets Unlimited) doesn't have any morals at all...they'd take the fish from me...and sell them...assuming the fish would survive in their poor excuse for fish tanks.
I'm not willing to let anyone have these fry though...I don't agree with hybridized fish, for the simple reason that people are not responsible with them.
 
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I would grow a few out and see what they turn out like.

If you have alot of them then you could use them as feeders, but even if that were the case I would still keep a few.

Don't seperate the pair, that's cruel IMO, if they chose eachother then leave it alone.

Do I seperate you from dating, say.... an asian girl?, no

See where I'm getting at?

But all of this is entirely up to you.
 
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a white guy and an asian girl is not wrong. all humans are the same species. when two different species breed that becomes a problem. it causes a decrease in all around genetic diversity and eventually the extinction of the thwo individual species. this may not be as big of a deal since it is in an aquarium, but if one of those fish happen to get to a pet store it could (potentially) cause the loss of a species to the aquatic hobbies. not that it hasn't happened many times before, but do you want to be responsible for that
?
 
blueturq said:
I would grow a few out and see what they turn out like.

If you have alot of them then you could use them as feeders, but even if that were the case I would still keep a few.

Don't seperate the pair, that's cruel IMO, if they chose eachother then leave it alone.

Do I seperate you from dating, say.... an asian girl?, no

See where I'm getting at?

But all of this is entirely up to you.


I can easily separate them without even removing them from the tank. All I need to do in put another convict or another rio grand cichlid in there...and this 'hybrid pair' will break up on its own....because naturally they have the URGE to spawn with their own species. (hybridization of Central American cichlids in the WILD is EXTREMELY rare...if it even happens at all)
 
thechurro said:
a white guy and an asian girl is not wrong. all humans are the same species. when two different species breed that becomes a problem. it causes a decrease in all around genetic diversity and eventually the extinction of the thwo individual species. this may not be as big of a deal since it is in an aquarium, but if one of those fish happen to get to a pet store it could (potentially) cause the loss of a species to the aquatic hobbies. not that it hasn't happened many times before, but do you want to be responsible for that
?


Well said. :)

Actually there are species of cichlids in the world that are becoming very difficult to get...as 100% pure.
My neighbour bought two Convicts....they spawned...and the fry turned out all messed up. She went back to the pet store and they were like "Oops...ya, the male convict has some Jack Dempsey in him."

The Flowerhorn is a total mess, IMO...
 
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