[XXXJAYXXX]

I know there are lots of "purist" type folks out there that frown upon Hybridizing species... But looking around the world (especially Europe!) there is a thriving Hybrid community that are producing some incredible fish! I don't see how this is any different from cross breeding dogs to get desired traits.. even most of the "pure bred" dogs started out as hybrids if you go back far enough in the lineage.. I see hybrids as the future of fish keeping.. so I decided to start this thread for other people out there that may have some cool species kicking around in their tanks that you would never find in a pet store.. These are two of my own creations.. none of these were forced breeds.. they just happened to breed that way in the tank..

The first is a Sciaenochromis Fryeri (Electric Blue) - protomelas taeniolatus (Red Empress) hybrid.. took on the blue face and white streak on the head from the electric blues.. But his anal fin has a cool red streak in it.. and the blue fades to almost charcoal near is tail when he gets excited.. Very cool looking fish!

The Second is a Sciaenochromis Fryeri - Alunocara SP (OB Peacock) hybrid.. He kept his blue colour.. but has a burst of orange on his body and fins... This isn't the greatest pic of him.. he has been getting picked on for the last few days.. so he's not as bright as he usually is.. But still a cool looking fish!

Would love to see pics of other cool one-off you may have in your tank! Haters can post elsewhere please and thank you!

 

[jbyoung00008]

Great thread. Both those fish look cool. IMO their is nothing wrong with a hybrid if it looks nice. I can never figure out who both parents are so I never know fully what species they are a cross of. 1 of my favorite fish in my tank is a hybrid Lwanda. I've grown him from egg. He's 2 now. I even found him on the floor a few months ago half dried. I tossed.him back in the tank and he lived. He's not the best looking Landa but I wouldn't sell him for $100

The downfall to hybrids is not all turn out nice so you are left with lots of drap fish with no where to go. People turn to the LFS to take them in. This ends up flooding the market wish washed out Africans. IPU is a perfect example of that.

Just my 2 cents

 

[XXXJAYXXX]

I totally know where you are coming from.. many of the babies wound up becoming "feeder fish".. lol.. Both of these were the first dominant male of their broods... That's why I held on to them.. Glad I did! As for telling who the parents are.. there is usually one male in the tank at a time that gets really aggressive.. all of the males are about the same size.. so it really depends on their breeding habbits as to who the "boss" of the tank is.. So I just paid attention to who was courting at the time.. and then put 2 and 2 together.. lol

 

[SinisterKisses]

I don't see how this is any different from cross breeding dogs to get desired traits

The difference is that dogs have different BREEDS, but they are all the same SPECIES. Therefore, they are mixed breed dogs, not hybrids.

The problem with hybrid fish is that they are almost never actually represented as such. MOST people buying hybrids are doing so unintentionally, thinking they are actually purchasing a fish of a pure species. Hybrids in the fish industry/hobby are one thing if they are honestly represented as such - for example, I have a Thai Silk Flowerhorn and two OB peacocks in my various tanks. I know they are hybrids and purchased them knowing such, so no big deal - BUT most people would have no idea. The hobby, especially where African cichlids is involved, has been inundated with hybrids of countless and often accidental mixes, and these days finding a pure species of any particular fish can be incredibly difficult. This likely isn't a problem for those hobbiests who simply want a tank with pretty, colourful fish. But for those of us who are serious hobbiests, and know our fish extensively, this is extremely frustrating.

 

[XXXJAYXXX]

Ahhh.. I guess it pays to never take life too seriously ;-) After all... its not like any of us are going to make it out alive at the end of it... lol

 

[SinisterKisses]

No, but if I'm paying decent money for something that is represented as a specific species, I expect that it is.

 

[Dude]

Here is a hybrid I bought while it was smaller. The seller had no idea what it was as a juvi and I thought it might be a sunshine by some colouring it had when I saw it. But this guy turned into this pretty cool looking hybrid.

 

[KTown mbunamani]

Sorry, I'm a purist...nice look'n fish though. I've also heard that hybrids can be more aggressive than the parent breeds. My Malawians never crossbred, but if they had, I was ready to cull them.

 

[NLaferriere]

Ya I'm also a purist and hate to see hybrid species, period. All these hybrid Peacocks and Haps are gross. Why mess with what nature created over 1,000's of years of evolution!?

 

[coppercloud]

.....but there are hybrids in nature

 

[NLaferriere]

You're a hybrid...

 

[cpat83]

I find it comical that in a thread titled "Cool Hybrids" people will respond, only to say "they dont like hybrids" lol

Nice looking fish. I wouldn't make it a purpose to "breed hybrids" but they do happen in nature just not as prolific as it would be in the tank world.

 

[KTown mbunamani]

The reason we hate it, is that it messes up the purebreds. I'm sick of going into LFS and look'n over African mbuna that no one can actually identify! They can also be very aggressive.

I find it strange that some would post about crossbreeds and not expect to take a little flack for it! Does it matter at all what experts like Ad Konings say about it?

 

[cpat83]

To each to their own, and they should enjoy whatever they want in their personal tanks.

And no, these hybrids do not "mess up the purebreds" as they are not being released into the wild, two different things between the wild and essentially 'farmed' aquarium fish.