American cichlid compatibility
- Thread starter Hempy
- Start date
You keep telling us to do research, but some of us have. I have been working with this fish since they first got imported into the US several years ago. No one, anywhere that I have seen, has explain how they were created. That Practical Fishkeeping article repeats claims that were heard from a third-party regarding the fish being a cross between rams and acaras. There is no direct knowledge of that, or proof presented in the article. So once again it’s merely speculation that’s being repeated over and over again until it’s truth.
I am not against the hybrid theory, and it ‘s certainly plausible, But I have a problem with stating something as fact when we don’t know that it’s actually a fact. Also, as I mentioned before, I have never heard of anyone crossing rams with anything other than rams. Can it be done artificially? Perhaps. Again, I would need to see proof of that. Until then it’s all just speculation and we should be careful not to state it as anything other than that.
Anyone who thinks that every electric blue fish is a hybrid or genetically engineered fish needs to explain the Blue Diamond discus to me. This fish has been around for decades, long before people were genetically modifying fish for the aquarium trade, and there were no other electric blue fish to try and splice them with.
I am not against the hybrid theory, and it ‘s certainly plausible, But I have a problem with stating something as fact when we don’t know that it’s actually a fact. Also, as I mentioned before, I have never heard of anyone crossing rams with anything other than rams. Can it be done artificially? Perhaps. Again, I would need to see proof of that. Until then it’s all just speculation and we should be careful not to state it as anything other than that.
Anyone who thinks that every electric blue fish is a hybrid or genetically engineered fish needs to explain the Blue Diamond discus to me. This fish has been around for decades, long before people were genetically modifying fish for the aquarium trade, and there were no other electric blue fish to try and splice them with.
The practical fishkeeping article doesn't say that they are definitely hybrids, it just states that is the most likely scenario and that the people who breed/create this fish don't want the secret to get out.
I have to agree with Ryan, the only fact of the matter here is that nobody actually knows other than the people who make the fish. It seems to me that many times, when nobody knows the answer to something, people feel compelled to pick one theory and decide that it is true without any evidence (take religion for instance). There isn't evidence that the fish is, or isn't, a hybrid, at least that I am aware of.
I don't see what the problem is with having this discussion either- this is what forums are for, the sharing of ideas.
I have to agree with Ryan, the only fact of the matter here is that nobody actually knows other than the people who make the fish. It seems to me that many times, when nobody knows the answer to something, people feel compelled to pick one theory and decide that it is true without any evidence (take religion for instance). There isn't evidence that the fish is, or isn't, a hybrid, at least that I am aware of.
I don't see what the problem is with having this discussion either- this is what forums are for, the sharing of ideas.
+1 completely agree with everything Gourami said here.
Also think the op has a bad attitude to Conflicting opinion. I don't see the need for it really.
Amusing thread... Hempy, according to your profile, you're 18 yrs. old? No disrespect intended, I was 18 once, but some of the people you're telling off are respected for their knowledge and decades of experience. I sense no point in me joining the hybrid debate, but stick around here a while and you could find these same people to be a great source of information and help over time.
As far as your basic questions: Jewel fish are risky in the tank you propose. Some individuals aren't too bad, but some are psycho killers and the psychos are capable of making a mess of a much larger, non psycho SA cichlid in short order-- personal experience. Bad risk for what you're proposing-- my opinion.
What are the dimensions of your tank? The longer the better, since you may have a sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't situation with the pair you're talking about. SA cichlids are often choosy about partners and can be quite hard on each other in a small tank if you don't get a pretty cozy pair.
A Malawi type tank with SA cichlids is sort of an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms, they're just different fish, different selective pressures and survival tactics. Maybe I get what you're thinking, though. The difference is you can, and with some types probably should, crowd Malawi cichlids. Not a good way to keep most SA cichlids, especially getting into the medium size species or larger. Some species like a crowd as juvies, but need space as adults, so crowding them has a shelf life at best. Stuff too many into a relatively small tank and you can end up with trouble as they grow, or at best stressing and shortening the lives of species that need more space compared to their African counterparts.
As far as your basic questions: Jewel fish are risky in the tank you propose. Some individuals aren't too bad, but some are psycho killers and the psychos are capable of making a mess of a much larger, non psycho SA cichlid in short order-- personal experience. Bad risk for what you're proposing-- my opinion.
What are the dimensions of your tank? The longer the better, since you may have a sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't situation with the pair you're talking about. SA cichlids are often choosy about partners and can be quite hard on each other in a small tank if you don't get a pretty cozy pair.
A Malawi type tank with SA cichlids is sort of an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms, they're just different fish, different selective pressures and survival tactics. Maybe I get what you're thinking, though. The difference is you can, and with some types probably should, crowd Malawi cichlids. Not a good way to keep most SA cichlids, especially getting into the medium size species or larger. Some species like a crowd as juvies, but need space as adults, so crowding them has a shelf life at best. Stuff too many into a relatively small tank and you can end up with trouble as they grow, or at best stressing and shortening the lives of species that need more space compared to their African counterparts.
My son, the very definition of IGNORance is IGNORING facts that are presented to you if they contradict your beliefs. Your question was answered very early in this thread by helpful and knowledgeable fishkeeping masters. Go ahead and put jewels in there. It's your money. You do YOU! Post your results here. Enjoy fishkeeping!
Electric blue acara are made by crossing a "blue gene" blue acara with a lesser acara you end up with 10-30% fry as an electric blue acara. As mentioned your tank is pretty much fully stocked so NO MORE CICHLIDS if you want to add some movement and dither fish to get the acara to breed try larger tetras such as : Buenos Aries tetras
Red eye tetras
Columbian blue tetras
Black/white widow tetras
Bleeding heart tetras
A shoal of 6 of these would look good
Red eye tetras
Columbian blue tetras
Black/white widow tetras
Bleeding heart tetras
A shoal of 6 of these would look good
