Any ex FH keepers wanna input?

[Gruff Master]

Were you keeping FHs before and then somehow ended up keeping strictly regular cichlids now?

If so, please share why you gave up FHs and now keeping regular cichlids if you will..

thanks

FLAME ON! Expect plenty of this in this thread. It's a touchy subject on both sides.

 

[flowerpower]

I have a mature male in my 180 with other centrals, no problem. I'll probably always have one around, they make great pets! IMO, if you treat them like any other central, they'll behave that way. Nothing about them is any more aggressive that your average amphilophus or vieja. It's when they are isolated from a young age that they become intolerant of tank mates.

 

[elting44]

"Man made" fish include: koi, fancy goldfish, fancy livebearers (guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies, etc.), fancy bettas, fancy gouramis, fancy discus, fancy angelfish, anything long-finned, albino, German Rams, fancy peacocks (German Red, OB, Firefish), parrots, flowerhorns, and many other fish that lots of people keep.

Seems like being "against" man-made fish would make one "against" like most of the fish available in pet stores...

Matt

Thats a pretty comprehensive list of fish I am not a fan of. With the exception of Koi. I like Koi,

I like Blue Rams, just not the jelly bean and veil tail ones.

Like I said, being man made is only one of the things about FHs that turn me off on them.

All of the man-made fish you listed are popular so people must be buying them. I see long finned zebra danios and mickey mouse mollies and I am not a fan. I like angels and discus to be wild type

just my .02. It comes down to personal preference

 

[HybridGS]

I have a mature male in my 180 with other centrals, no problem. I'll probably always have one around, they make great pets! IMO, if you treat them like any other central, they'll behave that way. Nothing about them is any more aggressive that your average amphilophus or vieja. It's when they are isolated from a young age that they become intolerant of tank mates.

Agreed i have 2 males (a ZZ and a Jin Kang with JD's, GT, Firemouths and Severums in a 180 with no problems.

 

[geronimo69]

FLAME ON! Expect plenty of this in this thread. It's a touchy subject on both sides.

I'm still trying to follow why people are so sensitive about these fish.... Man made? Is it not just cross breeding? Isn't this the exact same reason there are so many breeds of dogs? I just don't get why people think FHs are such an abomination....

 

[dogofwar]

I'm of the same sentiment.

Different strokes for different folks... People get taste and ethics confused sometimes.

Matt

I'm still trying to follow why people are so sensitive about these fish.... Man made? Is it not just cross breeding? Isn't this the exact same reason there are so many breeds of dogs? I just don't get why people think FHs are such an abomination....

 

[elting44]

I'm of the same sentiment.

Different strokes for different folks... People get taste and ethics confused sometimes.

Matt

Same here, it boils down to what you think is neat, whatever blows your hair back.

 

[FishingOut]

I dont understand these under educated "purists" at all. They look down upon hybrids, yet they will go ahead and breed brothers and sisters. Like your giving 2 shats about the integrity of the species. Im hoping you guys own pure bred wolves too, Because all modern dogs are man-made hybrids. Cats, Yup, you guessed it, Hidiously mutated frankenkitties.

Ive noticed that the majority of people who are against flowerhorns because they dont want hybrids in stores, or they are ignorant to what a flowerhorn is. Trust me, Im not in favor off the decline of pure species. But there is nothing wrong with targeting desirable features in CA cichlids and breeding for those features, If you do it in the right light. I understand where the hate came from, Primarily from the blood parrots, and the terrible breeding practices that were uncovered.
There is a place for both in the hobby. Flowerhorns can work in communitys over 300gal like most Midas/Devils/Viejas would. They are prone to aggression, but IMO nothing makes a better wet pet.
Ohh and if you think humans are trying to improve millions of years of evolution, Well weve pretty much already done that in every aspect as well.

 

[elting44]

I am not saying FH should be banned or that we need to round them up and cull them, I am just saying there are reasons that make me perfer other fish.

As far as breeding siblings and genetic integrity, I agree it is problem in the hobby and people need to be responsible. unfortunately that is not always the case

And I would agree that blood parrots do create animosity from some as well.

 

[dogofwar]

Great points!

There is a difference between a random (probably mis-labeled) hybrid in a tank of "mixed" whatever...and a flowerhorn...or OB Peacock...or Firefish.

Matt

I dont understand these under educated "purists" at all. They look down upon hybrids, yet they will go ahead and breed brothers and sisters. Like your giving 2 shats about the integrity of the species. Im hoping you guys own pure bred wolves too, Because all modern dogs are man-made hybrids. Cats, Yup, you guessed it, Hidiously mutated frankenkitties.

Ive noticed that the majority of people who are against flowerhorns because they dont want hybrids in stores, or they are ignorant to what a flowerhorn is. Trust me, Im not in favor off the decline of pure species. But there is nothing wrong with targeting desirable features in CA cichlids and breeding for those features, If you do it in the right light. I understand where the hate came from, Primarily from the blood parrots, and the terrible breeding practices that were uncovered.
There is a place for both in the hobby. Flowerhorns can work in communitys over 300gal like most Midas/Devils/Viejas would. They are prone to aggression, but IMO nothing makes a better wet pet.
Ohh and if you think humans are trying to improve millions of years of evolution, Well weve pretty much already done that in every aspect as well.