Blood parrots

[Natalie]

Becaseu I dont care for Blood Parrots I have never researched them, but I have heard they have lots of health issues? Im not a huge fan of hybridizing if it causes health major issues.

Not particularly. They are not known to have any health issues other than some of them lacking proper mouth function due to deformity. Swimbladder function is generally normal, GI function isn't compromised by the short body, etc. Life expectancy for them is 8-12 years, similar to other larger Central American cichlids in captivity.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Argument against hybrids:
They are "man-made" fish bred to make a profit, and don't contribute anything to the hobby as far as keeping, studying and breeding cichlids facing a declining habitat in the wild.

Argument for hybrids:
Keeping and breeding man-made hybrids reduces pressure on collecting said fish facing habitat depletion.

Pretty much sums it up for me.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Generally males are, but females can and will lay a LOT of eggs. I've also found that BP females are very liberal about who they pair up with. I've seen so many combinations of BP crosses, it's unreal. One that occurred in my own tank was BPxconvict. She wasn't even paired with my con, she was paired with my male BP... but when she laid eggs and the poor male BP attempted to fertilize, the con came over and actually did.

So the eggs hatched?

 

[Forester]

Ha ha nice one

 

[vfc]

Argument against hybrids:
They are "man-made" fish bred to make a profit, and don't contribute anything to the hobby as far as keeping, studying and breeding cichlids facing a declining habitat in the wild.

Argument for hybrids:
Keeping and breeding man-made hybrids reduces pressure on collecting said fish facing habitat depletion.

There is something else about hybrids; they seem to have a higher intelligence level than natural fish.

Whether that is part of the man-made selection process or just random luck that the four hybrids I own (BP, EBJD, Titanium FH, or Red Spot Severum) are much more intelligent than the ~40 large natural fish I currently own. I didn't really notice that until I started reading this post.

I would say most of my larger fish react to me when I approach the tank (lower level of intelligence associating me with food). However, only my four hybrids exhibit curiosity. Whether I have my hand in the tank moving things around or I move the parrots up close to the glass; the hybrids are the only ones that come up close and try to interact with me or the birds.

Has anyone noticed the same phenomena with their hybrids?

 

[packer43064]

Remember original poster, their YOUR fish. If you like them, then keep them.

 

[fishman61]

I have parrots and severums in my 150, they get along fine

 

[Natalie]

So the eggs hatched?

Yes. Females are very fertile.

 

[Johnnycichlid]

I bought him im keeping him or her!
I had to get a tank didvider tho, the bp would go under this rock and just bend upside down like a rainbow arch to hug the rock..... And stayed there constantly, i felt bad. So now my bp and gt are together cus my texas started whippin the gt.