Do you keep hybrids.

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Do you keep hybrid cichlids?

  • Yes

    Votes: 220 50.8%

  • No

    Votes: 213 49.2%
  • Total voters
    433
dogofwar;2057876; said:
Not sure where you are, but do "reputable" stores in your area stock any fish that aren't authentic to natural types? Wouldn't people who want flowerhorns just go to a store that stocks them...unless all of the stores in an area got together an collectively decided that they're not going to stock a fish that people want to buy. Sounds like a great way to stay in business. :nilly:
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Sorry, changed my location recently. I'm from Australia, and there really isn't a solid source of Flowerhorns or any type of Hybrids over here because no experienced fish keepers like them. There will always be line bred colour morphs available like your typical Angelfish/Discus and various long fin varieties, which im not a fan of, but for now the fishkeeping trade over here is quite firmly against hybrids as a whole and I hope it stays that way.

I participate in and moderate a very popular local state forum and we received numerous complaints from members wanting policies brought in to prevent the sale of Hybrids in the trading section after one was posted up recently.
 
I perfer pure bred cichlids but I will vote yes because, I like a friends jag + red terro cross. Meaning that is the only one I perfer. Other than that no I would not.
 
CARPINTUS X FESTAE :nilly:

that's all though, i don't think i want to be hybriding fish
because in my mind i find it just not meant to be!
i am trying to get my hands on dovii x flowerhorns from
a friend but i still haven't seen them in my tank lol.

sometimes hybriding creates one ugly mess but sometimes
you can get some real beauty out of your creation.
 
"I'm from Australia, and there really isn't a solid source of Flowerhorns or any type of Hybrids over here because no experienced fish keepers like them."

In the US (since this thread pertains to the American Cichlid Association), there ARE plenty of experienced fish keepers who keep INTENTIONAL hybrids, some who keep keep only wild type fish, and some who keep both.

Proper care, maintenance, and breeding of flowerhorns requires all of the skills that go into the proper care, maintenance, and breeding of large, aggressive, wild-type cichlids. Maybe more.

Producing high quality fish - i.e. attractive fish that have the characteristics that people want...and culling sustandards ones - takes LOTS of skill and experience.

Equating the rigor and care that produces the most sought after lines of flowerhorns with the random production of crossing one cichlid with another ("my covict bred with a...") demonstrates a profound lack of understanding into what goes into producing high quality, desireable flowerhorns and other hybrids.

Because you don't like the output (and I don't particularly) doesn't make the process (and skill) necessary to produce hyper aggressive, crazy colorful, super bump-headed flowerhorns any less... or the people - many of them Asian - who have dedicated themselves to this any less experienced or skilled as hobbyists.
 
Line bred...yes, Hybrids...NO.

I was wanting to cross 2 different Thorichthys but thought against it as my education grew on the topic. I think we should keep cichlids as they are found in nature. Especially with the current conditions of natural habitats on the decline.

I do have hybrid livebearers. Example: Swordtails. Most are Xiphorus X platy crosses in the hobby today.

I am not sure that what is good for the Hobby and sales is good for the ACA. I am on the side that the ACA continue to restrict Hybrids from a conservationist point of view.
 
I do keep hybrids and really enjoy them, I see nothing wrong with them. I dont really care for flowerhorns or parrots but i love red texas. I really like species hybrids as well, the only thing i don't like is the resale value of them.
 
"Line bred...yes, Hybrids...NO....I think we should keep cichlids as they are found in nature."

By definition, though, line bred fish are DIFFERENT from fish that are found in nature.

I just don't see supporting flowerhorns and wild-type fish as being mutually exclusive.... Kind of like keeping both wild-type swordtails and fancy ones (that probably contain other species).

I do see indiscriminate breeding of wild-type fish (i.e. with fish from different locales / populations) and selling them as authentic and efforts to keep wild-type populations at cross purposes. This would be like crossing a female wild green swordtail (with know provenance) with a fish store bought green swordtail (that has great color and long sword, etc.) and calling the babies the offspring of wild green swordtails.

Selective breeding - either within a species (line breeding) or across closely related species (e.g. flowerhorns) - for the purpose of developing an aquarium fish with favorable characteristics is very different from indiscriminate breeding where the purpose is to produce and sell "wild type" fish.
 
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