Wow Ryan, this is very interesting indeed!
I'm happy to see you were able to raise them succesfully.
Will be watching eagerly for updates
I'm happy to see you were able to raise them succesfully.
Will be watching eagerly for updates
Geophagus hybridizing? I'd never seen it before... until now.
- Thread starter ryansmith83
- Start date
This is an interetsting thread. Last year we had the SA/CA hybrid cross an now this. While some species seem to have no issue with interspecific hybridization others such as goes. seem to avoid it. What I find even more interesting is there were other RH taps she could have paired with. Perhaps the males were not sexually mature enough yet and this was some one off situation that wouldn't or as we thought untill now shouldn't have occurred otherwise. Be that as it may it is great to see that you've documented it and shared it with us. I look toward to seeing their development and behavior as they mature. While this is technilly a hybrid thread I think due to it's unique nature and interest to geo. purest it should and will remain here.
The Geo hybrids are now about five months old. They've only made it to 2" so far, but this is fairly typical I think. Orangeheads are documented as being slow growers, and my original G. parnaibae were the same. We're dealing with fish that top out at 4 - 6" so I guess 2" is about right.
I still have all 13. One is being used as a guinea pig in my Heterochromis tank (he's been there for a few weeks and is gladly pushing them around, so I'll have to move him soon) but the other 12 are in a 55 with a couple angels and a pair of Crenicichla notophthalmus.
In terms of color it's really hard to say which direction it's going. They definitely have orange/red dorsals which would come from the orange head parent because G. parnaibae are mostly steel grey/blue with some maroon in the caudal fin. I guess we won't see mature coloration for another couple of months.
Apologies for the crappy quality. I'm just using an iPhone for video and a single fluorescent strip light over the tank. No fancy LED on grow-out tanks here.
I still have all 13. One is being used as a guinea pig in my Heterochromis tank (he's been there for a few weeks and is gladly pushing them around, so I'll have to move him soon) but the other 12 are in a 55 with a couple angels and a pair of Crenicichla notophthalmus.
In terms of color it's really hard to say which direction it's going. They definitely have orange/red dorsals which would come from the orange head parent because G. parnaibae are mostly steel grey/blue with some maroon in the caudal fin. I guess we won't see mature coloration for another couple of months.
Apologies for the crappy quality. I'm just using an iPhone for video and a single fluorescent strip light over the tank. No fancy LED on grow-out tanks here.
good update seems like my pure redhead juvies had a bit more color at that size, but hard to tell on vid.
seems like my pure redhead juvies had a bit more color at that size, but hard to tell on vid.
Australoheros sp. 'Red Ceibal' x convict:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/index.php?threads/red-ceibal-x-convict-hybrids.550984/
I came home today and the male parnaibae had finally died. Oddly enough, this was going on about 4" from his dead body.
Maybe it's a coincidence, or maybe the male orangehead decided it was his turn. I didn't honestly think there was a male in the group but suddenly there he is, bulky forehead and all. Maybe he just wasn't ready in December when the female bred the first time.
Maybe it's a coincidence, or maybe the male orangehead decided it was his turn. I didn't honestly think there was a male in the group but suddenly there he is, bulky forehead and all. Maybe he just wasn't ready in December when the female bred the first time.
