hoplias interbreeding?

[echobunny2]

hi guys,
are the smaller hoplias species (mala, curi, argentina, etc) able to interbreed with each other?
contemplating adding a similar sized argentina with my mala. if it turns out to be a male/female pair, would they breed?
not wanting to create hybrids as I really don't like hybrids (a la cichlids) but just curious if it were possible, since outwardly they seem very similar.
also know it's very difficult to breed hoplias, but still was curious.

 

[echobunny2]

sorry, meant genus, not species.

 

[koltsixx]

As far as I know there's no definitive known way to sex Wolves visually making the likely hood that you'd accidentally get opposite sexes with only two individuals very unlikely. That plus adding only one Wolf to an established Wolf's territory would probably end up in disaster.

If your serious about breeding Wolves your best bet is do what often works best in breeding fish, start with a group of young Wolves to disperse aggression and increase the likely hood you'll get a compatible pair. Then you'd of course have to make sure you have a suitably sized tank, appropriately set-up decor, increase feedings and the quality of the food and probably due what you can to emulate natural seasonal changes etc.

Breeding is rarely as easy as throwing 2 fish together and then just crossing your fingers. In regards to whether they can interbreed that I can't tell you, as I've never heard anything about hybridizing Wolves but that doesn't mean it's not possible or that it hasn't been tried before.

 

[DB junkie]

I believe there is a way to tell male and female apart....... At least the bigger Hoplias. I know the Lacerdae I have is female, but not sure how the guy I got her from knew this, but do know he said the Aimara he wanted to try to breed her with was too small to be able to sex yet. The guy seemed to know his stuff. I'll try PMing him, but don't think he's been on since I picked up his fish.

There's good information out there on Wolves, just not on MFK.

As far as hybridization I'd guess that it's possible and that is why the Hoplias species has so many variants. Just like Potomotrygon. Hybrids make classifying the species a nightmare nobody in their right mind would want anything to do with.......

Like Kolt said, best bet would be lots of space, lots of wolves, lots of food, good water parameters, and a bottomless bank of patience...... lol

 

[koltsixx]

My go to source has been Jelly's Hoplias.webs.com my limited experience with Mala's and Curupira and with the spread out info. on a couple of other odd and end sources. Gotta say though DB you've provided info. a couple of times I was completely unaware and impressed with and I'd appreciate it if you could suggest some good resources for me. Ever since I got a Curupira I fell in love with Wolves and would like to expand my knowledge base on them.

As far as the sexing goes I had thought with large Wolves that a similar process used on AUL's was employed, namely probing. Though I never saw anything definitive proving this was the process used to sex them, so I could be mistaken.