How to?

[Buphy]

So let me start by saying I am not currently planning on crossing any cichlids. This is purely (at the moment) research (which gives me great pleasure).

First question is; should it be done? Am I going to get run off the forums and get hate mail if I attempt to hybridize particular cichlids selectively (i.e. trying specifically to get a Trimac x Jack Dempsey cross)? I can see the opinion against it. Fish should be kept "pure bred" so in the future when they have no natural habitat left we still have the "real thing" that used to be there. But I also completely get the desire to try and create new beautiful fish.

Second question; How is it best done? Planned parenting? Do people take a single male and put multiple females in until they get a pair, or the reverse? Or are most hybrids just random fish getting together in a tank and trying to get a specific cross is like trying to... do something really hard?

Finally; What is the responsible action to take once you have a hybrid? Yes, I'm reading don't mislabel and try to pawn off, so on and so forth, but are they something that, if attractive, should be sold as a correctly labeled cross or is that considered taboo and any hybrids should be kept in your personal collection/fry fed to other tanks?

To sum up, lots of questions but no intent to actually cross anything right now. I don't have the space, time or money. ='(

 

[Aquatic Aggression]

Usually just crossing 2 different cichlids just results in ugly. There are people on here that say they've done it to see what they get from a cross but I feel that is just a waste of time and you will surely end up having to cull most of them so if you can't do that I wouldn't recommend. This forum was once mainly about flowerhorns and the selective breeding and outcross of them is a different story.

I do not see any good reason to cross jack X trimac. I see most of the fry coming out as grey, long bodied, overly long faced fish. Just being honest.

 

[Buphy]

I feel like you didn't even read the post. I would say you failed to answer a single question but as my wife pointed out to me, you inadvertently answered one; I will get "hate mail".

While everyone is entitled to an opinion, I'd no longer like to hear yours. Please do not post on this thread again. Thanks!

 

[Aquatic Aggression]

I don't have the space, time or money. ='(

Le post

 

[FriedFlowerHornFillet]

There's plenty of info available that will answer your "questions" on this site. Read some posts pertaining to your hypothetical FAQ's before you ask. I don't always agree with HOW Aquatic Aggression answers questions - but he's spot on . Considering that reading your post in it's entirety was a waste of time I'd say he was even extra polite this time and I fail to see the question he didn't address concisely.

 

[Buphy]

Really? Like really really? I'll be formal and show what he didn't answer. Yes he answered his opinion of "should it be done?" but the question of "how it's best done?" and "how to handle the fry properly?" were completely ignored due to his opinion on the first question.

Yes, all my questions could be answered by hunting and pecking through not just this site, but the entirety of the internet. However, I chose, after skimming some of the top post in this section, to make my own specific question list and try to get answers. Sadly it appears that all that I will get answered is question one because people on this section of the forums are strongly opinionated and unhelpful to those they don't agree with.

Should a staff member see this thread, please lock it. I have no further desire to deal with toxic people if I don't have to.

P.S. flowerhorns were made by people crossing and had to start some where, despite people like y'all.

P.P.S. If you think reading an entire post is a waste of time, posting on it probably is too.