Is it hybrid? Yellow markings on adult scianochromis fryeri
- Thread starter Adam GR
- Start date
If in a tank with a hyper dominate male, any male hap (or peacock) can loose coloration. But I would be a LOT more confident in saying that is the situation at hand, if I was more certain as to what your fish all are. As I said, I have seen countless S. fryeri over the years, and owned several, most not being the dominant fish in the tank, some tanks also being a mix of all male tanks - and never seen an adult male look like yours. 5.5 - 6" is an adult, and I wouldn't expect to see that kind of coloration unless it was constantly being harassed and beaten down. Not even being chased, is not exactly being placed in an overly sub dominant position. Nor does it look like it has been abused, or is being abused, when the lights go out. No split fins, no scaled missing, etc. In fact if you look at the caudal fin of the dominant hap that you posted, it looks like it is the fish getting abused.
As you have described in the past, all of your fish have originated from a "mixed African cichlid" tank at your LFS, and mixed genetics can also result in mixed end results.
As you have described in the past, all of your fish have originated from a "mixed African cichlid" tank at your LFS, and mixed genetics can also result in mixed end results.
BTW - all those who have owned S. fryeri, and seen them look like the OP's fish at adult size, please raise your hands. 
Not haps in general, but S. fryeri from a reputable source.
Myself, in several decades of keeping Africans, I have never once seen this, certainly not in a fish that otherwise seems in good health.
Not haps in general, but S. fryeri from a reputable source.
Myself, in several decades of keeping Africans, I have never once seen this, certainly not in a fish that otherwise seems in good health.
I have all male tank with a group of fully coloured dominant guys - Borley, 3 OB’s, 2 sulphur head haps (spilonotus), electric blue hybrid, dragon blood, aulonocara beanshi. All of them pretty mean but usually they playing their domination game between them self. And then I have a big group of guys who enter the tank much later and trying to catch up. Scianochromis and eureka jake are biggest but still in subdominant dress.
And now - what do you mean by mixed tank and why mixed genetics?
My pet shop receiving once a month shipment of peacocks/haps and they putting them in the same tank because they simply have no space to divide them. All of them are at least 3inches long and 95% of them are males. I’ve heard that actually this pet shop getting their stock from one of the best supplier of cichlids in UK, and I heard it from my friend who works in another pet shop. This pet shop (One with 3in all males) gives me the option to check their supplier stock and order whatever is available.
Last edited:
Just to add - those males are probably juiced but I bought all together around 25 fishes and my mate another 15 or so, and only one turn out to be female (red empress - silver at the time of purchase - I just hoped it maybe male). All of my fishes are legit species, I know that you had problem to ID some of them and you you simply dont like ID question but that doesn't mean that they are some genetic freaks because I picked them from mixed tank.
Oh LoL, 2 turn out to be female, I just now realized that my Taiwan Reef is a female and is holding (also silver at the time of purchese)
As I have explained previously, "mixed" tanks of African cichlids typically equates to the fish being just about anything, from just about anywhere. And juiced African cichlids, typically means imports from Asia, as typically most other parts of the world ban the use of those kinds of hormone substances in the bobby. If this is what you consider quality, that's fine by me, just remember you were the one that asked: "Is it hybrid?"
Good luck with your fish.
Good luck with your fish.
Yes I ask “is it hybrid” because I was suspicious about that yellow top of dorsal and I saw a pic o sciano/capidochromis cross somewhere on web and I decide to ask for most common answer in advance. The same with “juiced fish” - I’am simply influenced with this typical “juiced-hybrid” answer..
To he honest I’am not sure if those cichlids in my LFS are juiced, like I said they are not tine babies, usually 3in some of them maybe 2.5. I think it is suspicious that they usually display a lot colour but I once had chance to watch growing aulonocara fry, and maybe Iam wrong but as far as I remember the dominant male at 2.5in was showing quite a lot colour.
And about mixed tanks - my pet shop is pretty small, they receiving around 15 cichlids a month, usually 5 different species. Owner told me that its easier for them to keep them together because typical buyer not really care, just want colourful fish. Experienced buyer will know what he is buying because they display colour, or will find out on helpful forums? They usually have most common species.
I dont know what “mixed tanks” are in US, but it sounds scary when you mentioning “mixed genetics”
