Rules of Hybridization In American Cichlids
- Thread starter Chrisplosion
- Start date
I currently own an "Impossible" Hybrid, I have a full grown Flowerhorn x Severum (unsure of species), he is Bout 3 years old and is still growing well beyond severum norm sizes, I hate to necro a thread but this has to be shared, I will edit reply with a second photo of him fully coloured up in his forever tank soon.
Neat looking, do have some photos of parents with fry? I am not say impossible as I've seen photos of some impossible hybrids. GT x convict and also with carpintis
I came across this thread, actually a different one but the link in the other “Can my Green Terror x whatever cichlid” thread it was. I signed up because I just wanted to clarify something after posting on another message board where parents/fry pictures were posted of a Green Terror X Convict accident clutch. I don’t know the rules here yet but if allowed I’ll post the link to that other thread on a different Cichlid forum (don’t want to break any rules as a newbie). The reason I’m posting is because after reading this thread it sounds like what happened to that other poster and in my tank a couple years ago shouldn’t be possible. Am I understanding correctly that a F Convict (CA) and a M Green Terror (SA) should not have been able to produce viable fry? Obviously, I don’t have “proof” as such for my case because the clutches my F Convict x M Green Terror fry were not a welcome addition. They produced clutch after clutch, taking up 1/3 of the 250 gallon tank they were in with my JD, Oscar and Silver Dollars to raise those fry. I was so annoyed because I thought I had a group that when mature (the Oscar, JD and Green Terror were all added at the same time, the juvie Convict was added at a later time but still big enough not to get eaten) none were likely to breed since I didn’t want territorial brood rearing going on in that aggressive tank. But boy did they prove me wrong.
I didn’t raise any of the fry, I let nature take its course between the JD and Oscar tag team to eliminate the hybrids so I can’t say whether the fry as adults would have been breeding viable but I can absolutely confirm, first person, they can and did produce at least 5-6 clutches until I was able to rehome the Convict. It was very odd because once she was adult size (she was about 4-5 inches fully grown) she spent months annoying the hell out of the Oscar that no matter how much seducing she did ultimately she was ignored. She skipped over the JD completely who was only an inch or so larger than her at the time (idk the JD sex, perhaps it’s a female too so would have been incompatible anyways for breeding). Once she gave up on the Oscar she propositioned the Green Terror who was more than happy to fertilize every clutch. And hatch they did, and doting parents protecting their fry they were. But the JD and Oscar were quicker and none of the little hybrids were taken out to grow out. Nothing against those who do want/breed hybrids but it’s just not for me personally. If I had known at the time their pairing was an anomaly I would have absolutely given proof of those oopsie fry.
Any thoughts or questions are welcome, I do not have pictures or video, as I said because I didn’t allow any to grow out so perhaps my account will be taken with a grain of salt but such as it is I am positive neither were hybrids visually, they were exact phenotypically what is expected from both adult forms. Also, if someone in this thread has already confirmed this pairing then I apologize for the post but I read the pinned post first and signed up immediately so I could reply.
I didn’t raise any of the fry, I let nature take its course between the JD and Oscar tag team to eliminate the hybrids so I can’t say whether the fry as adults would have been breeding viable but I can absolutely confirm, first person, they can and did produce at least 5-6 clutches until I was able to rehome the Convict. It was very odd because once she was adult size (she was about 4-5 inches fully grown) she spent months annoying the hell out of the Oscar that no matter how much seducing she did ultimately she was ignored. She skipped over the JD completely who was only an inch or so larger than her at the time (idk the JD sex, perhaps it’s a female too so would have been incompatible anyways for breeding). Once she gave up on the Oscar she propositioned the Green Terror who was more than happy to fertilize every clutch. And hatch they did, and doting parents protecting their fry they were. But the JD and Oscar were quicker and none of the little hybrids were taken out to grow out. Nothing against those who do want/breed hybrids but it’s just not for me personally. If I had known at the time their pairing was an anomaly I would have absolutely given proof of those oopsie fry.
Any thoughts or questions are welcome, I do not have pictures or video, as I said because I didn’t allow any to grow out so perhaps my account will be taken with a grain of salt but such as it is I am positive neither were hybrids visually, they were exact phenotypically what is expected from both adult forms. Also, if someone in this thread has already confirmed this pairing then I apologize for the post but I read the pinned post first and signed up immediately so I could reply.
I forgot to mention, the Green Terror was fully grown and every bit of 10+ inches compared to my Convict at 4-5 inches but neither cared about the size/maturity difference. They paired up once the Convict stopped trying to seduce the Oscar. Had I known at the time it was this much of an anomaly I would have gladly documented the clutches and the look of the fry (they were ugly as 1-1.5 inch juvies). I don’t recommend the cross btw. Unless they go from ugly duckling to striking adults the fry were actually really underwhelming.
