Severe confusing on OB peacocks

[jcarson]

Hey mkf

I have read a lot and watched a lot of videos on these ob hybrids, how the came about etc.

I know that once these fish are hybridised that it hard to call them of class them within a genus, right?

Like we can really say this is an ob peacock red fin borleyi?

Are they true aulonocara still?
Have they been crossbred so many times that their true genome is not relevant?

Whats in a name?

I have quite a few ob peacocks in my tanks and just curious on where they fit in scientifically.

 

[dogofwar]

They are most likely a cross between Aulonocara and Metriaclima (mbuna) although the exact "formula" isn't known or knowable. I think they're best called their common name "OB Peacock" and identified as a fancy fish.

 

[markstrimaran]

I hate Latin names, on mixed mutts. My psycho blue black bared rock fish vs the psuedo trophus elongatus.

 

[RD.]

I agree with dogofwar, although I can say with certainty that the origin of many of the OB strains of African cichlids are known with certainty, just not by the general public. No different than the origin of many of the albino strains of African cichlids. The quality specimens will breed true 99.9% of the time, to the point that some breeders will argue that they are no longer hybrids. But I agree with Mark, it makes no sense to attach a Latin name to a man made fish of mixed blood. Designer fish are just like designer dogs, they lose their pure breed status once crossed.

 

[jcarson]

I agree with dogofwar, although I can say with certainty that the origin of many of the OB strains of African cichlids are known with certainty, just not by the general public. No different than the origin of many of the albino strains of African cichlids. The quality specimens will breed true 99.9% of the time, to the point that some breeders will argue that they are no longer hybrids. But I agree with Mark, it makes no sense to attach a Latin name to a man made fish of mixed blood. Designer fish are just like designer dogs, they lose their pure breed status once crossed.

So OB Peacock is to fish as labradoodle is to dogs?

 

[RD.]

Pretty much. Most/all of the original OB peacocks were created using Metriaclima estherae OB. I think that's pretty well documented, and I know of at least one breeder in Florida that used that OB gene in all of his OB African cichlid creations. But being man made, and a cross of different species, in my mind they are all hybrids. In the past he would argue that point with me, as he felt they were as pure as some of the fish swimming in the wild. He's forgotten more about breeding fish than I will ever know, so I would respectfully not comment. lol

 

[markstrimaran]

Got any good reading links about it?

 

[RD.]

About what exactly?

 

[markstrimaran]

The history of Latin names, and early line breeding to cultivate desired traits.

 

[RD.]

Not really