Why are there no eel hybrids?

[OTp1144]

From my minor understanding of genetics, tire track eels and fire eels should be able to hybridize because they're both of the Mastacembelus genus, but I've not seen any. Is it just too hard to do? Has anyone even tried? I don't know about anyone else, but I'd personally pay some very good money for a tire track/fire hybrid.

 

[lardieleftover]

That would be an interesting eel. Uh might have something to do with being territorial/unfriendly to other spiney eels when larger ie reproducing age

 

[Chicxulub]

If they're sympatric, it doubtlessly has happened and there has doubtlessly been one or two to find their way into the hobby. They were likely just sold as oddballs.

We don't see them regularly because there's no reason for anyone to commercially breed them, unlike RTCxTSN, for example.

 

[Drstrangelove]

From my minor understanding of genetics, tire track eels and fire eels should be able to hybridize because they're both of the Mastacembelus genus, but I've not seen any. Is it just too hard to do? Has anyone even tried? I don't know about anyone else, but I'd personally pay some very good money for a tire track/fire hybrid.

Two species within the same genus might or might not produce offspring. There is no guarantee that 2 different species can biologically produce offspring just because they are in the same genus.

There are of course some reasons in nature why species could biologically reproduce but won't including instinct, size, not sharing the same territory, etc.