[bma57]

I adopted a new cichlid today... the dreaded OB Peacock!

Yes I know it's a man-made hybrid that doesn't exist in the wild. Yes I know a segment of the fish keeping community finds all hybrids abhorent. I also know that there are others here who have them or at least accept them as a legitamate fish in the hobby. So where do you stand?

For the record, I absolutely have no intention of restarting the neverending hybrid battle. If the mods are concerned that this thread may be going in that direction, they can scuttle it with my blessing. I'm simply asking about one specific variety (I hesitate to say "species" in this case) of cichlid that is openly sold as what it is: The ubiquitous OB Peacock. Without going off on the tangent of a muddied gene pool due to inadvertently crossbred fish that are distributed either maliciously or just ignorantly, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

EDIT: MODS... I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING! I PUT THIS IN THE WRONG FORUM. PLEASE MOVE TO LAKE MALAWI SPECIES. THANKS.

 

[noki]

Not really sure what you asking.

Many young OB "Peacocks" have been hormoned for color and may lose color, beware. Another reason to be negative about these breeders.

Aggression is unpredictable, since they are part Mbuna.

An above average male may be worth keeping, other than that personally I think they are rather boring. An all male tank might be possible if you collected nice males. I think natural OB Mbuna females are more attractive than these OB Peacock females, not sure why OB Mbuna have become less popular in the hobby.

I suppose that these hybrids will be like Koi breeders, they will keep trying to combine genes to get more and better results and get more predictable good colors, while the low quality ones should be culled. These hybrids will be much more common than species fish in the future plus many species will probably go extinct in the lake over the next century.

 

[DJRansome]

I don't like the blotchy markings of OB anything, even the ones from the lake. But even if I was very attracted to the coloring, I'd avoid the OB peacock. My problem isn't the fish itself, it's the fry it may generate in it's lifetime. I have no idea what may happen in my future to cause me to need or want to sell a fish, so I can't commit to keeping the OB for it's lifetime, even though that may be my intention upon purchase.

But...maybe I will come across that perfect one that I can't resist some day. Hasn't happened yet, LOL!

 

[cichlidaholic]

I've seen some beautiful OB peacocks...But I walked away without buying them!

I think their only real purpose is to place in an all male tank. I believe placing them in a tank with breeding groups is just asking for trouble.

(I don't have a problem with hybrids we KNOW are hybrids...It's those that sneak under the radar that scare me!)

Kim

 

[Number6]

I'm simply asking about one specific variety (I hesitate to say "species" in this case) of cichlid

I'm glad you hesitated, as it's a breed, not a species... won't ever be a species

I don't count the OB peacock or other distinguishable breeds of cichlid as a true "hybrid" any longer. The word breed is much more appropriate IMHO.

Have fun with your new pet!

 

[FLGirl1977]

I don't see anything wrong with having an OB peacock in say, an all male tank. I have seen some gorgeous ones out there and the best I've seen is in my avatar (Flash). I think they really add some color to a tank! I have an all male hap/peacock malawi tank and love them!

 

[Nixxed77]

They are nice, but i had two very simular looking to the one in the avatar above me and they were very aggressive in my male peacock tank. One would dominate the center of the tank and the other had a small corner section locked down. Lots of nipping and such so i had to let him go. Just be careful and prepared for aggression.

 

[eoconnor]

personally i don't like even the 'gorgoues' OB fish, they all look painted. The only blotchy fish I like is the Phenochilus Tanzania variety, although thats more like lichen growing on them.