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211 Posts
The title of this one is going to draw a lot of flaming, I expect, but I have a serious practical question - not intended to provoke big discussion about philosophy of keeping strains pure. And for purpose of this discussion, please assume that I am *not* referring to potential distribution of fish, but only to a tank kept for my own enjoyment.
I have two 55g tanks, both of which contain pairs of species that can cross-breed. As you can see from my signature, one tank has Saulosi and Zebras (note that I bought some of the hybrids, and others were result of me separating a holding female - they did not survive as fry in the main tank). The other has Labs and Zebras. But I have not experienced a single fry surviving beyond a day or so in either tank. Both tanks (as you can see from my tanks link) are heavily stocked with rocks, so it's not for lack of hiding places. It just seems that the adults are extremely efficient at wiping out any fry that are released.
So why are people so worried about the cross-breeding, given that these hybrids don't see the light of day, so long as you leave the holding females in with the other fish.
I should also note that most of the females in both of my tanks have held, at least once, and there are typically 2 or 3 females holding at a time, so it's not a case of nobody breeding.
Thanks!
I have two 55g tanks, both of which contain pairs of species that can cross-breed. As you can see from my signature, one tank has Saulosi and Zebras (note that I bought some of the hybrids, and others were result of me separating a holding female - they did not survive as fry in the main tank). The other has Labs and Zebras. But I have not experienced a single fry surviving beyond a day or so in either tank. Both tanks (as you can see from my tanks link) are heavily stocked with rocks, so it's not for lack of hiding places. It just seems that the adults are extremely efficient at wiping out any fry that are released.
So why are people so worried about the cross-breeding, given that these hybrids don't see the light of day, so long as you leave the holding females in with the other fish.
I should also note that most of the females in both of my tanks have held, at least once, and there are typically 2 or 3 females holding at a time, so it's not a case of nobody breeding.
Thanks!