Different species pairing and breeding

is it possible for different species of Dwarf Cichlid to attempt to breed with each other....

As an example could a male Apisto attempt to pair up and breed with a female Ram?

And even more interesting if they did could they produce fry?

different species within the same complex could ie apisto agassissi and bitaneia, apisto panduro and macmasteri etc, but apisto x microgeophagus ramirezi i dont think it is possible. and anyway apistos are stunning little fish i would hate to see them crossed even within their own complex, hybrids and mutated forms are to me a no no, look at the Microgeophagus ramirezi and how it was ruined by the mutated balloon version.

I dont agree with cross breeding. 3 animals ive heard of but never seen and i can only persume they are mutated versions of their parents.

1) Turtle dove
2) Bull Frog
3) Chicken Hawk.

Frightful to think of them mating.....

Im not considering cross breeding at all...The thought of that disgusts me...I was just curious because i was wondering if it could affect fish behaviour when new cichlids are introduced to a tank with cichlids already in it as regards territories and aggression....

The problem of considering the potential of cross-breeding based upon genus, tribes, or other man-made classification is assuming that the classification is correct.

At one stage, the Ram was classed as an Apistogramma.....the change in classification didn't change its ability to cross-breed or not.

With any form of hybridisation, the definition of a true inter-specific hybrid does depend upon a correct classification and correct ID by the taxonomists.

Some inter-specific and inter-generic hybrids will produce viable young that can reproduce; some others produce viable young that cannot reproduce; some will spawn but not produce viable young; and some simply will not spawn or attempt to.

The first 3 depend upon chromosomal homology at vital points between 2 fish. The last one would also depend upon behaviour, recognition and genetic differences.

Often we find that 2 different species are in fact a single species but having quite different morphology (could be a geographical difference).....genetically, their chromosomes may have good homology, but behaviour-wise they simply may not breed (but some do).
It all depends on how far down the road a geographical variation has moved into being a completely new species.

In Lake Malawi, for example, the cichlids are on an evolutionary explosion pathway.....and a number can still interbreed, but possibly not inter-breed with other Pseudocrenilabrids in African lakes or rivers.

As for changes in behaviour from mixing various species.....well that is always a 64 thousand dollar question.
There are cases where a tank should be conspecific (same species), but in some cases (especially with some species of cichlids)a conspecies tank is a bit of a No No. Variety sometimes helps calm things and safely diffuses aggression or even prompts heightening spawning behaviour.

ian

jwm wrote:

I dont agree with cross breeding. 3 animals ive heard of but never seen and i can only persume they are mutated versions of their parents.

1) Turtle dove
2) Bull Frog
3) Chicken Hawk.

Frightful to think of them mating.....

Verrrry Fuuuuuny .



Kev.

stretnik wrote:

jwm wrote:

I dont agree with cross breeding. 3 animals ive heard of but never seen and i can only persume they are mutated versions of their parents.

1) Turtle dove
2) Bull Frog
3) Chicken Hawk.

Frightful to think of them mating.....

Verrrry Fuuuuuny .



Kev.

...and he never mentioned the sinful notion of the Angelfish.

Wash yer Mouth ye Rascal.

Dwarf-Cory ?

Porcupine-Fish?

This could just keep going....

Kev.