Some hybrid questions & opinion of Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos "Maingano"

[myswtsins]

So I have read on several sites that L. caeruleus & M. estherae will cross breed. (1 example HERE) I was wondering if it is just due to the body shape/size or the colors? I want to get OB or cherry red M.estherae so they would look different then the yellow labs but is that enough to stop hyrids?

Second question - I have heard mixed responses about mixing different color variants of the same species. I want to get white tailed & yellow tailed Acei but once again I do not want to get any hybrids. Just looking for some more opinons.

Lastly, I really like Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos "Maingano" and just looking for some opinions on the species.

Here is my possible stock list for my 72g.
[FONT=&quot]1:4 Lab. caeruleus (lion's cove/yellow) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1:4 I. sprengerae (Rusty)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1:4 Ps. socolofi (albino)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1:4 Ps. Acei (yellow tailed & white tailed)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1:4 Met. estherae (OB or cherry red)[/FONT]
1:4 Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos "Maingano"
1-2 Featherfin Syno cat -OR-
3 Syno Multi

 

[jameshilljr]

I'm not able to assist you with the hybrid questions, but I have a similar stock list;I think that if the Lab and red zebra spawn,and if and when it's successful, the other AC's in my tank will eat the fry. The AC's in my tank already have been fed excess convict fry...

 

[myswtsins]

That is exactly what I want to avoid though. I want to keep the strains as pure as possible and I plan to raise the fry separately to help ensure survival.

If the different colors are not enough to eliminated (or greatly decrease) the chance of hybridization then I will substitute one of the species.

 

[Pittbull]

first off cool stock list for that setup my friend, secondly we can not depict what will take course in a small ecosystem with an aquarium with different species, so there is always risks that hybridization will transpire in a small confines we call aquariums with that being said sure you may have some hybrids and the only way your going to stop this from happening is to do a species only tank even with the ratios your stating, it still could happen, sorry i have no experience with the maingano's..

 

[kay-bee]

So I have read on several sites that L. caeruleus & M. estherae will cross breed....

More accurately l. caeruleus and m. estherae can cross breed (as can ANY two mbuna species). The likelihood of them actually doing so depends on variables.

I was wondering if it is just due to the body shape/size or the colors? I want to get OB or cherry red M.estherae so they would look different then the yellow labs but is that enough to stop hyrids?

Crossbreeding is due to the lack of sufficient females belonging to the same species as the male. Maintain a proper gender-ratio (1 male per several females per species) and crossbreeding is largely a non-issue. It has less to do with coloration, in my opinion, and more to do with the fish utilizing other queues when considering spawning partners (in my opinion).

Second question - I have heard mixed responses about mixing different color variants of the same species. I want to get white tailed & yellow tailed Acei but once again I do not want to get any hybrids.

Now that is actually more risky since the morphs of the same species share a lot more similarities than two different species. I wouldn't recommend keeping two different acei variants in the same tank. The probability of producing cross-variant progeny is high.

I really like Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos "Maingano" and just looking for some opinions on the species.

Typical melenochromis species, though not as aggressive as the others. I believe they're one of the few monomorphic melanochromis speices as well. They'd go nicely with what you're wanting to get.

 

[myswtsins]

Thank you very much pitbull & kay-bee!

So I won't worry too much about the yellow lab & zebras cross breeding & I will choose 1 color variant of the acei. Now I just hope I can find the melanochromis cyaneorhabdos because it really fits what I was looking for.

 

[Pittbull]

good luck my friend i have never seen a M. cyaneorhabdos in my area before..