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i have always wondered for a while now if fish can cross breed with other fish and if so is it common? i always thought about this butu i figured i would ask everyone here because they usually seem to know thanks for ur help

Crossbreeding can only occur in very closely related species. In some ways this can be a problem. Many Rift Lake cichlids have recently(evolutionarily speaking) branched off in to seperate species. In the wild, they are often seperated by natural barriers and distance. However, in the aquarium the chance for them to be brought together and to interbreed occurs. This combined with habitat destruction may result in the effective extinction of many of these species.
Other ways crossbreeding has effected the aquarium trade has been in the creation of "new" fish. An example of this would be the "blood-parrot" cichlid if I'm not mistaken.

An example of this would be the "blood-parrot" cichlid if I'm not mistaken.

Correct...and the 'flowerhorn/luohan' cichlids as well.

Yes, you can cross-breed fish. I have heard from LFS owners and employees that mollies ,swordtails,and platies if kept together may cross breed with each other.

P.S. I have a Blood-Parrot, it is a cross between a Red Devil, and something else. They are very nice looking fish, and eat like pigs.

Mollies can only interbreed with guppies and Swordtails can only interbreed with platys.

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

Not always, most livebears will interbreed some cichlids will interbreed. I think its kinda dumb tho


fish1

i currently own a'flowerhorn/luohan' cichlids n a cross breed of luohan n blood parrot

it have similar shape of a blood parrot but in a bigger size and the bump head of a luohan

Not true, in some rare instances different families of fish can cross-breed. I have seen a number of bristle nose catfish that breed with electric blues and the result are bottom dwelling dark blue cichlids. But mostly its closely related fish that cross-breed.

Last edited by jutstar at 22-Nov-2004 22:44

I studied this in my science class last year...I don't remember it all, but one of the main things is that the 2 species must have the same number of chromosomes for the offspring to be born and be able to produce offspring of it's own. There are a number of other factors also...most of which I've forgotten

Not true, in some rare instances different families of fish can cross-breed. I have seen a number of bristle nose catfish that breed with electric blues and the result are bottom dwelling dark blue cichlids. But mostly its closely related fish that cross-breed.

Hi and welcome to the site.

Do you have a pic that you can post?

Last edited by openwater at 22-Nov-2004 23:08

I have seen a number of bristle nose catfish that breed with electric blues and the result are bottom dwelling dark blue cichlids.

I am sorry, but that is simply impossibly...cross-species and cross-genera hybrids are possible, but not a hybrid between two entirely unrelated families of fishes.

blood parrots are absolutly disgusting.

I have only seen 1 that wasnt deformed in any way, and it was about 8" long.

I think they should be illegal, just like dying fish shoulod be.

Of course, other than the fish already stated, hybrids I can think of are some of your Pimelodid hybrids (Red Tailed Catfish x Tiger Shovelnose, Tiger Shovelnose x Marbled Catfish) and your Stingray hybrids. AFM had an article on man-made types of fish in one of their issues, but I haven't read it yet...:%)

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

thats pretty much wat i thought i figured fish that are almost the exact same could breed i didnt/dont think that two random fish could make an offspring considering if that was the case there would be millions of different species then there is today maybe even billions