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is kribensis a jewel cichlid hybrid?
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:38 am
by Aquatix
Hi all, I've got a bit of a situation with my cichlid tank. I recently redid the tank to mimic the Congo river, and it's been a huge success - my Congo tetras, Kribensis cichlids, and Jewel cichlid are all getting along great. Just woke up this morning to find my Kribensis cichlids have laid eggs, which is weird because I'm pretty sure I only have females in that tank. There is a single male Jewel cichlid in there, and I've seen him hanging around the cave where the eggs are. I'm wondering, could he have fertilized the eggs? And if so, would that result in some sort of hybrid? I'm not sure what to do - should I remove the eggs or let them hatch?
Re: is kribensis a jewel cichlid hybrid?
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:58 am
by graye
The eggs are likely infertile. The male jewel's visit to the cave doesn't change this. Kribensis Cichlids are from Nigeria and the northern edge of Cameroon, whereas the standard aquarium jewel Cichlids aren't Congo River fish. Hemichromis lifalli, which is from near the mouth of the Congo, is often mislabeled and sold as a different species. However, even if it were biologically possible for them to crossbreed, their spawning behaviors are incompatible.
Unfortunately, the jewels will likely become aggressive towards the kribs over time. I've had personal experience with multiple Hemichromis species, and the outcome is always the same - one of the species needs to be removed to prevent conflict. The fact that the male jewel entered the krib cave after spawning suggests that the kribs may have given up on defending their eggs, which is unusual since they are normally ferocious in their defense.
Re: is kribensis a jewel cichlid hybrid?
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:14 pm
by Aquatix
graye wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:58 am
The eggs are likely infertile. The male jewel's visit to the cave doesn't change this. Kribensis Cichlids are from Nigeria and the northern edge of Cameroon, whereas the standard aquarium jewel Cichlids aren't Congo River fish. Hemichromis lifalli, which is from near the mouth of the Congo, is often mislabeled and sold as a different species. However, even if it were biologically possible for them to crossbreed, their spawning behaviors are incompatible.
Unfortunately, the jewels will likely become aggressive towards the kribs over time. I've had personal experience with multiple Hemichromis species, and the outcome is always the same - one of the species needs to be removed to prevent conflict. The fact that the male jewel entered the krib cave after spawning suggests that the kribs may have given up on defending their eggs, which is unusual since they are normally ferocious in their defense.
I figured as much, but it's interesting to see the Kribensis cichlid still defending the cave from the Congo tetras, even if the eggs are likely infertile. I apologize for the confusion earlier - I tend to use the more common terms 'jewel cichlid' and 'Kribensis cichlid' when referring to my fish, but to clarify, I actually have Hemichromis lifalili and Pelvicachromis subocellatus in the tank. These species are indeed part of the Congo river system, if I'm correct. In theory, the outcome should still be the same, given their genus. I've had this tank set up for over a year now, and the fish have always gotten along surprisingly well - I suppose I might have just gotten lucky with the individuals I have.
Re: is kribensis a jewel cichlid hybrid?
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:36 pm
by graye
Pelvicachromis subocellatus is indeed a rare find, and referring to them as kribs can be misleading - their care requirements are quite distinct. I've had the pleasure of keeping both subocellatus and lifallili, sourced from the mouth of the Congo, near the ocean's edge. Both species are truly stunning.
Re: is kribensis a jewel cichlid hybrid?
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 3:40 pm
by Aquatix
Aquatix wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:38 am
Hi all, I've got a bit of a situation with my cichlid tank. I recently redid the tank to mimic the Congo river, and it's been a huge success - my Congo tetras, Kribensis cichlids, and Jewel cichlid are all getting along great. Just woke up this morning to find my Kribensis cichlids have laid eggs, which is weird because I'm pretty sure I only have females in that tank. There is a single male Jewel cichlid in there, and I've seen him hanging around the cave where the eggs are. I'm wondering, could he have fertilized the eggs? And if so, would that result in some sort of hybrid? I'm not sure what to do - should I remove the eggs or let them hatch?
graye said:
P subocellatus is a really hard to find fish! Calling them kribs really confuses the issue - they are very different to keep.
I've had subocellatus and lifallili from the mouth of the Congo, in the region leading out to sea. They are both beauties.
No, yeah they are stunning. Living in Florida has its perks, there are plenty of fish farms around that breed rare species. I think that's one reason I'm so into cichlids - the variety is insane and I can find some really cool ones locally. To be honest, I've never actually kept standard Kribensis cichlids, I did consider getting some of the white morphs but never pulled the trigger. My subocellatus and lifallili are thriving in a blackwater setup and their colors are just incredible.