Which is WHICH!?!?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

The picture is distinguishable as well....if the left picture had a close up or anything closer then what it is you will see the difference in the dorsal immediately....even as small as it is I can see the difference.

[jeebus]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

Zulaab, I appreciate your input on cross-breeding. The reason this has become a heated topic for myself is that we picked up two (2) Tropheus Moorii Kambwimba RRs yesterday. In just 24 hours, we have read probably everything there is to read on Tropheus on the internet, as well as have scoured all the big Cichlid forums.

We're really leaning towards a full colony in the next month or so. I just wanted to get some honest answers on breeding, cross-breeding, and just plain simple identification.

I can tell you now that if we did mix groups to form a small colony (lets say 10 Kambwimbas and 10 Chimbas) I have no plans on selling any fry I can collect. I'll simply give them away to anyway who isn't particular about "pure-bred" Tropheus. I know that might shock and offend some here, but our desire is not to make money off the fish we keep. Perhaps if we do keep a single breed colony, then maybe we'll sell the fry - maybe.

However, I have a few weeks left before our tank will be fully cycled, so I'm in no rush to have a colony, mixed or single breed, just yet. When the time comes, I'll start a thread with all the questions I can't find answers to.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

I would not give them away to someone that is not in the know......that is how hybrids get crossed into the hobby....you give them away and when it comes time that person will sell them/give them away as well....gets ID'ed as best as possible and bred with what it looks like and cross bred genes start.


Please keep whatever you breed that are cross breeds.....when it comes time to get rid of them and you can't flush them I will thump them for you.

[jeebus]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

Well, the only Tropheus keepers we know are here at HFB.

Realistically, we will probably just go with a single breed, and maybe keep some more aggressive Mbunas around - and then again, maybe not. We just don't know yet. This Tropheus fever is happening a lot faster that we anticipated.

As I said in this thread:

"We don't want to add any more fish until we've given that tank a few more weeks to cycle. We really shouldn't have gotten those two RR's, but the tank levels have been perfect all week, and in a moment of weakness we caved.

The second is that Honkzz said that his are only eating flakes & no NLS, which would make feeding more difficult. Even if they didn't though, we're trying to show a little restraint and wait a few weeks."

For those not tracking, we bought two Rainbow Reds yesterday, which we posted pics in the above linked thread.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

It does happen fast!

There are a ton of Tropheus craze people here in Houston and a lot I see lurk around here on HFB but never make their presence known. Then there are the others that share their beauties with the rest of us.  

[Zulaab]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

I dont want to discourage you from doing what you want to do, but because Tropheus keeping is somewhat "young" crossbreeding is discouraged because of what EK said.. you end up giving them away to people who don't "care" and they end up being the ones who brings them to someone else and etc..
There are currently over 170 different known species of Tropheus in the lake today and still growing as there are tons of places that have yet to be explored   because of the state of DR Congo, where pirates and other outlaws do roam, and it can be dangerous to travel in that area.

This is why people discourage it so much, and you have a ton of different kinds you can still mix in to the tank to make two smaller colonies that will not crossbreed.  The Chimba is listed as a sp. red, but before it became a sp. "red" it was listed as a Moorii and there is a good chance they will cross breed with your RR.   You will notice over time if you get more RR that they will really make your tank look good alone and since you only have one kind or two kinds of breeds that will for sure not crossbreed people will be willing to buy them from you.

Again I dont want to stop you from doing what you want to do, but I would feel bad if I didnt do my best to inform you of what you are going to end up having to do and that is basically kill fish.  You will be able to give them away for a while and then you will run into people who will tell you sorry I dont want them and you are suddenly stuck with fish you dont want.  Please remember that a pure breed juvenile gets you $8-12 a piece (depending on size)...a crossbreed you might not be able to sell at all.  I can also pretty much guarantee you that these fish will breed for you and young will survive until you have to many of them in your tank.  This is a promise.

Since you got the RR's already I would add some more ofcourse, and I would look at Brichardi (less chance of cross breeding but no for sure),  sp. "black" (less of a chance) Duboisi and Annectens (polli) (no crossbreed will occur)

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

There have been reports of cross breeding between sp. black with other sp. ....the safest bet is Duboisi. and from there it chances greater.

[jeebus]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

Well, the only type we really like are the Moorii. With that said, we're at that fabled fork in the road and just trying to figure out all of our options. I think in the end though we'll go with a single species.

Ultimately, I'm just trying to avoid, at all costs, only one thing...



having to get another tank. :)

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

Avoiding it will just cost you more in the end.... :wink:  

[Zulaab]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

Jeebus

... hehe :)  I know the feeling..  I just wanted to get a second tank.. now I have 7..  
I have promised myself, that the road to lowering the number of tanks had to occur.  I just want 3 tanks (with a 4th one potentially in the master bedroom).
I sold my 75 (to mom, which is going to be replaced with a 110g) and I am going to sometime before Christmas sell off my smaller tanks most likely, ie my 42 cube, 29, 20H, 20L & 10  and in the space that they use today put in a 215-240g tank (6ft x 2ft x ~2.5ft) and I will be down to no more than 4 tanks running.  More on all of this later :)

I am thinking time will come when you will find yourself replacing tanks with bigger ones.  Btw bigger tanks.. more fun :)

[jeebus]

Re: Which is WHICH!?!?

lol.. bigger is better. Speaking of which, wait until you all see the rig I built to do water change outs. I might need to get a patent on this bad boy! I'll post some pictures tomorrow.