It took me some time to post this, since I was seriously pissed off at them, but here ya go.

It seems to be a common notion that male blood parrots (the hybrid guys) are sterile. I can't find anything for sure one way or another on where that came from, but I can say for sure that I have a pair right now and they caused some *serious* trouble for everyone else in the tank.

The tank closest to my desk in my office had 5 parrots and a sleeper goby all living fairly peacefully in it. The parrots argued now and again, but nothing outside of what Cichlids do normally.

I ended up with the flu or something pretty nasty last week, (still got it a bit even) and didn't get to do my usual daily rounds with everyone, or spend much time at my desk. I'm not sure if me being around and doing stuff, previously kept them from breeding or not (I doubt it) but they never acted like they cared before.

So, with me not around, two of them went to town. The female was almost 5 inches and looks like an over sized golf ball. She's the type they call the King Kong Parrot. The male, was just one of the generic yellow orange ones and nearly the runt of the tank, he looks downright puny compared to the female. As far as I know none of the ones we kept from the big batch of parrots we rescued had ever been dyed, so I'm not sure if that has something to do with it.

Anyway, they took over the right side of the tank, about 6 inches from the glass, where I had (and yes I said had) a sword plant in a clay pot. They mostly destroyed the plant, upended the pot and decided that would be where they breed.

At this point I'm not sure of the time line as to when they laid eggs, or when they became free swimming but what I did find when I was well enough to start my regular rounds again monday was rough.

I came down to see the male, though I'm sure both of them were responsible, had penned the three other parrots into the far corner, and had beaten the ever loving crap out of them. Nothing they won't survive from but they got a good ass kicking. The thing that had me completely furious (and wanting to feed them to the snapping turtle) was that one or both of them killed the goby too.

I can only assume that once the fry started free swimming that the goby lost any self control and self preservation it had in the interest of eating tasty tasty fry. The parents, having genes originally from CA cichlid stock had an interest in causing extreme death to anything that came near the fry and well, I got to see how that ended out. For as solid and tough as the goby looks, he couldn't hold out against the breeding fury, poor guy.

yuor right, I feel bad for the goby. It may be one of a few males that aren't sterile. I guess you just got a lucky (to the fish, not to you) male parrot. I feel bad for the fish. Gonna keep fry? It's CA Cichlid breeding fury, don't feed'm to the Snapper.

I moved the three that got beat on to another tank, I'm not sure what the plan is going forward. I only want one tank with them in it, so this is definitely only a short term solution.

As for the fry well, Snappy gotta eat, so does the aro, and the sliders would like some too I bet and did I mention Snappy? I only kept the couple of parrots we have here since the kids like 'em. I don't really want a metric ton of them.

true, Snappy, blinky, and your vast collection of RESs have to eat
Also, when I have my own place, a fishroom, time, and money, I might start rescuing fish and rehoming them like you saint. You seem to save plenty of fish. You probaly have saved atleast $1,000 of animals and rehomed most for little or no price. If I can't get rid of my Senegal when the time comes, I know who to send him/her to. (hopefully)

saint_felony wrote:

...It seems to be a common notion that male blood parrots (the hybrid guys) are sterile...

I know that seems to be a common notion, but not sure why. So many fish hybrids across numerous families are fertile in the F1 generation that it's probably safer to assume that hybrid offspring are fertile.

Anyways, why ya postin' 'bout abominations to the natural order of things in the SA section?

WYite

Hmmmm. I might be interested in some mutts if they live long enough. What else to say typical Cichlid style for sure.

I don't get why everyone thinks that either, I just know especially with the Parrots, that seems to be the case. Especially weird since Flowerhorn are the genetic wild cards and will breed with anything they can't kill.

As for posting here, I was going on the same principal that food stores use, selling instant ice tea. Originally some tea was involved in it's making.. Anyway. I suppose adding a hybrid section wouldn't be a bad idea. Having more organization is never a bad thing.

Oh and Senegal, as in the parrot? Hells no. Birds are batshit insane. I still have scars from the last bird that was here. I'd rather figure out how to house an Arapaima then deal with any more birds. Well, except for any non-flying ducks, but they could live outside.

I mean't the fish, not the birds. We had birds and they would bite us every chance they got. Can't beleive I still have the scar where one got me good, these were just parakeets too.

Lol...saint you must be heavily medicated....

The Hybrid Forum! (click)

*laugh* Maybe just a tiny bit. I took Nyquil but my throat still hurt so I had the brilliant idea to take some jagermeister for that. I was at least smart enough not to try and add the hybrid forum last night.

Someone on here posted pictures of their Parrots (the actual birds) at one point, and that was apparently the first thing that popped into my mind when Senegal mentioned it.

Nice on the add MC. I was kinda thinking of adding it under New World Cichlids, since it seems more general and that just breeding and as far as I know all the common hybrids are based off SA cichlids.

I know Africans can cross, but is there any so far removed from the source fish like these guys are?

Saint, lay off the meds a little.

Yeah...I add that forum about a year ago when I added all the other forums and sub forums.....