New Alunocara

[jblanton]

Hello I am a new member

here and have recently escelated my MTS to a full blown fish room. I have been in the hobby since I

was a child and have a decent knowledge base. However as stated I just recently began creation of

the new room with my father. My question is concerning Alunocara and the difference between Line

Bred and Hybrid fish. I have an Alunocara that was sold as a Sunfire Peocock. After doing some

research I have the fish sold under multiple names, Sunburst, Sunfire, Strawberry...and I am sure

there are others. The dealer that we purchased this fish from specificaly told us that it was not a

hybrid that it was line bred.

So my two questions are :

1. Is my fish a

hybrid
2. Can someone explain the difference between hybrid and line bred and how these two

topics fit into the ACA.

I know hybrid fish are not recognized by the ACA and I am not

trying to start a discussion about the Pros/Cons of hybrid fish, I understand that gets a little

emotional at times.


Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Lisachromis]

I cannot answer whether

or not your fish are hybrids or not, but I'm sure someone else here can let you know on

that.

The difference between line bred and hybrid is actually quite easy.

Line bred is when you bred a certain species for certain characteristics. Often in Aulonocara,

they try to breed for more red, or more yellow. So, they'll take one species and keep picking

out the males that most closely resemble what they are trying to achieve. So, they'll take the

reddest (or yellowest) male from each batch of fry, and raise him up to father more fry, where they

do the same things to them. So, eventually you have peacocks that are much redder than their wild

counterparts. Don't forget, they are the SAME species.

Hybrids are when two (or

more) species are crossed together. Often they'll take one that has characteristics they like,

and try to breed it into the other species. Personally I can't stand hybrids. But that's a

whole different question.

[jblanton]

Thank you for the

explination. That is the difference as I understood it, Ijust wanted to make sure. I will try to

add some pics of the actual fish, attached here is a photo of the type of fish I have, My fish

looks identical only appears to be larger.

[Pam Chin]

To me the sunburst is hybrid,

we are not sure how they made it. We do know that it is not found naturally in the lake. So keep

in mind, if you want to keep pure strains, they must be found in the lake naturally. Some Line

bred peacocks have been accepted in to the mainstream hobby; German Red, Eureka. However die-hard

cichlid hobbyists still shake there heads, as there is nothing as nice then a species that is

found naturally in the lake. Generally speaking, a line bred fish enhances the features of the

said species., i.e., German Red, to bring out certain colors. While a hybrid is generally

described as two different genus' crossing; i.e. Aulonocara with Copadichromis, Pseudotropheus

with Cynotilapia. etc.

Cichlid Power!
Pam

[bobrfish]

Seller stated fish was line

bred. Does seller know what species the line breeding started with? If not then seller is selling

a line of bull.
That is not to say some line bred fish and some cross bred fish are not

pretty. They are pretty.

Wild type species are beautiful in more ways than meets the

eye. We are losing many wild type species and will not see them again.
One of ACA major goals

is to conserve cichlids, not AS or cross bred cichlids but bonifide species. This is why i cannot

justify keeping anything but a true wild type fish in my fishroom.

[jblanton]

First let me say I

appreciate all of the comments and the time taken by those who have replied to share their

oppinions.

So based on the comments I have recieved so far we are not sure if the fish

is Hybrid or not. Other information that myhelp those trying to assist me has surfaced. I have 17

little guys that have been seperated into a grow out tank and doing fine. The male killed one of

the females not long after we discovered the fry. I know have 1M and 2F.

Anyway I guess

the ultimate question is would this fish be allowed in an ACA show?


Thanks for

reading and posting guys....AND GALS!

Thanks,
Jeremy

[bobrfish]

Steve Lundblad

determines what fish are allowed and which fish are not. As it turns out Steve is an Aulonocara

expert. Find Steve's email on ACA web site.

I believe the fish would be allowed as

an entry, but probably not with name sunfire on tank label. Check with Steve for final word. A
If fish is a hybrid, it is possible no judging sheet would be created. From talking to a long

time judge, he stated he will not point line bred fish even if a judging sheet is submitted to

him.

[jblanton]

Thank you I will do just

that.

Again thanks to everyone for your helpful replies.