Crossbreeding????

[SKISWETPETS]

So Im curious if there is a possibility of this to happen with these two species. I have 16 Tropheus Dubosi and 3 Yellow Labs in my 55 in the living room. There all under 3 inch or so. My question is, would there be a chance these two would cross with each other? Reason I ask, this is the second time now that one of the Yellow Labs has had a mouth full of eggs. I am unsure of the m/f ratio of the Yellows. Thinking of stripping the female tomorrow.

P.S. I know they should probably have a larger tank in the future. All is well so far, and I watch this tank everyday....

[GrizzlysDad]

I would say you are safe to assume that the fry are pure Yellows.

[SKISWETPETS]

That is really what I am thinking, Tony, have you ever stripped a female that was holding and the eggs were not fertilized? I guess to ask if a female would just go through the motions and lay, and pick up eggs?

[GrizzlysDad]

That is really what I am thinking, Tony, have you ever stripped a female that was holding and the eggs were not fertilized? I guess to ask if a female would just go through the motions and lay, and pick up eggs?

Unlike many New World egg layers that you often see a female lay eggs even without a male present, it's not typical behavior in mouth brooding Old World cichlids....but you could get unfertilized eggs if the male is not fertile.

[Regalblue]

I would say you are safe to assume that the fry are pure Yellows.

Yep!  Tangs & Malawi won't produce viable eggs/fry

That is really what I am thinking, Tony, have you ever stripped a female that was holding and the eggs were not fertilized? I guess to ask if a female would just go through the motions and lay, and pick up eggs?

Unlike many New World egg layers that you often see a female lay eggs even without a male present, it's not typical behavior in mouth brooding Old World cichlids....but you could get unfertilized eggs if the male is not fertile.

Exactly...  I've witnessed one of my Red Cap Lethrinops shoot an egg out & quickly go grab it, over & over, until her gullet was packed.

[Mission Man]

I have found in my mouth brooders, that if the eggs are not viable, they will just breakdown after 3-5 days.  So, chances are good that if the female still has eggs, then they are good.

P.S.  I have had a female or two mistakenly pick up pieces of substrate and roll them with the eggs, only to find them when the female is stripped.