Aulonocara marble

[gadazobe]

Some time ago I bought 3 juvie aulonocara marbles, supposedly 1 male and 2 females. They've grown since I got them and now I think I may have 3 males One is quite a bit bigger than the other two and seems to keep the 2 smaller ones "in their place" (maybe the natural pecking order of fish) but the two smaller ones spend some time looking at each other from a distance of about 6" between them, one goes forward, the other back, then they swop over - bit like a seesaw action without the hight. :what: Then the bigger one comes between them and they all scatter. I wondered if this was natural between 2 males How can I tell the difference between male and female of these fish To me all 3 look the same

 

[Macquatic]

This will be sp. "marble" is it? C.master is the man for this stuff but he's very busy and may not be on very often. Normally males will show egg spots on the anal fin, females none. There may be a difference in colour or finnage but I can't help there. Mac.

 

[cichlidmaster]

Since the "marble" is a manmade hybrid...(there's that word again) the variation in colors are astronomical. The best way is to look at the dorsal and anal fins. The males will be longer and should come to somewhat of a point. Also the males dorsal may or may not have a red border along the top edge.

In case your curious, the marble was made be crossing a Aulonocara sp. with a OB Pseudotropheus sp. "zebra". Sorry no comment on what I think of this one folks.

 

[gadazobe]

Oh dear I didn't think to ask if they are hybrids. I was told they're born like that and I didn't even consider that they are hybrids I'm totally against "man made fish" but there's not much I can do now. I thought most hybrids are sterile :what:

 

[cichlidmaster]

Don't fret gad...
The "marble" Aulonocara is a nice looking hybrid at that. I would not have one, but I have no problem with any one who doeas. I also don't have issues with people who keep other types of hybrids. To each their own.

My issue is with the creator. These unscrupulous people are only in it for the money. They have no desire to take exisiting species and improve upon them which is what we should all be doing. There are ways in which one can improve and make a line stronger without resorting to hybridizing. This in turn keeps the species true.

Getting back to your original question...the male should indeed have dummy (egg) spots on the anal fin. Keep in mind though these being hybrids it could be possible for the female to have these as well. On another note...There are a few species of Aulonocara I have had that the female has very faint egg spots as well and these were not hybrids.

Some hybrids are sterile, but there are exceptions to every rule. I once crossed a Labidochromis perlmutt x Pseudotropheus macropthalmus "red side" and came out with a beautiful fish. For those of you who are familiar with the perlmut, this perlmut looked identical except the yellow at the top of the dorsal area was a very nice reddish orange. All other aspects of this fish looked like a perlmut.

This was a planned experiment with NO intentions of selling these fish. In fact I still have them. And yes, they breed true. I have bred the first fry through 3 generations and all have been born true crosses, no of shoots of any kind.

I was asked to conduct this experiment by a local curator who was doing a program on genetics and asked for my assistance. It was quite enlightening to say the least.

Confusing is'nt it??? Such is the life of an aquarist.

HTH