REPRODUCTION, DEVELOPMENT, AND GROWTH OF CICHLID HYBRIDS (Cichlasoma synspilum, C. urophthalmus, AND Amphilophus citrinellum) – TO CONTINUE

Fertility, survival, and growth of Central American cichlid hybrids and their backcrosses were investigated to address both production in captivity and prediction of success in invading new environments (Texas, Florida). Surprisingly little attention in the scientific literature has been devoted to the fertility and viability of these high priced ornamental fish hybrids that frequently are released or escape to the wild.

The original hybrid (red parrot) has a high survival rate and females reach maturity at one year old. The backcross has low viability (11+7% feeding; n=6), whereas the parrot/Mayan hybrid (PMH) has comparatively high viability (30% feeding), and a low rate of skeletal deformities. Juveniles were fed with rotifers and Artemia nauplii for the first 3 weeks and then transitioned to commercial feed, Otohime). Mean weight of PMH at 28 dpf (326+94 mg) exceeded that of parental species, red parrot hybrid (310+ 8 mg), C. urophthalmus (Mayan cichlid) (291+24 mg) and red parrot backcross (191+40 mg).