EXPLAIN THE SHORT BODY CRAZE THAT IS EVERYWHERE

[pocono]

ok here we go, can someone explain what all these shortbody cichlids are and why there are so many types, to me they are just deformed fish that should have been culled, what is going on here. give me your best explaination on this.

the only short body i ever remmember was the red parrot fish and that was bred and brought into the hobby over 30 years ago.

 

[Deadeye]

Just something some people love. I remember getting a sb gt that was crazy overpriced, just cause it was smaller. In hindsight I should have gotten a normal one.
Over time I’ve come to hate short body fish more and more not even cause of the health issues, but just because it looks wrong. Parrots are the only ones I accept.

 

[Potato Patatto]

Generally I think it’s just cause the SBs are more manageable to keep in smaller sized tanks but they are look pretty awful to me. You might be able to temp me into a SB arapaima but that’s probably a $2000 fish that’ll die in a few years.

 

[pocono]

Well at least i see i am not alone in my thinking, it just blows me away that people would breed deforms on purpose. Money rules i guess

 

[pocono]

Wow i didnt even know they had arapaima in short body. blown away!

 

[Deadeye]

If there is even one person who likes it, it can make money.
One thing about short body fish is that they don’t really work in smaller tanks. The fish produces the same amount of waste and still thinks it’s a larger one. Even a 10 inch blood parrot thinks it’s a 15 inch, non deformed devil/Vieja hybrid and will control amc move around a tank as such.

 

[FJB]

Money may rule, but not everywhere.
To me, a SB anything is worth exactly $ 0.
I also have not learned to like things such as parrots and will never own one.
Even fancy tails on otherwise nice fish don't appeal to me, with the exception of some guppy, but even at that, I prefer endlers.
And then, there are the glo-fish. What an aberration!

 

[Kolton13]

If there was a SB gulper cat......... I might do some bad things to acquire it

 

[Potato Patatto]

I think the SB craze will die down, but overall I think the market does a decent job at dictating prices. Smaller sized or more manageable monsters that are hard to acquire will always command top dollar.. your PBBs, Zebra Pikes, Leichardtis, Tigrinus Cats, Hoplias Amaira or Culpira, even a maxed out Odoe Pike will command a large price.. all happen to be fish I covet (lucky me ?) I’m not too well versed in the cichlid world so I’m sure there’s a lot more I’m missing

 

[Toiletcar]

Never understood it either. Guess some think they are cute or can cram what should be large fish in a small tank. I’ll never buy because I they look awful and have health problems. I like like growing fish out so they get bigger than normal, not keep them small.