Help ID Chichlid females breeding with Z-Rock Yellow Blaze Lithobate?

[FishSwarm]

Hi all, my first post here. Can't wait to start getting involved with this great community. I have tons to talk about and experiences to share. So much to do and so little time while I setup my half basement fish room. This site has been extremely helpful for me on making decisions on steel tube stands, learning about one of my recent acquisitions (Jack Dempsey), and learning how to identify fish problems/behaviors! On to the reason for my first post.

Long story short when I was just a young fishkeeper (4 months ago lol) I ordered a mixed bag of Peacocks and Haps from a popular auction website. They sent me the wrong list of fish vs what was included. I still don't have everything identified but that is another topic. In this 55gal mixed tank my Yellow Blaze Lithobate (Z-Rock) got aggressive, setup shop and started breeding with multiple different fish in a one week period. I decided I would try to strip the females and test my diy tumblers and one I purchased. I was nervous but everything went very well using a twisty tie and I had my wife snap pics of the females during the stripping process. The ladies went back to eating almost immediately. One of the females (a dragonblood) eggs were unfertilized, turned white, floated to top so I removed those. These two females below had viable eggs and one batch (15 fry) is now free swimming in a hang on breeder box and are nibbling on a pinch of fry powder I added. It has been super fun and exciting raising my first batches of fry so far. Now I need help in identification of females which seems to be an art form all in its own.

Will I have whackado hybrids that I shouldn't sell to a LFS, or true Z-Rock babies? Appreciate any advice and will gladly share my own as I continue the fun journey!
***Trying to figure out how best to post pics***

 

[FishSwarm]

Here are pics of the two moms without the flash.

 

[deeda]

Aulonocara (Peacock) females are difficult or impossible to identify so it's doubtful you will ever know what species they are.

Any offspring from the known male will be hybrids and should not be distributed outside your tanks.

Congrats on setting up a fish room in your house!!! If your plan is to buy, breed and raise different Malawi cichlids, the general recommendation is to house only one species per tank, especially with Aulonocara.

BTW, Welcome to the forum!!!

 

[FishSwarm]

Aulonocara (Peacock) females are difficult or impossible to identify so it's doubtful you will ever know what species they are.

Any offspring from the known male will be hybrids and should not be distributed outside your tanks.

Congrats on setting up a fish room in your house!!! If your plan is to buy, breed and raise different Malawi cichlids, the general recommendation is to house only one species per tank, especially with Aulonocara.

BTW, Welcome to the forum!!!

Thanks deeda! That is what I assumed. I initially thought that the Yellow Blaze Lithobate was a Hap and was surprised with him breeding with the Aulonocara females. He just don't care it seems and is dancing around to get attention everyday These are just test runs on these fry and this living room tank. I will be clear about the hybridization if they grow up and I decide to sell them. In my fishroom I am separating species like you suggested. Currently have adult Zebra Obliquidens, nkhomo-benga peacocks, Cyrtocara moorii (blue dolphin) all adults in separate tanks. Growing out Placidochromis Milomo (Super VC-10). Also have two Tropheus colonies on the way this week!

 

[james99]

I can't tell from the pics, but does your male have 2-3 dots down his side?

 

[FishSwarm]

I can't tell from the pics, but does your male have 2-3 dots down his side?

He is so dark blue right now all you can see are black stripes but yes he does have spots. Here is a pic if him before he went alpha male.

 

[AnthonyFish20]

Aulonocara (Peacock) females are difficult or impossible to identify so it's doubtful you will ever know what species they are.

Any offspring from the known male will be hybrids and should not be distributed outside your tanks.

Congrats on setting up a fish room in your house!!! If your plan is to buy, breed and raise different Malawi cichlids, the general recommendation is to house only one species per tank, especially with Aulonocara.

BTW, Welcome to the forum!!!

they arent hybrids just cross breeds which is fine happens in the wild so stop saying not to breed or kill them they r fine to distribute

 

[james99]

they arent hybrids just cross breeds which is fine happens in the wild so stop saying not to breed or kill them they r fine to distribute

Hybrid

: an offspring of two animals or plants of different races (see 3race 3a), breeds, varieties, species, or genera

• a hybrid of two roses

The fish would be hybrids and have no value in the hobby. Even if the person getting rid of them is completely honest about what they are, down the line someone could pass them off as a rare, exotic species to unsuspecting keepers. Hybrids in nature are more rare than you think since fish are able to find their own kind.

 

[AnthonyFish20]

Hybrid

: an offspring of two animals or plants of different races (see 3race 3a), breeds, varieties, species, or genera

• a hybrid of two roses

The fish would be hybrids and have no value in the hobby. Even if the person getting rid of them is completely honest about what they are, down the line someone could pass them off as a rare, exotic species to unsuspecting keepers. Hybrids in nature are more rare than you think since fish are able to find their own kind.

ur wrong its a crossbreed look it up im 100% sure aulonacara x alunacara is a crossbreed if u were talking about hap/alunacara thts a hybrid

 

[duanes]

Any species that spawns with another different species is a hybrid.
If an Aulonacara baenschi, spawns with an Aulonacara maylandii the resulting progeny are hybrids, just as if a Vieja bifasciatum spawns with a Vieja melanurum, they are hybrids and should be called a hybrid, if being truthful.
And to some of us, hybrids are worthless, and if allowed to go on tend to pollute the line.