Hybrid African cichlids: what they are, how to spot them and whether to buy one

A hybrid cichlid is a cross between two different species or varieties. Among Lake Malawi cichlids it happens more often than people think, and often the seller does not even know. There is nothing wrong with keeping a hybrid, as long as you know what you are buying. This guide explains how to spot them and when buying one makes sense.

Why they crossbreed so easily

• The females look very much alike: in peacocks (Aulonocara) nearly all of them are gray or brown. In a mixed tank, a male cannot tell his own species apart.
• In the lake, location and color keep them apart; in the aquarium there are no such barriers.
• Store tanks with everything mixed: crosses happen on their own and the fry are sold without a warning.

Aquarium lines and accidental crosses

There are two kinds of "not wild":

• Aquarium lines: varieties selected on purpose over many generations, with a stable look. For example the OB, the Dragon Blood, the Saffron or the Golden Dragon. They are not species, but you know what to expect.
• Accidental crosses: the result of mixing two species, with traits of both. For example our Red Empress × Rubin Red: the long body and stripes of the Red Empress, the blue head and red of the Rubin Red.

How to spot a hybrid

• Mixed traits: the shape of one species with the color of another.
• It does not match photos of the species on the label, especially in adult males.
• A very uneven batch: siblings that all look different.
• The seller cannot say where it came from or who the parents were.

A tip: always compare with an adult male of the species. Juveniles and females rarely let you tell.

Should you buy one?

• For a display tank, yes: a hybrid can be as healthy and beautiful as any other fish, and usually costs less.
• For breeding, better not: the fry come out unpredictable, and if you sell them as a pure species you repeat the problem.
• Never release one into rivers or lakes.
• Ask for a clear answer. Our profiles always say whether a fish is a species, an aquarium line or a cross.

How to avoid hybrids if you breed

Keep each male only with females of his own species, in a separate tank, and label your batches. In a display tank with several males of different colors and no females, the problem does not exist. More in how to breed African cichlids and the hybrids section of the Sulfurhead guide.

In our shop

We have the Red Empress × Rubin Red for sale, a striking cross that is ideal for display, and several aquarium lines such as the Sky Blue OB, the Dragon Blood and the Saffron. Every profile says clearly what it is.