poxboy Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Hi guys. The other day I purchased 8 Protomelas taeniolatus "Red Empress" fry 4-5cm with the idea of growing them out into a colony. They were from 2 different sources. 3 in one lot, 5 in the other. My concern is with the batch of 3 fish. The dark stripe along the lateral line seen in juviniles of this species is broken and patchy, and not at all distinct like every juvinile I've ever seen. A search on google revealed numerous photos of juvies, none of which had broken lateral stripe. Here are some very rough photos. Sorry, but I had to take them with my phone as my camera is R/S. Fish from first batch of 3 (suspect fish) Fish from second batch of 5 (nice fish) Am I overreacting, or is it highly likely that they are hybrids? Either way, I will not grow them out to breed as I think they are inferior to the other bunch... Cheers, Bretto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnytw Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Hmm thats strange, it could be. Does the suspicious batch ever show the full lateral line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy001 Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I breed alot of Red Empress & all fry have had an unbroken lateral line. I also breed P spilonotus "Tanzania" & they have a broken lateral line it could be crossed with them. Either way I definetely would not breed with them. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzzy Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 If not hybrid, then from horrible stock. It would be difficult to tell without clearer photos of the fishes profiles. Let them grow up, you never know, they may turn into the best red emps ever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poxboy Posted August 8, 2007 Author Share Posted August 8, 2007 OK, here's some better shots. suspect fish nice fish What do you think ? To say I'm not happy with these fish is an understatement, but I will hold back until I get a few more opinions from you guys.... Bretto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricyellowz Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 The line on the suspect fish looks almost too high on the fishes body. My ones look like the bottom fish but as hezzy said let them grow up only if you still want them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLEMNDRAGON Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 I got my red empress colony from a reputable breeder and grew them out and none of mine looked like that all have nice defined black stripe on em, and i got some tanzania's the other day and they dont even look like the ones you got. suspect fish i think... my 2 cents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropheusQueen Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 Hi Bretto, Further to your message the other day my investigations led me to this thread. Looking at the pics I can see clearly your concerns but agree with those that believe that it is most probably a case of inbreeding as opposed to hybridisation. Either way it is a shame that it has occured . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petdos Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 Hi,if you compare the last lot of photos,you will notice a small indent or dimple just back from the eye,on top of head,this also is a coman trate of inbreeding,yes it is a shame,pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petshopdude Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 bit of a shame dude, but it is a common thing to find in our hobby that low quality fish are not culled out, the amount of poor quailty aficans such as electric yellows which i see up my way is a shame, however we also have to do our part, and if fish a breed of low quality, then they should be culled, my advise would be to soure some new fish and do the right thing and despose of the poor quality fish, it might sound tuff but i fed my lion fish some venutus due to low quailty the other day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobbin4 Posted September 15, 2007 Share Posted September 15, 2007 Good fish = good fry ,, not many to cull . but if you start with bad fish ,, same bloodlines,, Eg some of the E/Yellows going around then what hope do we have. Al peococks the same,. so many crosses. Bretto , you should have picked that up on looking at them before buying!!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poxboy Posted September 15, 2007 Author Share Posted September 15, 2007 Bretto , you should have picked that up on looking at them before buying!!. Not allowed to do that any more . Bretto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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