Mixing Calvus and Calvus and Comps?????

[Afreakin]

Has anyone done this? Do I have to worry about cross breeding? Are Calvus better to mix w/their own or mix w/Comps.

I have Gold Heads and Chatika. Getting some Inkfin Calvus.

What do you guys know????????????

[CJC]

Calvus will cross breed.

[mack74]

I have never seen a hybrid comp or calvus before. Has anyone?

[joe_jaskot]

Anytime you mix two species of the same genus, there is a chance of hybridization occurring. In a large enough setting both species will keep to themselves.

[Afreakin]

I'm thinking Inkfins and Goldheads in a 130 gallon. (66x18x27)

A pair of each?

[Heyguy74]

I have never seen a hybrid comp or calvus before. Has anyone?

I have a couple of times. The person had a bunch of different comps and calvus. He didnt care about breeding, so it was no problem. But the largest Comp took over the tank and tried mating with all females. I never seen the fry grow, but crossbreeding was going on all the time.

[Mark]

I have had multiple Calvus and Comps together in a 55 gallon tank before.

You want to put two pair in a 130 gallon? Go for it. I had enough hiding places and my tank was pretty much devided in the middle. They usually kept to themselves.
Heres a couple pic.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/hearagen/100_0916.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/hearagen/100_0921.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/hearagen/100_0919.jpg



I had Gold Heads (3)
Red Fins (3)
Black Calvus (2)
Orange Mwela (2)
Red Chaitika (1)
Helianthus (2)

[DJRansome]

I agree with Joe, CJC and Heyguy74. Don't mix them if you want to save fry.

[CJC]

DJ, if you look at Freakin's post it asks, will they cross breed? Are you telling me NO, not a chance? I know it's unlikely but

[Afreakin]

CJC I think they are saying that they will and if I don't collect fry it's not a problem :(

[DJRansome]

Right. They might, how will you know? Not worth the chance.

[CJC]

Hey, no problem here. I've got 4 differant types of Calvus, wish I could put them all in 1 tank. I'd have plenty more rome for differant fish.

[Artie]

Rob, I believe they have a real good chance of cross-breeding. The only sure way would be to send the goldheads to my house !!!!!!! LOL

[Mark]

I thouhgt he was talking about putting 2 pair in a 130 gallon?
Highly unlikely they will crossbreed at all. I say try it, theres plenty of space in a 130.

IME, when a Calvus or Comp tried to do the "chicken dance" with a different female, the male would ward that male off. They are very protective in the breeding stage. Besides, when Calvus spawn, the female usually stays in the
shell, cave, breeding cave, whatever they are breeing in throughout the whole process, only coming out to eat and swim a bit. The male almost doesnt leave the females side, IME.

Has anybody ever seen the female protect fry from an intruder? They are viscious. I have been bitten many times by both male and female while cleaning around the breeding spot, boy did I learn fast.

Afreakin,,I say give it a try, your tank is big enough for more than 2 pair without the worry of crossbreeding. JMO

Mark

[ValleyAquatics]

Yes their is a chance they will cross breed. I have seen mixed groups and they cross bred.

[DNICE]

There is a chance they will cross breed, although a 130 is a large enough tank for each to have their own space. Only problem is the fry grow so slow it would take a decade before they are big enough to tell.

[Mark]

OF course theres a chance,,, But we are talking about a 130 gallon tank. More than enough space.

First off, you'll have to be sure you have a pair. If you're getting tham at adult sizes and you're sure they are indeed a pair, crossbredding IMO is unlikely going to happen in that size tank. If you're getting them as fry,,,you are going to need at least 3-4 maybe more just to better your chances of having a pair.

When Calvus or Comps breed, they do it next to a shell/breeeding cave and fan the milt (together) into the spot where the female will cover/protect the eggs. While this goes on,,the male will usually guard the openning of the entrance. Dominant male Calvus/Comp protect their breeding partner, like any other specie. If and when the male is ready,,dont be alarmed when/if you see the male darting/charging the female, thats a sure sign of their breeding habit. You can bet that when this happens, no other fish will attempt to get close.

These are just from my experiences with breeding Calvus. I am not disrespecting anybodies opinions on the board. But he is talking about a 130 tank. I believe theres more than enough room for 2 pair of Calvus and whatever else he has in there.

Mark

[Mark]

Hey Afreakin,,,,,you started a thread asking a question about these Altos.

Well, dont leave us hanging here,,,,whatcha thinking about doing????

Mark

[Afreakin]

I was going to get InkFin Calvus and mix them with GoldHead Comp pair. Now I just may add a few Juvi GoldHeads to the pair and put a trio of FireFins in my 110. May also get a few InkFins and put them in a 125 with White Chatika?

[Longstocking]

No question about it they will cross. In Australia they have a huge probelm with this.

I have only seen pics ... never in person.

[Mark]

Longstocking,
I would love to see some pictures of these crossbred fish.???? Could be an interesting looking fish if one doesnt mind keeping "hybrid" fish.

Afreakin, I think you know there is always a chance,,,and I think you also know that a 130 gallon is a big enough tank for each fish/pair to claim their own territory. I also know you can pull it off, you seem to be very experienced with keeping fish by your responces to everybody elses questions and post.

Let me ask you this. Have you ever kept other types of fish in the same tank with the chance that they may crossbreed? What did you do then??? It's the same approach as to the question you asked when starting this thread.

Maybe I have been lucky in my experience with keeping and breeding Calvus and Comps. Notice in my pictures that I did have multiple pairs/groups in a 55 gallon. Of course under a watchful eye, and plenty of hiding places.

Not to mention that I got all these pair/groups as such. They were already established "partners"......??????

Any updates to what you will be trying, if anything?

Mark

[Longstocking]

I never saved any of the pictures. But, if you browse some Aussie sites you will find plenty of them :)

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

Size of the tank does not matter either. If fish want to breed/crossbreed they will find each other. I would not mix them either because they can crossbreed.
Well about 8 yes and 1 no! Which way did you go? I saw your last post (Afreakin) that you decided not to mix them.