Parrot Cichlid Eggs Turning White

[blueknight0303]

is it normal for parrot cichlids eggs to turn white? i have 2/30 eggs that is white atm...

[exv152]

If it's anything like discus or angelfish when the eggs are not fertilized properly or at all, they go white.  I've had it happen a few times.

[Ashley06]

What were the parents? two parrot cichlids?

They cant make fertile eggs because they are a hybrid. Similar to a mule

[bergenm]

They cant make fertile eggs because they are a hybrid. Similar to a mule

I had always thought they were sterile too - until I took a behind-the-scene tour of West Edmonton Mall. They have a massive tank (10-20,000 gallons) with all of the fish that have outgrown their tanks - plecos, red-tail cats, ID sharks, and a large breeding school of Red Parrot Cichlids...

[Stussi613]

What were the parents? two parrot cichlids?

They cant make fertile eggs because they are a hybrid. Similar to a mule

Traditionally hybrid males of any species are sterile until the third, or fourth, fillial generation. In order to overcome this many breeders will take F1, and F2 females and breed them to fertile males of the original breeding group (i.e. a male midas or red head) until they reach the third fillial generation and get viable male offspring. They then breed the F3 males to F2 females to re-intensify the genetic stock and continue that practice until they get characteristics they desire and have a broad enough population to move the breed forward.  Considering that the parrot cichlid was introduced 26 years go its safe to assume that there would be viable males in the hobby.

[Ashley06]

good to know about the viable males in the hobby.

Though seeing as OPs eggs are turning white, perhaps the male that "fertilized" the eggs were sterile

Any pics of the eggs?

[Stussi613]

good to know about the viable males in the hobby.

Though seeing as OPs eggs are turning white, perhaps the male that "fertilized" the eggs were sterile

Any pics of the eggs?

I think that the op mentioned 2/30 eggs were white which would be normal for pretty much any species that breeds by external fertilization.

I'm not an expert on parrot cichlid breeding, just stating what I know about hybrids from university biology classes and having done some research on our two bengal cats which are hybrids.

[blueknight0303]

the cichlids are jellybean parrot cichlids.. i adopted them from petsmart when they were like 2 week old frys... eggs were hatched and now they are nursing them. only problem is that they are sooooo aggressive.. after doing my reasearched i learned that they are half convicts and half blood parrot.. thus the reason they are so aggressive -_-