cichlid fry

Question
Hey Ron. My cichlid recently laid eggs with some other random species of fish. The eggs have hatched and they are all doing well. When would it be okay to move the babies into a tank of there own? Also, the male that the cichlid mated with has also mated with another female of his same species. Will this present a problem with the female cichlid or any of her fry? Thanks! Madison

Answer
Hi Madison,
  That is a tough one.  The problem is that now you have some hybrid babies and the question is what to do with them.  If you decide to keep them, it is absolutely essential that you never give them away to anyone else or to a store or anything like that.  Hybrids create enormous problems in the hobby because they destroy the integrity of the gene pool of species.  

  Most people destroy hybrids if they are created.  I know that's a hard thing to do, but it is better for everything in the long run.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>