mating

Question
hi can different chiclids like jack dempskys, convicts, or firemouths mix and mate or do they just mate their own kind?

Answer
Hi Ed,
  Each of those cichlids are a different species (unlike for instance various breeds of dogs all of which are the same species).  In the wild, different species of cichlids do not interbreed.  But, in an aquarium, if they don't have the right partners available, they will interbreed.  I don't encourage that because it creates hybrids.  I have a page on my website that talks about hybrids and some of the problems associated with them, if you want to read more

http://cichlidresearch.com/hybrids.html

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