Pet Information > ASK Experts > Pet Fish > Freshwater Aquarium > jack dempsey/texas hybrid?

jack dempsey/texas hybrid?

23 16:28:12

Question
i just bought two jack dempseys from my local pet store. They told me that it was a Jack Dempsey and Texas Cichlid hybrid. They told me there wasnt much of a difference between the fish i bought and a pure bred jack. Problem is i dont trust what they say, several times they have sold me fish and mis informed me about it.  My question for you is have you ever heard of this "hybrid" before. is it even a hybrid and is it more or less aggressive than a true jack.

Answer
Hi Gary, Nope never heard of it but I'll ask my fish guy next time I'm there. I had aquariums from 1966 until 2001 when I sold it all. My son (30) got me a 75 this past xmas 2007. So I'm back in it. The 2 fish are similar. But anyone who is trying to make a living from selling fish should be ble to tell the 2 apart. I can. You can. and we don't have a store. If they can't I'd find another store. However, breeders constantly are trying to get new cross breeds....example the soon to be on the market...get this...SAILFIN LYRETAIL ORANGE SWORDTAIL...I hear someone got the sailfin gene from a Sailfin Molly and presto. So maybe there is such a fish but I doubt it because where are the rest of them? The store had only one?
What you may have is a GEOPHAGUS. It resembles the other 2 but bigger and  more greenish.