Breeding Project: Super Red Texas x Herichthys Minckleyi
Back in March, I decided to embark on a breeding project between a Super Red Texas (SRT) and a Herichthys minckleyi. I wasn’t entirely sure how this pairing would go, so I introduced them into my community tank, planning to keep an eye on them as they got acquainted. Little did I know that they’d skip the whole “getting to know you” phase and immediately pair up. Within just 24 hours, I found a fresh clutch of eggs in the tank. I hadn’t prepared for them to spawn so quickly, and with the stress of the other fish in the tank, the pair ended up eating the eggs.
Realizing the potential of this hybrid, I knew I had to set them up properly. I moved the SRT and Minckleyi to their own dedicated breeding setup, where I could control their environment and give them the peace they needed. Within three weeks, the magic happened again – they spawned. This time, everything went like clockwork. 48 hours after laying, I saw that familiar pale brown clutch with black dots in the center of each egg. I knew I had a viable spawn, and it was thrilling.
The Perfect Parenting Team
From the start, both the SRT and Minckleyi showed natural parenting instincts, which was a relief. I didn’t need to intervene or remove either of them. They protected and nurtured their fry in the breeding tank, making my job easy. After a couple of months, however, the tank started to feel cramped as the fry grew, so I decided it was time to move the parents out and let the fry have the space to continue developing.
By the three-month mark, I started to notice the fry showing their first hints of color and patterning. Blues and greens with iridescent pearling began to appear, with subtle touches of red along the fins. It was exactly the kind of unique coloration I’d hoped for, and I couldn’t wait to see how they’d continue to develop.
A Standout Among the Fry
As I moved the fry to their own grow-out tank once they reached about an inch, they really began to size up quickly. But one fry, in particular, caught my attention. This one was already three times the size of its siblings, with a totally different coloration – pale yellows, white pearling, and a vibrant red along the face. It was unlike any other in the batch and immediately stood out as a promising mutation.
Now, seven months later, the juveniles have turned into show-stopping beauties. The standard fry are stunning, covered in large pearling with deep hues of aquamarine and dark blues, with white veining and sporadic red patches across their bodies and fins. But the standout fry? This beast of a fish has continued to amaze. Now confirmed as a male, he sports a deep golden-yellow base, a bright red face, and intricate white pearling across his body. His colors are incredibly bold and unexpected – a true surprise that has become one of the most beautiful hybrids I’ve ever bred.
Ready for New Waters
These Super Red Texas x Herichthys minckleyi hybrids are now in the range of 2.5 to 4 inches and are ready to move on to new homes. Their growth, coloration, and unique patterns have made this project one of the most rewarding I’ve undertaken. And with the space now opening up in the community tank, I’m eager to dive into my next breeding project.
Breeding cichlids always brings surprises, and the journey from unexpected spawn to stunning juveniles has been one I’ll never forget. Here’s to more hybrids and new adventures in the breeding tank!