Hybrids are corsses between two species. The most common are crosses between the aurea and Nile or aurea and mossambica.

Hybrids grow faster and tend to be more robust than the parent stock. They tend not to breed true and 2nd generation often are inferior fish. If you want to produce consistent hybrids you need to keep two pure lines to make hybrids. Most people can't be bothered, or else they end up getting the fish contaminated and no longer have pure gene lines.

A special cross is between the Hornorum and the Mossambica. This results in a very fast growing hybrid that has a very high percentage of male fish.