Can a fish lose a Xanthic coloration
Started by
Guest_FirstChAoS_*
, Sep 04 2014 02:34 AM
3 replies to this topic
#1
Guest_FirstChAoS_*
Guest_FirstChAoS_*
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Posted 04 September 2014 - 02:34 AM
Earlier in the year I got a bright orange minnow which looked like a store sold rosy red. As the year went on he got a more golden brown color with only slight hints of orange underneath, a black lateral stripe thicker neat the tail, and a black spot on the base of the dorsal fin. Nothing like the rosy red color he once had. Is it possible for a fish to lose the orange coloration of a xanthic mutation somehow (maybe from other pigments developing over the orange). In this picture rosy is on the left, the other fish is a mountain redbelly.
#2
mattknepley
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- NANFA Member
- Smack-dab between the Savannah and the Saluda.
Posted 04 September 2014 - 05:24 AM
I don't have an answer as to whether they can lose a xanthic mutation (don't even know exactly what one is) but I have noticed something regarding color loss in my yellowfin and greenhead shiners; certain times of the year they develop their red breeding hue while in captivity, but they are also very food stimulated and that can fire 'em up, too. Recently I had noticed they had been very plainly colored for quite some time. It dawned on me as I was feeding them that I had not given them any flake food in a long time, just frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms. Two days after getting their favorite flake food back, they are bright red again. Has their been any dietary or environmental changes for your fish? I ask because I hadn't even noticed that I wasn't giving my guys flake. I had just fallen into a routine. Looking back on it, it'd been weeks since they had had anything but frozens.
BTW, the flake in question is Ken's earthworm flake. My fish (that will eat flake) love it, and from their health and coloration it seems to be very good for them. I know Michael W. really likes this stuff, too.
BTW, the flake in question is Ken's earthworm flake. My fish (that will eat flake) love it, and from their health and coloration it seems to be very good for them. I know Michael W. really likes this stuff, too.
Matt Knepley
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."
#3
Guest_Khai Wan_*
Guest_Khai Wan_*
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Posted 04 September 2014 - 09:56 AM
I have notice over the last 2 years keeping and breeding shiners. The one coomon scenario that gets them fired up is
change water and premium food. In the past, I feed frozen bloodworm to get them spawning. This year, I
expriment it with just exclusively feeding them NLS Thera-A pellets; feed them all day with an automatic feeder.
They spawn every 10 days! I have just placed an order for Repashy Spawn/Grow gel food. I just would like
to see what kind of effect would to my shiners in terms of spawning activity as well as fry growth.
change water and premium food. In the past, I feed frozen bloodworm to get them spawning. This year, I
expriment it with just exclusively feeding them NLS Thera-A pellets; feed them all day with an automatic feeder.
They spawn every 10 days! I have just placed an order for Repashy Spawn/Grow gel food. I just would like
to see what kind of effect would to my shiners in terms of spawning activity as well as fry growth.
#4
Michael Wolfe
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- Board of Directors
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 04 September 2014 - 10:32 AM
First, I want to add my support what both of these responders have said. Earthworm flake is LOVED by shiners and other minnows. And NLS pellets (although I have not used the thera-a) are the ones that I have been able to use that will even be eaten by some darters (brown, swamp, Christmas, and blackbanded for sure). They are also what I use to feed my N. amplamala and even the jumprock that I had (until he became a jump-aquarium and that never ends well). NLS seems to be a premium food and the fish can "sense" the content or "taste" the difference or something.
Second, no, if it is a true genetic mutation it cannot be lost (no matter how much or what you feed an albino mouse, he is going to stay albino). Same thing with xanthic... which is sort of the inability to make green/blue coloration and leave the animal yellow to some extent, so sort of like albino but not loosing all colors, can still make yellows and oranges and reds. Your fish is beginning to sound like a creek chub / fall fish kind of thing... but I cannot tell from the picture.
Second, no, if it is a true genetic mutation it cannot be lost (no matter how much or what you feed an albino mouse, he is going to stay albino). Same thing with xanthic... which is sort of the inability to make green/blue coloration and leave the animal yellow to some extent, so sort of like albino but not loosing all colors, can still make yellows and oranges and reds. Your fish is beginning to sound like a creek chub / fall fish kind of thing... but I cannot tell from the picture.
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