We've all seen them in the hobby. The albino version of the same type of fish we love. Well by observing my fish, I theorize that albinos are nature's way of saying, "don't do that!" In "that" I mean inbreeding.
I have two tanks filled with pet/feeders in the form of Convicts and Mollies. I have the pleasure of seeing generation after generation born and reproducing. But now, after the 3rd generation, I'm seeing more and more albinos. Most recently I have a bunch of mollies. And these are true albinos with the red eyes and all.
What happened? Inbreeding. Usually, the first to go on the menu are the males. In this particular case, all but one of the males were fed and the others (older two) died off. Now, from black mollies I'm seeing albino fry. And they stick out like sore thumbs in the rearing tank. I would imagine that these fish have a genetic "flaw" that would be bad if it continued. So what did nature do? Make these fish feeding flashlights to be picked off my the nearest predator.
My convicts are having the same result. And being cichlids, they don't spark the same feeding frenzy as a molly would. I've seen a normal colored .25 inch convict survive in a predator tank for weeks. Where as an albino of double the size would be devoured in a moment.
This is just my observation. But let this be a lesson to you too. Inbreeding IS not too healthy for you either.
My two cents.
I have two tanks filled with pet/feeders in the form of Convicts and Mollies. I have the pleasure of seeing generation after generation born and reproducing. But now, after the 3rd generation, I'm seeing more and more albinos. Most recently I have a bunch of mollies. And these are true albinos with the red eyes and all.
What happened? Inbreeding. Usually, the first to go on the menu are the males. In this particular case, all but one of the males were fed and the others (older two) died off. Now, from black mollies I'm seeing albino fry. And they stick out like sore thumbs in the rearing tank. I would imagine that these fish have a genetic "flaw" that would be bad if it continued. So what did nature do? Make these fish feeding flashlights to be picked off my the nearest predator.
My convicts are having the same result. And being cichlids, they don't spark the same feeding frenzy as a molly would. I've seen a normal colored .25 inch convict survive in a predator tank for weeks. Where as an albino of double the size would be devoured in a moment.
This is just my observation. But let this be a lesson to you too. Inbreeding IS not too healthy for you either.
My two cents.