Is this an Albino?
- Thread starter Alton
- Start date
a couple things, just judging by the first pic and all these comments:
1. NOT leucistic, she is just trying to camoflauge herself with the sand, which is really light. if you put her in a dark tank, she'll look like a normal female
2. not sure if the eye is an injury thats healing badly (eyes seem to heal really slow... idk why) or if it could be a parasite. i have a male duboisi that went blind in one eye, and the pupil slowly turned solid white. it took a couple months, but i've had him for about a year since and he doesnt seem to suffer, so DONT CULL HER! as long as she seems happy, let it be
3. try putting her in a dark colored tank or dark colored container, and come back an hour or two later; likely she would have changed color. if she doesnt change color, then i guess i was wrong and you have a mutant!
either way, she seems like a healthy, happy fish, so no reason to consider culling her
1. NOT leucistic, she is just trying to camoflauge herself with the sand, which is really light. if you put her in a dark tank, she'll look like a normal female
2. not sure if the eye is an injury thats healing badly (eyes seem to heal really slow... idk why) or if it could be a parasite. i have a male duboisi that went blind in one eye, and the pupil slowly turned solid white. it took a couple months, but i've had him for about a year since and he doesnt seem to suffer, so DONT CULL HER! as long as she seems happy, let it be
3. try putting her in a dark colored tank or dark colored container, and come back an hour or two later; likely she would have changed color. if she doesnt change color, then i guess i was wrong and you have a mutant!
either way, she seems like a healthy, happy fish, so no reason to consider culling her
Thanks Fish_Man_Dan, But a complete history of this fish. It was born with 26 others and was pure black for 3 days. At this point it turn lighter with the black area in front of its tail. When they were a month old they were moved into a bigger tank with 22 other fry. So 48 fry in one tank, all of them are Masinje's and the first batch 21 days older then the second batch. All these guys have been in the same tank for 7 months now. This fish has had this color with tanks with bare bottoms, Gravel and now sand. Its eyes have always been weird looking but at 3 moths I noticed the dark portion was getting smaller until they are now. I am a member on 5 sites and Luecistic is what most of them have agreed on. But no one will say definately and is still a debate while I keep posting new pics. Thanks for your thoughts and I will keep them in mind as everyone considers what this MALE is. Oh and yes it is a MALE!! If you knew Aulonocara Sp. Chitande Type Masinje Species you would know the coloring in the tail is only found on the Males not the females.
Not leucistic. After comparing it to "normal" females, I'd say hypomelanistic. Now, explanation as to why. Leucistic- it's the lack of ALL pigment in the cells that are affected. Not all cells are affected though and for those familiar with reptiles, these animals are often refered to as paradox, piebald, etc. Hypomelanistic- Lacking melanin in pigmentation cells. I noticed in your photos you can still see light striping on the body and then, of course, the black on the tail. Being that it is lacking in melanistic pigmentation, and not entirely devoid of melanin (albinism), I would say the correct and most accurate labeling would be Hypomelanistic.
Thanks Bt84, that was awesome explanation and I will definately look into this. Sounds like you are correct and thank you very much.
Thanks awsomepk, I have been e-mailling a professor that has said the same thing. After talking to him I have to agree this guy is a one time genetic mutation. If it was a leucistic or Hypomelanistic then there would have more then just this one guy. So I do believe the one time genetic mutation is correct.
