Scarlet Pink Jack Dempseys

[AmazonAngel]

The red coloring is a special genetic mutation. Genetic mutation is what causes new color variations and almost every other new trait...EVOLUTION

 

[fishfarm]

The paper describing the new classification of Rocio is posted in the scientific journal Zootaxa by Juan Schmitter-Soto, if you have access to journals.

I agree with Ken on all points except that the "gold" JD is leucistic not xanthic (Zanthic as Ken wrote). Leucism is the reduction in all pigment types (hence why these jacks are quite bland) while xanthism is an overproduction of yellow coloration.

Mine are bright gold with blue spangels, I'd call them Xanthic, now the Leucistic Honduran Red Points are white with pink fins and I'd aggree with that.

 

[fishfarm]

Angel enjoy your fish, call them what you want, I personally don't use common names because they have no basis, since I sell fish I use the scientific name so people will know what they are getting and like to educated where I can. I genetically was once a tall, dark haired, hansome man, I have since mutated into an old, bald, fat guy. Ken

 

[Modest_Man]

Not going to beat a dead horse here but the "gold" jacks are leucistic. Leucism results in reduced pigmentation, not a total loss. So they still have some blues and greens but it's not much when compared to the wild type coloration. Same with the HRP's, they have reduced blue coloration but it's still there. There are varying degrees of both xanthism and leucism which can make it kind of tricky. If you were to selectively choose over several generations you could get some very colorful leucistic animals or some very white leucistic animals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatophore#Xanthophores_and_erythrophores

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism

There is a lot more literature on the color morphs in regards to birds and reptiles than with fish.

Normal ball python

Xanthic ball python

Leucistic ball python (selective breeding for the full white).

Leucistic ball python still containing pigment.

 

[AmazonAngel]

Angel enjoy your fish, call them what you want, I personally don't use common names because they have no basis, since I sell fish I use the scientific name so people will know what they are getting and like to educated where I can. I genetically was once a tall, dark haired, hansome man, I have since mutated into an old, bald, fat guy. Ken

Haha. Scientific is the way to go. I just dont like when people say there is certian common names that can be the only ones used when they have no legitimacy at all no matter how popular the term it is. Latin is universal for a reason, and I identify w/ my fish that way as well (most of the time).

 

[jbnebres]

To alleviate some confusion, the term "regular" should be tossed and and "wild type" should be used.

There are three color variants. Wild type, electric blue, and leucistic (also called pink). Your jack dempsey is of the wild type coloration. Yes, it's got some more red than most you see, but jacks with red are found in the wild.

To get technical a color morph is when there is a genetic mutation which causes a phenotype that is different from the wild type forms to be expressed (I.E. leucistism; which is an animal with reduced pigment).

thanks for clarifying.

 

[Toby_H]

The red coloring is a special genetic mutation. Genetic mutation is what causes new color variations and almost every other new trait...EVOLUTION

I can agree that your fish appears a bit abnormal, having the red base tone to it's skin beneath it's normal coloration... I can also agree that the red coloring is a genetic "trait"... but a not a genetic "mutation"...

As you mentioned and I agreed previously, every characteristic an animal has is the result of genetics. But not all genetic results would qualify as a "mutation". For example, being tall isn't a genetic "mutation" found in some humans... albinism is a genetic mutation found in some humans...

As for how the red is passed or if it comes down in a recessive state... I could speculate based on limited experience, but I'd rather not... Speculation usually creates more room for misunderstandings than proper understandings...

As for Golds being Xanthic or Leucistic... I feel they appear to have a "lack of color" as opposed to "extra yellow"... So in the opinion of someone who has read a bunch of articles/definitions on the labels, but has no formal education on them... I vote Leucistic (no offense Ken )

Lastly, although I have never seen any, there are other genetic mutations that may exist/be found in Dempseys… Albinism, erythrophores, idiophores (this may be what Blue Dempseys are), etc, etc… Here is an interesting Wikipedia article if this kind of stuff is interesting to you - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatophore#Xanthophores_and_erythrophores