[Killietalk] Question Regarding A. australe Red/Orange

[Jerry Leong <jl86 at earthlink_net>]

What is the "correct" color pattern for the fins of a male A. australe red/orange?  Should the colors be as described by Wildekamp in A World of Killies Vol. I, except substitute
red/orange for brown, or are some colors supposed to be missing?

I have three 10-week old males which have colored up - the alpha male is a brilliant red/orange with a carmine red lyre developing in the caudal (no other colors yet), the white
streamers are just beginning to develop in the caudal as well, but has NO white in the anal fin (and has just the maroon band in an otherwise completely orange dorsal fin), while the
gamma male, which has been chased away from much of the live food, is more slender, yellow-orange, but has signs of white developing in the anal fin's edge.  The beta male has a
small amount of white developing in the anal fin, and I think the dorsal has several colors - I'm not sure since the beta male is nearly as well developed as the alpha male but is
constantly chased away from the female and the food (albeit after the male has managed to snag some of the grindal worms - the beta male is the fastest swimmer in the group, and a
planted tank does not help make viewing any easier).

The female, which is the same age as the males, is already developing eggs, and it appears that spawning is not too far off.  I just don't know which male would be a better choice
for spawning with the female.

Thanks,
Jerry
from the People's Republic of California