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Lack of pigmentation
I am a killi-keeper whose main interest is with Epiplatys. I have recently
noted in two species a period in which pigmentation is lost. I wonder if
this is a common phenomenon and if other AKA members have had the same
experience.
Last September I obtained an adult pair of E. singa while visiting Denmark.
This pair produced eggs in abundance and I raised a good number of fry
during the subsequent months. At about two months of age some of these fry
had areas in which little to no pigment was seen. This problem cleared up
with time and now these fish (I still have many of these batches of fry)
are normally colored. Because I have a sufficient population of SIN I have
not bothered to collect more eggs recently so don't know if this problem
will appear again. However, there are now a few fry which are growing up in
the tank with the breeders and these show normal pigmentation. So I was
beginning to think that this was a singular occurrence.
Then nearly three months ago I obtained eggs of E. fasciolatus fasciolatus
"Brama Town" from a contact in Sweden. I obtained 7 fry from these eggs and
soon noted that these fish showed considerable variations in pigmentation.
One showed a normal dark color, one was completely pale (the color being a
pale, warm yellow) and the others were what one could best describe as
piebald. All of these fish are very active, eat normally and have now
attained a length of about 4 cm. During the past week or two I have noticed
that the pale ones are becoming darker and one of these has achieved normal
coloration. I assume (and hope) that normal pigmentation will be reached by
these fish in due course.
I can add that another species (E. lamotti) which has been transported and
maintained under identical conditions shows no signs of pigment loss in the
fry.
I hope that members of the list can help me out on this.
Ronald Scheline
AKA #7166
Bergen, Norway
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