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The Albino Project: Part Two

pingpongpearlscales

In our previous post, we introduced the Albino Pearlscale project and shared our early experiences with the F1 cross fish, which had only grown to a couple of inches at the time. Since then, there’s been significant progress, and we are excited to share the updates!


Growth and Vigour in the F1 Generation

We kept two F1 cross Goldfish, a male and a female, and they have now reached an impressive size of over 4 inches, already surpassing the size of both their parents. This clearly demonstrates the benefits of outcrossing in enhancing the vigour of a line. The increased growth and robustness of these Goldfish are promising indicators for the development of this line.

Large F1 Cross (Half Mock-Metallic Common, Half Telescope Pearlscale)
Large F1 Cross (Half Mock-Metallic Common, Half Telescope Pearlscale)

F1 Spawn Results: Albinism and Selection Challenges

We’ve had two spawns from the F1 cross fish so far, with some intriguing results. While most of the fry displayed normal colouration like their parents, approximately 1 in 14 fry were Albino.

This discovery brought an unexpected difference to the culling process. Albino eggs are visibly different even before hatching, as they appear translucent or empty compared to the normal eggs. This makes early culling possible, though it still requires careful observation.

Once hatched, Albino fry are extremely difficult to spot due to their pale yellow-white bodies and yellow eyes, which lack the black pigmentation of normal fry. This diminished colouration adds another layer of complexity to identifying and tracking them during early development.

Newly Hatched Albino Fry Below Regular Fry and Albino Egg (Top Left)
Newly Hatched Albino Fry Below Regular Fry and Albino Egg (Top Left)

Selection Strategy and the Road Ahead

Given the low ratio of Albino fry (1/14), selecting for the perfect tail/body shape is nearly impossible. To achieve a larger pool of Albino offspring without requiring an overwhelming number of spawns, albinism is prioritised over other traits in this generation. We will breed the F2 Albino fish together, even if they exhibit poor tail shapes or other imperfections.

This strategy will ensure that the F3 generation is 100% Albino which allows for more detailed selection in the future, refining other characteristics such as tail shape and body structure.

Albino Fry
Albino Fry

Pearlscale and Telescope Traits in the F2 Generation

It’s still too early to determine whether the F2 generation will express the Pearlscale or Telescope Eye traits. However, early observations suggest a potential mix of both/either of these traits. My priority for this generation is to establish a breeding pair (male and female) to continue the project, and I’ll focus on refining these traits in the next generation. We can’t wait to update you with a continuation of the Albino project, watch this space! 

Albino Fry
Albino Fry

Thank you for taking the time to delve into this post. We'd be thrilled to hear about your experiences with Goldfish breeding. What challenges have you encountered, and what successes have brought joy to your aquatic endeavours? Your insights enrich our community, so please feel free to share your thoughts!

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