I can't help you with your main question about colour being lost as a result
of breeding. I would be interested in the answer to this one myself. I keep
M. praecox and only when they are "really happy" do they seem to even go
close to reaching the colour intensity seen in magazines.
I have found them to be a little timid and they seem to lose their colour
easily. They also seem to require plants to make them feel more at home.
These may be a few reasons why the fish in shop may appear a little drab. I
would also assume that factors like water quality could also effect the
colour of these little jewels.
Cheers.
Scott Hunt
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From: aldag at tzv.fal.de
To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au
Subject: colours lost by breeding?
Date: Tuesday, 01 October, 1996 3:58PM
Hi,
Some days ago I saw my favorite rainbow (M. praecox) in "my" pet shop.
But they did not show a third of their beauty i know from some publications
(blue body and red fins) they were only silver with some blue and the fins
showed only very few red :-(
I am just wondering whether this was caused by the circumstances of keeping
(non planted tank) or their age (they were 5 cm, I think thats nearly adult
; or?).
Or; that is what I want to ask here:
Does anybody know if colours may be lost by breeding? I know this is a
problem with M. boesemanni, isnīt it ? I have never seen this beauties that
are shown in publications (dark blue and orange) I think this strain was
brought over to europe by H. Bleher.Nower days there are only animals that
show light blue and yellow :-(
Patrick Aldag
email: aldag at tzv.fal.de
excuse the awfull english