Borelli sub-species

[newworldan06]

I got 1m/2f borelli, and 1m/1f opal. What will happen if they cross breed? Will they develop deformaties? OR since they are so closely realted will one be dominant the other?

 

[P.W.]

Hi

The common "yellow/ blue Borellii and the Opal Borellii are just two colour strains. Since the Borellii is a highly polychromated species you can find both colour strains at the very same collecting site in nature.

In the early eighties a lot of people beleived that the Opal was a separate species. And the Opals were line breed in former DDR. So the Opal colour strain became quite stabile.

So, the answer is that you can "crossbreed" without any hesitations. It´s quite normal in the nature also.

Best regards/ Per

 

[Kenny Poh]

Does that mean that if I were to have a pair of yellow/blue borelli pairs, I may end up with frys showing either phenotypes?

Cheers,

Kenny

 

[newworldan06]

People have told me not to redistribute the fry. Will they came out just opal or yellow/blue? And not form a new species?

 

[Discus Man]

no, not a new species, just lovely little borelli. Some people worry about hbridization... this isn't the same thing.
Now don't labe; the fish anything other than borelli if you get fry just so buyers know they are getting simply a borelli of mixed heritage!