Behavior and genetics in P. pulcher color forms (super red vs. yellow)

[RodL]

Hi,
I'm new to the forum and wondered if anyone had any information and/or experience with the different color forms of P. pulcher? I have a pair of yellow morph (see picture) and they are really compatible with no aggression towards each other. They have five week old fry and are still parenting great. I am looking for the red morph as well but when I had the reds in the past, the males were really aggressive. Any insight to the inheritance of each color? I know that there is a scientific paper on the behavior but any info on the color genetics would be great.

"Alternative male mating tactics in a cichlid, Pelvicachromis pulcher :
a comparison of reproductive effort and success"
http://usuarios.multimania.es/pelmatochromis/krib.pdf

Thanks, Rod

 

[tjudy]

The only color pattern in P. pulcher that has an easily-predictable inheritance is the albino (amelanistic... ok, but in the trade they are called albino) phenotype. All the other 'color morphs' (yellow, red, super red) are expressions of the species' inherent genetic diversity for color. Selective breeding may generate a strain that is more consistently red than others, but I have never seen a pair produce a spawn that, once grown to full glory, are 100% 'super red' (for example). There is always a lot of variability in the color, ranging from 'super red' to barley red.

The 'yellow' form is a relatively new designation, and is coming is as wild fish from the Lagos area of Nigeria. IMO, they are the same fish that have been coming in from that area forever. The exporters slapped the 'yellow' onto them to make them more marketable. However, I do think that the bright yellow dorsal, caudal and cheek of the wild fish has been bred into faded yellow by the selection for red.