Are All Fry Identical?

[jeanne-marie]

Hello!

My sunset platy was spotted giving birth the other night. Unfortunately I wasn't home so was unable to get to the fry until the following day. I have since found and separated 4 fry into a breeding net. This is my first batch of babies so I'm very excited and proud!!

My question is, can fry from the same mother have different colour eyes? Three have red eyes and one has black eyes like the mother. Is it possible they are siblings or did I miss another birth?

In my tank I have:

3 balloon mollys (1 male, 2 female)
3 Chocolate lyretail mollys (1 male 2 female)
4 Sunset Platys (1 male 3 females)
2 female Pearl Gouramis
6 Neon Tetras

I'm wondering if I missed a chocolate molly birth as they hav red eyes.

Many thanks
x

 

[Annastasia]

I've noticed that with some of my fry, only I've seen it from a mom with reddish eyes having some black-eyed fry. I think it just comes down to genetics - has she only been kept with sunset males, or is it possible she got pregnant from a different colored male? Also, I've noticed sometimes their eyes will get a little darker as they get older. Molly fry would probably be bigger, but I guess only time will tell you for sure!

Congratulations, I know how exciting it is!

 

[jeanne-marie]

I've noticed that with some of my fry, only I've seen it from a mom with reddish eyes having some black-eyed fry. I think it just comes down to genetics - has she only been kept with sunset males, or is it possible she got pregnant from a different colored male? Also, I've noticed sometimes their eyes will get a little darker as they get older. Molly fry would probably be bigger, but I guess only time will tell you for sure!

Congratulations, I know how exciting it is!

Thank you so much for the prompt reply. I only got the sunset platy 6 days ago from the local Fish Shop so I'm not sure about her being mixed with another colour. I have had my chocolate mollies for 4 weeks and have noticed one of the females is looking much slimmer so that's why I think it might be a mixed batch from two mums.

The more I think about it, the more I am starting to think that I missed the Molly giving birth and have saved 4 of her fry. The platy who gave birth on Thursday night is still looking huge, has a white spot near her anal fin and is being constantly followed by the male so perhaps the lone black eyed fry is the first of hers I've seen and saved. I think she may still give birth to more. Is it possible for a female to give birth over a period of a few days?

Again, thank you so much for your help. I bought the tank as a Xmas present for my step-sons but they seem to be my hobby already - I'm absolutely loving it!!!

 

[OldMan47]

If your female is carrying an albino recessive gene and bred with an albino or another fish carrying the albino recessive, she could very well have some albino fry. Even if all of your adult fish have normal pigmentation, they could be carrying the albino recessive.