High breeding by swordtails
King-Lyre and the way there - high breeding by swordtails
by Rainer Schultz
Anyone interested in taking out a Mendeln own breeding form, will be found interesting even in swordtails can. I wanted to try in the premier class at the swordtails and had a specific breeding goal: a lyretail swordtail with begattungsfähigem Gonopodium.
In recent years, the so-called pineapple swordtail and the koi swordtail celebrated its triumphal march in different variants in our aquariums. Well known have long been the red swordtail and the Red Wagtail Swordtail ("Wagtail" stands for black fin rays). But also the different fin forms the swordtail breeding forms always find their lovers. For example, the Lyra swordtail and the forms with enlarged dorsal fins, which have become known as flags and delta or Simpson swordtail. In addition, can also be called the pointed-tailed swordtail. This has, however, not enforced, as the combination of the sword in the male swordtail with the pointed-tail is not particularly in favor with most aquarists.
The Königslyra
As Königslyra I call the premier class of the lyre swordtail. It is a Lyra swordtail, namely a normal with a gonopodium. The males of the viviparous carp to which the swordtail have heard reshuffled their anal fin into a copulatory organ, the gonopodium. The currently available Lyra swordtail have extended all exterior fin tips - even that of the Gonopodiums. In order for the male lyre swordtail are rarely able to copulate females, even if they can otherwise lead a normal life in the aquarium fish.
So far it was assumed that the fins of Lyra swordtail with a feature all be extended. The occurrence of Königslyra and the study of many Schwertträgerphänotypen in my and others' farms and research in ancient literature of theses let me assume that this is not so and the fin (rays) are heritable extensions individually.
Fin forms in the literature
When Jacob (1969) of the double swordtail is mentioned, the upper dorsal spine to have been extended to the caudal fin. This double swordtail had a normal gonopodium and (probably) a normal dorsal fin. In the same post Jacob describes a delta high-finned fishes, there also called dragon-finned fishes. The dorsal fin described there you can find today the "normal" (spalterbigen) Lyra swordtail. A lyrebird swordtail it appoints as mutation of the delta Hochflossers. So obviously was what we today Lyra swordtail - additively composed of individual characteristics.
In Wolfheimer s (1960) can be seen on the pictures that when the then new Simpson swordtails the first rays of the dorsal fins were shortened. The fin was extended equally and not more pointed than one branch. This corresponds to the current flags finned fishes in the standards. Delta-finned always show an extension of the first rays of the dorsal fin. By the interlacing of both fin forms can be found today all forms in between.
Occurrence of Königslyra
On a roll of a lyre swordtail female that has been fertilized by a male hochflossigen, I found normalflossige animals who trained an upper caudal fin extension. Günther Schramm also revealed during a discussion about this phenomenon young swordtail with a similar phenotype. His animals were from litters of swordtails, which he acquired in 2006 as issued Animals for xipho Championship in Bretnig by Klaus Rzegotta. In this pair of both sexes had a sword. During our discussion Günther looked at the offspring more closely and found that some young males with double swords had a normal gonopodium. These specimens were formed later than Königslyra. 2008 showed a breeder from Saxony on one of the meetings of the viviparous breeder aquarium fish in Bretnig a pair Lyra swordtail, in which the male also had a normal gonopodium. I was able to buy the fish from him. My research showed that these animals were due to the breeder Klaus Rzegotta, the Lyra swordtail with normal gonopodium bred with normal, short-finned females. Interestingly, the females from these matings often have a clearly designed lower sword. Not like the male, but clearly recognizable as a sword.
Later I was able to acquire such fish directly from Klaus Rzegotta. I increased this normalgonopodialen Lyra swordtail males with females lyra and normalflossiger swordtail. Thus, the fertility of the Königslyra was proved for me.
Together with Günther Schramm we decided on the name Königslyra. We
wanted to use its own name, as the animals of the applied valuation
standards differ for xipho exhibitions with the aim to put them with
this name also in the existing standards. With Klaus Rzegotta I have also discussed the name. In
memory of Günther Schramm I hope that this designation will still be
accepted and eventually finds its way into the valid xipho standards.
The fan-finned
In 2008 I presented to the European Championships in Bretnig swordtail under the name of subjects finned. These were awarded the title of "Good". At the time I was not clear what was behind these animals. I knew such specimens since the eighties. Again and again those animals with fan-shaped tail fins. Similar to a Triangelguppy all fin rays are extended here.
By exhibiting this breed form I was confronted with different conclusions, which proved to be untenable. The strangest and repeatedly expressed claim was the alleged lifelong growth of so-called veil fins and their lack of vitality. The
reason for such claims are probably those animals which are primarily
characterized by poor health and nutritional status and be sold again
and again.
If a normalflossiger swordtail is not feeling well, you can see the so-called clamped fins. More pathetic than it already looks at normalflossigen swordtail, but this affects the fan-finned fishes. Healthy, strong animals, however, have clear fins and swim vital.
Aging and ill swordtail emaciated, both short-and großflossige swordtail. Only the fins remain constant in size - the proportions between body and fin surface move, however, stronger in großflossigen Fächerflossern. Probably so we had the impression of life-long growing fins and the alleged loss of vitality in Fächerflossern. One wrote it - other off with confidence ...
On closer examination in practice with these animals, it is noticeable that they need clean water and a good diet! Obviously this should apply to all aquarium fish and pets. If this is not the case, one obtains miserable animals that also look the part.
Fan-finned fishes and the connection to Königslyra
Joanne Norton (1992) wrote that can be assumed that, if it succeeds, Lyra swordtail to breed with each other, fan-finned would arise.
Takeshita (2008) described his theory on this subject in great detail and ended his article with something like: "While we had to use artificial insemination initially to produce these females (meaning genotypic, ie homozygous females), I believe that one day we will be able to achieve male lyretail with a smaller, functioning Gonopodium. " - Here you are, Mr. Takeshita! I would have liked to talk to him about it and showed it to him, but unfortunately he died in 2012.
Now we have the Königslyra available. To
ensure that the Königslyra inherited as a normal Lyra swordtail, I had
to cross a those with a "normal" Lyra swordtail females. Since
I could not go out of homozygosity in two animals, was the expectation
of the number of offspring that can be assigned to Fächerflossern,
correspondingly large. The animals pictured talk but for themselves. Approximately 12% of the animals could be associated with the phenotype subjects finned fishes. These appeared normal Lyra swordtail, Königslyra and normalflossige swordtail. Part of this "normalflossigen" females also had the already mentioned clearly shaped lower sword. Other classifications of inheritance has yet to be confirmed by test crosses.
The Königslyra inherited so clearly the characteristics of a Lyraflossers, but has just a normal gonopodium.
Further observations
A closer look at repeatedly occur fins changes in swordtail breeding forms, which can not be assigned to any of these types. So came on strong extensions of the pectoral fins. I got, for example, a swordtail males, in which only the pectoral fins were extended. The breeder Wolfgang Brandt had discovered such a phenomenon in a koi swordtail in his pool. In such Königslyra breast renewals are also encountered.
Even with the dorsal fin there are changes that are genetically quite interesting, but are discarded because they can not be valued in accordance with any standards or are not assignable.
On a roll with 50 animals arrive at the usual spalterbigen animals to an average of only three Königslyra. After my preliminary theory actually six, but the females for that I could not reliably determine.
From fan-finned type you have because only the chance of five or six animals, of which however only 2-3 females. The probability to subjects with normal finned Gonopodium is very low, if present at all.
If you compare the consequences of these observations with the traditions you quickly to the conclusion that like mentioned lethal factors with which one wants to explain that supposedly homozygous offspring of animals are incapable of living with fin extensions, but rather to point out that the Claiming ends not have whole litters of these animals tested and not seen the relationships shown.
If you like, that can understand and read like the listed at end of article literature. Www.platys.net On my website relevant considerations are further executed as if it is appropriate here. On closer examination intensively on this subject, one quickly comes to the conclusion that lethal factors in this context are possible, but not yet proven. In my swordtails are the reasons as well as the applied criteria mentioned at least not plausible.
The alpha-swordtail
This is a really interesting color form of the sword-bearer, even if not everything is settled about them. In any case, however, can be assigned to the group with black drawing of the alpha-swordtail.
But
from the beginning: the beginning of the eighties fell at Günther
Schramm from his Hamburg liner animals that did not fit the image of the
well-known Hamburg breed form. They did not have the mirror (Guaninglanz) in the usual form. Above all, they were characterized by a striking blue glow on the sides. From 1982 he had shown these animals at shows. In 1987, she recorded with the designation "alpha" in the then-ISXM89 xipho Molly standard. Schramm writes on his website www.xiphophorus-zuchtformen.de:
"Feature of this new drawing was little or no Guaninglanz. The Helleri had to look also not blue, the only hit in the color to green. In red color the fish are dyed in a velvety black, all fins are red. It seems as if even the base color shine through the top color (color pattern). A yellow ground color, the fins are yellow, otherwise the drawing is very similar to the green form. Albinos have only weak alpha Drawing recognize this color variation is more prone to color cancer. "
A color form in this Alpha class I call the "black devil". These animals have an additional black fins. In 2009, I saw them in a shop in Hilden. Later, I was surprised by Jiri Hasmann on a Europe-rating show in Pilsen with this color form. We had anyway planned a visit to this great breeder. Jiri called appropriately enough "Metallica".
The most striking form which was to be found in Jiri, is the red Alpha swordtail. Especially if they have a velvet red body color and the red fin color was well bred. Here Wolfgang Brandt has helped to preserve, consolidate and improve these color form.
If we know these color form one day better, showing perhaps that the Hamburg swordtail is an alpha over a wide area Guaninglanz. I hope not to be the only breeder who will continue to work on these interesting questions.
To avoid misunderstandings: The cultivated forms described are not new varieties. I only describe the exact state of affairs. I also do not experiment and fully draw after only what, happened anyway in many basins in which xipho-cultivated forms are held to explain and justify what is actually happening there. And that's what makes it so exciting! Exciting definitely as easy to breed only the beautiful cultivated forms, without knowing it, what's actually exactly is going on.
Through the development of evaluation standards for Xiphophorus
cultivated forms resulting cultivated forms have already been committed. We should not refuse this continue writing.
At this point it is important for me to remember the unfortunately deceased, excellent breeder of aquarium fish: Günther Schramm. He was my partner of countless discussions on breeding forms of Platys and swordtails. His decades of experience were very helpful in the evaluation of some breeding arguments and projects.
Swordtail on the Internet
My friend Manfred Böttcher and I have taken over the care of the lovely website of the deceased Günther Schramm. These can be found at www.xiphophorus-zuchtformen.de.
Through the development of evaluation standards for Xiphophorus cultivated forms resulting cultivated forms have already been committed. We should not refuse this continue writing.
Readers who are interested in the issues raised and want to find like-minded people, I want to point to an exciting international Facebook group. I have named "International Xiphophorus Breeder" and thus apparently addressed some competent international breeders.
My own website called www.platys.net. Here I have documented what took place in the last few years with me and other breeders in the pool and still takes place. There is also the best calendar for appointments to find that revolve around live-bearing tooth carp.
German-language Internet forums that actively with livebearers aquarium
fish and thus also with the cultivated forms which are concerned:
www.guppytreff-berlin.de and www.lebendgebaerende-forum.de
You may find me in relevant forums for many years under the nickname record.
Another interesting site is the Karl Trochu from the USA: www.miamiswordtails.weebly.com
Roy Levine shows on his side www.xhifin.org very interesting breeding forms of Xiphophorus hellerii and its hybrids with other species of the genus Xiphophorus.
Alexander Chernikov from Ukraine is an internationally known breeder. Unfortunately he does not have a website, but can be found under his name on Facebook, but also in our Facebook group.
My friend Manfred Böttcher and I have taken over the care of the lovely website of the deceased Günther Schramm. These can be found at www.xiphophorus-zuchtformen.de.
Links to other breeders and clubs can also be found at www.platys.net.
Literature
Gratzek, J, J. Norton & P. Loiselle (1993): Aquariology: Fish Breeding and Genetics Tetra Press.
Jacobs, K. (1969): The live-bearing fish of the fresh waters. - Edition Leipzig
Norton, J. (1992): Fish Genetics. - Tetra Press
Stallknecht, H. (1989): live-bearing tooth carp. Neumann Verlag, Leipzig Radebeul
Takeshita, GY (2008): Lyretail Swordtail Genetics. - TFH Magazine
Wolfheimer, G ene . (1960): Simpson swordtail. - Aquarium Journal , USA Novemver 1960