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I have a male peppermint bristlenose and a female albino bristlenose in a community tank. I've noticed the female becoming more plump recently and suspect she may be reaching sexual maturity. Ignoring for a moment the unlikelihood of fry surviving in my community tank, is it possible that these two fish could breed - and if so, what colour would the babies be?

I have a penchant for genetics, and would be interested in any knowledge of how the bristlenose colour variants work (dominance, etc), if anyone knows.

Thanks!

Your albino is most lilely .

The peppermint is a different species. It is POSSIBLE that these will cross-breed, but I personally don't hold it for likely. In case they do, I would suggest that you destroy the brood (or at least make sure the offspring are kept out of "trade" - i.e. don't give, sell or rent them to anyone - there are enough hybridized species in the trade to not need any further ones).

As to the genetics, the albino is a recessive trait, so you need both parents to carry the albino gene.

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Mats