"Mark Stone" wrote in message
m...
"Sarotherodon" wrote in message
.. .


Hmm, you've restated your position that these fish are not albinos, but
with
no explanation. If they lack melanin due to a genetic mutation, then
they
are albinos.

You're correct that I have no explanation, because I don't know the
history of the color variation. The breeding of the Red Oscar and some
other varieties is well documented, but these white Oscars (from my
viewpoint) suddenly appeared, and no one in the newsgroups or any
aquarists I am in contact with can trace their beginning. So, you
might be right that they are true albinos. I don't *think* they are,
but I may be wrong. I'd be interested in hearing from someone who has
bred an "albino" Oscar with another color to see what color(s)
resulted ---
[clipped]

--Mark
I do think they are albinos produced by a mutation, total lack of black
pigment is tough to get without a mutaion. Their sudden appearance without
any intermediates,like progressively lighter or more white oscars supports
this idea. Also, other albino cichlids are known to have been produced this
way. At any rate, I am curious about crosses too. I don't know anyone who
has crossed them, but since the first ones were albino "tigers" and albino
"reds" became availble not too much later, the red albinos were probably the
result of crossing tiger albinos to normal reds, then backcrossing for the
albinism. Would have taken quite a while to selectively breed the albinos
for full red. They are cool fish. A lot of albinos aren't too colorful, but
I really like the albino oscars.
I posted a while ago about albino rift lake cichlids and the lack of
history for many. It still seems odd to me that in the herp world a new
albino is big news and breeders take pains to prove their origin. Albino
fish do seem to mysteriously appear. Perhaps because they are produced by
huge fish farms in other countries who don't want to give away theri trade
secrets, or maybe they just don't see any advantage to publicizing it.