What causes peppering?

[Abercrombie6202]

What causes peppering? Is it a bad thing? is that why a lot of people don't like the PB strains?

I mean i like the PB strains, they are actually my favorite!

[jeep]

It's genetics...

I personally don't like peppering. Makes the fish look dirty to me :P

[Carol_Roberts]

Peppering is pigment. Sort of like freckles in humans. It shows to a greater or lesser degree depending on several factors, similiar to the vertical mood bars in other discus.

Illness, bad water, feeding, breeding, and dark backgrounds are a few reasons for pronounced peppering. Happy, calm, bored discus in light backgrounds still have the pepper, but it is faded in color and not noticible.

[Orient]

Sunlight is a strict NO NO for pigeon based fish...

[brewmaster15]

I agree with carol and orient here. Peppering basically is the deposition of pigment in special cells. various things will affect whether that pigment is spread out in the pigment cells ( Pigeon blood shows lots of peppering ) or contracted and occupying a small amount of the cells( pigeon shows less peppering)


I have a really good photo, I'll try to dig up,
but heres those cells, circled by red...

-al

[Orient]

Hey AL...

Awesome shot... ;D ;D