King Viper Golden LSS pair questions

[Wilsted34]

I’m trying to learn how discus genetics work. I’ve been keeping discus for 18 years now and would love to try to create some unique and new strains.

what would the results be with crossing a King viper (very similar looking to a panthera leopard) with a golden leopard spotted snakeskin. Thank you for any help on this.

[brewmaster15]

Hi ,
Thats going to be a hard cross to nail down because theres alot we dont know about what recessive genes they each have. My gut tells me your F1 generation will a mix of Leopards and Leopard snakeskins in appearance. If you cross these to each other your F2s may give you more unique looking fish.

These are best guesses.. If I were you I would do it and see what happens.Discus genetics are very plastic.... and really except for a few well defined traits much is not known. Like x Like doesnt always give you like... phenotypes are what we see.. but genotypes are what matters in breeding.

[CliffsDiscus]

Very difficult because both are already hybrid. You need to know pass genetic history in order to determine the future .

[anewbie]

Wish there was a nice table like this is for angelfishes.

[brewmaster15]

Wish there was a nice table like this is for angelfishes.

It would be nice but Its not really possible with discus. Angels have a well defined and understood number of traits.. Discus have so many strains and color morphs that it really is impossible at times to predict.

The other factor is the ease in which Angelfish breed for hobbyists. To use the charts for the angelfish you need to know the genetics of the parent stock . Angelfish are so easy to breed that its very common for someone to raise fry..grow them and breed them.. and raise fry. This is whats needed to build charts on genetic crosses. Discus on the other hand are very challenging to breed.Most hobbyists if they do breed them either can't or don't raise them to adult hood and fewer still breed those another generation. Its a huge time and space commitment with discus. I know only a few that do this kind of long term breeding.

Angelfish grow fast and breed commonly as early as 6 months.. Discus can take up to two years. So between the large number of morphs and time and space commitment I doubt we will ever have as complete an understanding of discus genetics as we do Angelfish.

Also, not knocking Angels.. They are a great fish and I like them alot. I just cant keep them here anymore. They just breed too much..last time I kept them a few pairs were so prolific they took over ever spare tank and garbage can here.