Lyre - Dominant or Recessive Gene?

[CACAdmin]

Just wondering if anyone knows if the LyreTail is a dominant or recessive gene in mollies? Also is it apparent immediately in fry or does it develop later?

[Melody]

I can't remember for sure but I don't think the lyre shows in fry. I know it doesn't in Swordtails so I can't be sure if I'm mixing the two up or not. Its been awhile since I had Molly Lyres.

As for genetics, that's a tough one because lyres I think were originally bred from P. Sphenops, whereas Green Mollies are P. Latipinna, then you have to throw in the male's genes. Since you're dealing with a mix the genetics probably aren't standardized. Someone somewhere may have studied the combo, but I'm not aware of it. If she's still packing from the Lyre male, she should have all Lyre fry, with a possible but not probable throw of regular finnage.

[CACAdmin]

Thanks for the info. A good place to start. I shall try to see if I can dig up anything else. In the interim, what it tell me is that it's time I started documenting info on my lyre sailfin pair and their fry for future reference. Of course, the first batches of fry may or may not be from a hit from the current male. All the same, it ought to have been a lyre I'd assume. (I know, I know... never assume anything. :laugh: )

[Melody]

DOH!!!! I was thinking of your Black Gold Dust who lost her mate so I thought maybe another Molly had hit her.

With the pair you should get 100% lyres, or as mentioned, an unlikely throw of regular finnage from the Green ancestry. Your breeder is anal about strain purity to the degree that he wouldn't mix the strain once its set, but he does outcross to wild-types regularly to keep the size & vigor up. That may slightly increase your chances of a regular-finned throw.

[CACAdmin]

No, sad to say, I only have 2 little black fry from my female Golddust. The green male shows absolute dedication to the green female and no interest in the black female... unless it's when I'm not around. She's not pregnant though so I think I've assessed the situation correctly. Will be looking for a mate for her with the next order.

The fry I was talking about is the first batch from my Green Sailfin Lyre. The fry appear to be Sailfins but no lyres visible. Hence my question. Also, she's pregnant again. Not sure when she's due... I think soon. :smile:

[Melody]

You're going to have fry coming out of your ears! Which would be a neat trick, but still weird :nah: .

[CACAdmin]

Oldest Molly Fry are just over 2 months in age and about 3/4 inch. No sign of Lyres yet. Also all seem to be female. Are mollies like platys and swords in that they too can be late-bloomers and I may yet have some males in the batch?

[Melody]

I don't usually see late blooming males in Mollies, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Females are often the survivors though because they're born larger as a rule.

If both parents were Lyres, they should develop Lyres. I see my larger Lyres don't have them yet either, so it must happen later. The Sail develops later in males - its apparent but very small for the longest time and then goes WOW. She should have been carrying from your male Lyre or another male Lyre at that point, so I wouldn't give up yet.

That said, they were developed from wild-type Green Sailfins so its possible that they're throws, but not probable, especially both of them.

Its a good thing to note so we all have a better idea in the future. :yes:

[CACAdmin]

Lyres have just started appearing on a couple of the males. They are distinct but ever so slight as yet (the fish are now about 1.5 inches in length). So I'm guessing that the lyretail will appear eventually on most or all of them...of course time will tell.