What exactly IS Mushu?

[Syriiven]

Ohmgosh you have to send one up here to me! Don't worry I'll pay =)

[Skyewillow]

I'll let you know when I get into it. We've been talking about a breeding program. :D

[Syriiven]

I'm so excited...again!! xD

[indjo]

I'm not too clear on these types of color. As far as I know:
Marbles = a type of gene that makes color change (also called the jumping gene). Eg. an originally blue will become pale and then return blue again.

- Usually color change occurs before 6 month of age (often between 2-4 months) but sometimes it can go on to a later age.
- Color will usually change into pale as the first phase. The end result is often unpredictable (pattern). Most only change twice; dark color - pale - back to dark color. But some may change 3-4 times; copper - pale - copper - green - copper. The end result of these sometimes differs to it's original color and pattern.
- Marble can occur in all color and color types; regular/basic color, metallic, and dragon.
- Some color/pattern need the marble gene (can't elaborate)
- Once a marble stops changing or has turned dark again, it's difficult to identify it as "marble".
- Pale body and less intense black (or other color) like your first male implies that it's a marble.

Koi, I think (not sure), need the marble gene to become koi. Otherwise it will show patterns like the "appache" (sorry on spelling) (multi 3-4 color with white head). The koi needs to show a pale body (regular color) or white (metallic and dragon) as its base color and have splashes of red, white and black - like the koi fish.

The only way you can learn to "spot" a marble is by viewing their changes. Then you'll understand how colors go pale - which pale colors are "natural" and which are marble. Once they color up, it's hard to tell.

[Syriiven]

Wow, thats awsm =)

[Skyewillow]

From what I've read (and I included the link somewhere) is that the red and black spots on a mostly white body are what makes him a "koi", instead of a regular marble. Because the color hasn't spread or changed at all like I've seen with other marbles.

I do know what you mean about the color changing into a completely different fish. I had a purple and white marble HM that turned a dark blue (almost black) in the span of a couple of months.

[indjo]

Actually I've seen some koi that wasn't from a marble spawn. But I think the first koi mutation was produced by the marble genes towrads the specific multi combination. . . .

Colors/patterns I THINK was associated with marbles are; koi, super black, and what I call the true "blue dragon" - white body with bright blue fins. The blue dragons - IME often eventually turns into regular blue (body becomes blue again) . . . . unpredictable.

[Skyewillow]

I'm actually surprised that he hasn't turned completely black on me. I've had a number of fish, who were lightly colored with white when I bought them, and turned almost black within the first month!

Example one:


He shows stress barring, so I figured his body would darken up, but that white section on his tail turned black as well.

Example 2: