Xiphophorus variatus “Puente Escalanar”, as many other strains, there is one welknown phenotype: yellow with speckles and a halfmoon in the tail.
Variatus strains in nature are made up of several phenotypes, some with a lot of color and patterns but also very dull looking fish in the same populations. There can be several colors and patterns.
In captivity mostly 1 type remains in a population. Often because only the most beautiful specimens where collected and taken home. Sometimes because females prefer a specific type of male.
I have a fairly big population and discovered a few fish without the speckles, a friend has some without the halfmoon. There is more variation on variatus !
It is important to keep as many phenotypes in the population to keep it a “wild” strain without selection ( intended or not ). - Alderhandt
