MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Asian Blau Japan Blue Swordtails

© Alan S. Bias
Permission granted for nonprofit reproduction or duplication of photos and text with proper credit for
learning purposes only.

April 9, 2012

Mixed tank of pure JB and JB * Vienna outcross with X-link yellow

Introduction:
When a new strain of guppies or a variation upon one makes an appearance it can seem natural to credit
its existence on newly discovered genetics. Occasionally this is the case. More often than not after careful
test breeding and analysis the truth is revealed to be new combinations of already identified genes.

A year and a half ago I once again gave in to the appeal of Japan Blue (JB) and a chance to work with this
alluring phenotype. My first hands on experience with JB came back in 2004. I started with a typical grey
wild-type strain with a clear roundtail lacking extension or caudal color. Combined with females from an
X-link Lace Snakeskin Double Sword strain it was easy to produce, and then fix a nice line of Variegated
(Var) JB Double Swords after 2-3 generations.
 Variegated (Var) JB Double Swords

Over the last couple years a line of Japan Blue Swordtails has been making the rounds on
Aquabid. Inquiries with several sellers as to origins were met with the same vague responses that hinted
to importation from Asian Breeders. What drew me to this strain were two particular traits: 1. First and
foremost they were swordtails to varying degrees. 2. Second intense iridescence and what appeared to be
more than normal blue coloration into the anterior portion of the body.

Discussion:
Accepted theory states that JB was initially identified as a Y-link mutation found in a feral population of
wild-type guppies in Japan. Infrequent crossover to X-link has since been identified in a few strains. Blue
patterns in guppies is not limited to expression as a result of JB. Recently, in Venezuela, French breeder
Frederic Nicole collected a stunning new blue phenotype in a population of Endlers Livebearer. Blue
covers the upper quadrant along the entire length of the peduncle and then some. It seems to have more
in common with Lazuli than Japan Blue. In my fishroom there has been only one suspected instance of
X-link JB in the last 10 years. Interestingly, the incident involved ½ a dozen males in a single drop of
about 12 males in total from a Schimmelpennig Platinum Double Sword * Lace Snakeskin Top Sword
breeding, and not an isolate individual. I had culled the dam prior to sons coloring up and worse failed to
capitalize on the potentially X-linked JB type pattern for lack of tank space at the time, or so I
decided. This was a very poor decision in hindsight.
 X-Link Japan Blue type pattern

In any JB strain the pattern is almost exclusively ½ body with a clear line of demarcation starting just
below the base of the dorsal fin, or slightly before, and running the length of the peduncle. The exact
location often seems relevant to the level of improvement found in a strain. There also seems to be a
direct correlation between Emerald Green Iridescence (EGI) determining how much the pattern bleeds
into the caudal.

Other factors can influence the intensity and shade of blue coloration found in a Japan Blue male. The
addition of yellow pigment in the body from genes such as vitellinus (vi) can modify appearance from blue
to green or even yellow. The addition of red pigment can dilute from blue to lavender.

Blond JB * Vienna Lower with X-Link yellow and metal

Based in part on these facts the perceived increase in blue coloration into the anterior portion of the body
in this JB strain should result from additional additive effect or other genes. Not the JB itself.

Test Breedings:
In brief email correspondence I requested only males exhibiting a very long lower sword and if possible
dorsal color of any type. The seller obliged on the first request, but was unable to provide any males with
dorsal color as the strain did not have any. My initial approach would be several generations of sib
breeding to identify existing traits in pure form. This revealed a percentage of males expressing “blue
lips”. Colored lips are often found in metal / platinum strains. These males also tend to express the most
intense blue and increased level of coverage. Males exhibiting a lower sword would generally pass the
trait to sons to varying degrees in shape and length.
 Japan Blue male with hyaline dorsal

In multiple purebred litters over 3 generations a portion of males would posses lower swords and a
portion fairly mismatched double swords. The reminder being clear roundtails. This indicated not all the
JB females were homozygous for producing or enhancing sword shape. Many of the roundtails and lower
swords also showed oculatus (oc) spotting. Sib breeding also produced about 25% males with a red
shoulder stripe. The presence of Zebrinus Bar (Ze) was evident as secondary sex link colors started to
manifest in young males. This was quickly covered over as JB made its appearance. At the time, while
suspecting it to be autosomal dominant Zebrinus Bar (Ze), I could not rule out autosomal recessive
Tigrinus (Ti).

Autosomal Zebrinus Bar, as later identified

Less than 1 in 10 males would exhibit some patchy black dorsal color. Purebred sib breeding also told me
the hyaline (clear) dorsal resulted from a lack of X-link dorsal color or it was epistatic to any existing
genes for dorsal color. Therefore, likely near impossible to eliminate without outcross. Hence, making an
outcross with my Vienna lowers a logical choice as they posses both Y and X-link for yellow pigment and
gold iridophores in caudal / dorsal and to some degree. At this point I discontinued pure breeding the
strain with better lower males resembling the individual below.
 Asian Blau Japan Blue Lower Sword with hyaline dorsal

Reciprocal outcrosses to my Line 1Vienna Lower lines helped substantiate several developing theories
about this JB strain. It showed JB females were actually contributing not only to caudal fin length, but
the overall shape itself. Results hinted at fin extension being mostly X-link for swords, regardless of
type. Notice that I say extension and not the sword itself. Sib breeding of F1 Vienna Lower * JB revealed
in the F2 and F3 via recombination, that the foundation JB females often only carried extension on a
single X-link or non at all. I note that not a single incidence of bar has occurred in my Line 1 Vienna
Lowers in over a decade, though I breed for it regularly in my Line 2. Reciprocal crosses between JB and
Line 1Vienna Lower showed the barring to be autosomal dominant Ze as it appeared in both directions of
F1 offspring. So this should eliminate further consideration of Ti as the source of barring.

Lacking tanks space for breeding the double swords I have culled them for the most part. While I have
done a few test breedings to evaluate, outcross with Vienna Lower females and recombination in the F2 /
F3 hinted at two forms of doubles. The best matched possibly resulting from a single X-link and another
resulting from a combination of X-link top sword and X or Y-link lower sword. The latter version likely in
complex as no pure Top Swords have ever presented.

Segregation and recombination in F2 / F3 crosses (from both reciprocal crosses) in addition to F1

* Vienna backcross (BC) revealed two concerns. First and foremost the JB Y-link lower sword does not
appear completely dominant to either type of double sword or recurring clear roundtails, though the latter
phenotype has been reduced in occurrence. I would not be surprised if better defined test breedings of
doubles found them to be epistatic to lowers as is common with Vienna Swordtails. Second, optimal lower
sword shape is not exclusively controlled by Y-link alone. Suggesting JB X-links &/or autosomal input for
sword shape and length.

The continued use of Line 1 Vienna lower females for BC creates an issue all to itself. It produces JB
males that are a definite shade of Apple Green or a blue with distinct regions of yellow pigment or gold
iridophores.
 F1 Grey JB * Vienna Lower with X-Link yellow influence

Two of the first traits I wished to test for / rule out were Stoerzbach and Lazuli. I see no evidence of
Stoerzbach to date. While I rule out Lazuli as unlikely, I do see similarities to this trait; 1. Blue
coloration in the upper shoulders of some males. 2. Variation in shades of blue on individual males in
distinct regions.

Reciprocal outcrossing to my Line 1 Vienna Lowers has revealed the true secret to this strain. This being
the presence of autosomal Asian Blau (Ab), which is partially dominant. It not only helps add to the
additional anterior color, but the overall color itself.

I. Abab (heterozygous) Asian Blau

II. AbAb (homozygous) Asian Blau
III. abab (non Asian Blau)

I. Unlike European Blau (Eb), Abab heterozygotes can express yellow pigment and possibly
gold iridophores in body and finnage when the genes are present.

Asian Blau Japan Blue with X-link yellow

II. AbAb homozygotes remove / inhibit red pigment to reveal silver (or white) or blue depending upon
the type of irridophore lying beneath the color pigment. As Japan Blue is a mutation of blue irridophores
it seems there should be little or no silver in the peduncle. As seen below in grey form, AbAb fish appear
blue/grey and in blond double recessive white. Epistasis likely prevents formation of swords and colors
are limited to blue iridophores, possibly a theoretical gold as evidenced by the presence of green in the
body.

Homozygous Asian Blau Japan Blue (Grey on left & Blond on right)
III. abab Japan Blue males (those lacking the Asian Blau gene) may show a red stripe on the shoulders or
caudal outside the region of influence in traditional JB.

Japan Blue lacking Asian Blau

Reciprocal crosses with Vienna Lower * Abab JB females show they also pass extension genetics to the F1
males. With selection this enhancement has been easily retained to a high degree in F2 and F3 sib-
breedings. Having worked with Y-link lower swords for many years I am of the opinion that the best
length and shape is only possible in combination with the additive effect of X-link &/or autosomal
genes. I believe this is often taken for granted by many swordtail breeders working predominantly with
X-link double or top swords in which the majority of extension genetics are also passed in a tight linked
gene complex.

Few if any colors / phenotypes are the result of a single gene in guppies, more likely multiple genes by
regulation(s). The initial reciprocal breeding involved my Line 1 using a Blond Vienna Lower * JB. It
produced predominantly Abab males in both green and purple body mutation. This high degree of
autosomal dominance has maintained in subsequent Vienna breedings. It likely expresses similar in
JB. You will notice below in these Asian Blau Vienna Lower normally “Orange” Wingean spots are still
visible, with red pigment removed, solely by remaining iridophores which are the basis for patterns. Prior
to outcross my Line 1 Lowers did not contain Ze, yet barring is present in these F1 males. Thus, further
evidencing the trait was passed by JB females as an autosome.

Another visible trait found in both my Line 1 and the JB, is a very blue belly patch. Resulting from blue
iridophores it has been little modified by the presence of Ab. Passed by males and females, this trait helps
ad to the additional anterior color of the JB strain in combination with Ab. A similar related effect can
manifest above the lateral line on the shoulder. However, it is more often evident in conjunction with a
blue belly patch.
 Asian Blau Vienna Lowers w/blue belly

The male below is multi generation pure from my Vienna Lower Line 1. There seems to be a correlation
between expression of the blue belly trait and EGI. You will notice in this individual how the blue is also
found in the lower peduncle.

Normal non Asian Blau Blond Vienna Lower w/blue belly

One of the hypotheses I wished to test for was the presence of Wild-Type Wingean Super gene traits being
masked by Japan Blue. To do so I employed a simple “fright test” and moved males directly from their
tank into my photo tank without a period of acclimation. You will notice that these males immediately
revealed an orange spot in mid body. While not visible in this photo a second spot was also present in the
peduncle.
 Japan Blue males without period of acclimation

Conclustions:
Within this JB strain in any given litter, both purebred and outcross with Vienna Lower, exists a broad
range of phenotypic expression. The overall basis for both the increased level of coloration and its
intensity in this strain results from Asian Blau (Ab). Additional color enhancement comes from a “blue
belly” created by blue iridophores in conjunction with EGI. A lack of yellow pigment or gold iridophores
in the body further enhances coloration. Each trait is independent of traditional Japan Blue (JB) and
results from either X / Y sex link or autosomal genes.

Asian Blau Japan Blue with X-link yellow

Asian Blau Japan Blue with X-link yellow, including blond on the right

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