Stunted fish genetics

I have one group of young mollies that got stunted as a result an experiment I did regarding changes in salinity. They are currently only about an inch long at 5 months while their siblings are significantly larger.
Their parents were healthy breeding stock; If the stunted mollies (if not sterile) were allowed to breed, would they give birth to offspring with the potential to grow normally given good conditions? Or would the stunting affect their genes somehow?

 

It shouldn't affect the offspring since the stunting seems to be an outside environmental factor. If the offpring are raised like the significantly larger siblings, they should grow to their natural size.

Having said that, the 'stunted' fry could catch up in size. Not all fry grow at the same rate.

 

Depends why it is stunted. You presume it is due to your experiment in which case it could be genetically sound and off springs would be normal. However, it might be stunted unrelated to your experiment and it might be genetic in which case off springs would carry the trait and might or might not be stunted.

I have one group of young mollies that got stunted as a result an experiment I did regarding changes in salinity. They are currently only about an inch long at 5 months while their siblings are significantly larger.
Their parents were healthy breeding stock; If the stunted mollies (if not sterile) were allowed to breed, would they give birth to offspring with the potential to grow normally given good conditions? Or would the stunting affect their genes somehow?

 

Depends why it is stunted. You presume it is due to your experiment in which case it could be genetically sound and off springs would be normal. However, it might be stunted unrelated to your experiment and it might be genetic in which case off springs would carry the trait and might or might not be stunted.

I separated one batch of fry from the same spawn into two groups, and conducted the experiment on one of them about 2-3 months ago when both groups were about 1 inch long. The control group kept growing, while the experiment group haven't changed much in size since then.

 

I separated one batch of fry from the same spawn into two groups, and conducted the experiment on one of them about 2-3 months ago when both groups were about 1 inch long. The control group kept growing, while the experiment group haven't changed much in size since then.

In this case, the offspring of the stunted mollies, should be able to size op a normal size again. Note that the bacterial life and nutrients in freshwater is different than in saltwater or even brackish. If the mollies also feed themselves with the nutrients in a freshwater enviroment, those nutrients could be lacking in saltwater. Which could affect the growth of the fish.

 

In this case, the offspring of the stunted mollies, should be able to size op a normal size again. Note that the bacterial life and nutrients in freshwater is different than in saltwater or even brackish. If the mollies also feed themselves with the nutrients in a freshwater enviroment, those nutrients could be lacking in saltwater. Which could affect the growth of the fish.

Have you found any difference in size or growth speed in brackish water compared to freshwater for livebearers?

 

Have you found any difference in size or growth speed in brackish water compared to freshwater for livebearers?

That depends. Only with a number of livebearers which are capable of living in both freshwater and brackish water. Those that were kept in freshwater and than adjusted to brackish waters stayed a bit behind with the growth in comparison to the ones stayed in freshwater. But it's also more if those fish coming from freshwater stick to their habits or adjust to the new circumstances. Try to find other organisms to eat that are present in the water enviroment. I've got also fish overhere that are only kept in brackish water for those don't do well in freshwater.

 

That depends. Only with a number of livebearers which are capable of living in both freshwater and brackish water. Those that were kept in freshwater and than adjusted to brackish waters stayed a bit behind with the growth in comparison to the ones stayed in freshwater. But it's also more if those fish coming from freshwater stick to their habits or adjust to the new circumstances. Try to find other organisms to eat that are present in the water enviroment. I've got also fish overhere that are only kept in brackish water for those don't do well in freshwater.

I see. Currently I've been keeping P. velifera in low-end brackish water. What livebearers do better in brackish water than freshwater?

 

I see. Currently I've been keeping P. velifera in low-end brackish water. What livebearers do better in brackish water than freshwater?

When it comes to livebearers; a number of micropoecilia species, a number of molly species (Poecilia orri for instance), Anableps anableps, etc...
They can live in freshwater as well (I do wanna put this out for it's possible for sure) but will have a way shorter lifespan than when kept in brackish water.