Bristlenose Pleco
Genetics Calculator
Select parent morphs and instantly predict offspring ratios — albino, longfin, het carriers and more. “Het” is short for heterozygous: a fish that carries one hidden copy of a recessive gene. It looks like a normal common fish, but it can still pass that gene to its fry — so two hets paired together can produce visibly albino or longfin babies. Built for serious bristlenose pleco breeders.
Select Parent Morphs
Male (♂)
Female (♀)
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Offspring Predictions
Breeding Notes
About Bristlenose Pleco Genetics
Albinism — Recessive
Albino bristlenose plecos lack melanin due to a recessive gene. Both parents must carry the allele for albino fry to appear. A visually common fish can carry it hidden as het albino.
Longfin — Recessive
The longfin trait is also autosomal recessive. Two copies needed for expression. Pairing two het longfins gives a 25% longfin ratio in offspring.
Combining Traits
Albino longfin requires homozygous recessive at both loci. Starting from wild-type parents typically takes 2–3 generations of selective breeding.
Real-World Ratios
These are theoretical Mendelian ratios. Small clutches may not match exactly — larger spawns of 50+ fry give more accurate real-world distribution.