I seem to read conflicting statements regarding this everywhere.

Can everyone give a brief explanation of the differences, and maybe even some pictures if possible?

Do you even get genuinely Albino Oscars, or are they all Lutino?

all oscars you can buy in the trade are lutinos. true albino oscars are very very rare and in all my years of fishkeeping i have yet to encounter one or even a picture of one. even though the lutinos are listed as albinos they are not. they are actually Leucistic (lacking or mostly lacking chromatophores. Not a true albino) but for marketing purposes are listed as albino.

this is problem that is rampant in oscars mainly because the lutino can come in a pure white form.

hope some of this helps you in understanding oscar or fish colouration.

i found a link to a more indepth breakdown of fish colouration


www.oscarfishlover.com/index.php?option=...=6&limitstart=36

This was my old Long finned... He passed away last year... but I was under the understanding that he was albino not lutino... tell me what you think necro

in all my years of fishkeeping i have never seen or even heard of a true albino in the aquarium trade. of all the reputable breeders i have contacted over the years still no true albino oscars. even discussing the topic on numerous different forums still no pics or have i even heard tell of a true albino oscar.

though some nice pure white oscars are on the market(like yours) i have still to hear of one. you should be able to actually see the veins that are close to the surface. and there will be no pigmentation at all on the fish. even the pink eyes are that colour from the blood flowing beneath the surface.

as to your oscar he/she is an awesome specimen but still a lutino none the less. (orange on the tail fin)

all of this confusion stems from local fish stores label them(lutinos) as albinos to promote sales.


jsut my 2 cents

yeah that does make sense.... thanks necro....

So a Lutino won't suffer shorter lifespan like a true albino would then?

I was also under the impression you don't actually get Albino's in the trade.

here is a pic of my two Lutinos, sold to me as an Albinos...

i didnt know there was a difference till Necro said so on another thread.

both have different colouring... one has dirty colored fins

Very pretty Bianca... The Lutinos are my favorite!

thanks Nicki... i love them too, but i wouldnt give away my tiger

I have two red o's and I love them too but I still prefer the lutino.

So shorter lifespan or not?

i have never heard anything about lutinos having shorter lifespans than any other colour morph. as far as i know they live as long and are as healthy as the others.