CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

  Hi I'm new to the forums and I'm hoping someone might be able to help me out.  About six months ago I bought two albino oscars along with a few other cichlids.  Everyone has been doing well and just recently I've noticed that my two albinos have developed black strips that run vertically down their bodies and their fins have turned black as well. No other problems... no loss in appetite, activity, etc.  Is this normal?  I've asked several aquarium places and they have never seen such a thing.  I would love it if anyone has some insight to this!  Thanks for your time,
Smith

Hullo...Black bits on an albino oscar is FINE.
I work with wholesalers and we sell lots of albino oscars, there is actually quite a bit of "colour" range with them.
some are straight out white, some have clear fins, some have black fins and some have black stripes too...Quite often the albinos have orangish-red stripes as well. The colour sometimes develops and receeds, not sure why, but my guess is temperament, same as other oscars.

[b] Aussie Oscar's reply is excellent (I like this guy!) but I need to add a comment: "Albino" Oscars are not truly albino, but a bred color strain. Therefore, color variations and stripes and spots from specimen to specimen are absolutely normal. One thing about Oscars is you can trust them; if there's something wrong with them or the water, they'll  tell you -- by lying down on the gravel, or hiding, or being sluggish. They're not as "Macho" as, for example, Pacu, who will act normally (to an extent) even if their water gets as bad a motor oil!   --Mark

Smith wrote:   Hi I'm new to the forums . . .

Oh, BTW Smith, [color=red] WELCOME TO THE CICHLIDFISH FORUMS!! --Mark