fish turning colors

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fish turning colors

Postby ryan18 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:21 pm

i have two blood parrot cichlids and in the last three weeks they have both faded in color and one is almost whit i was just wondering if i was doing something wrong or not
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Re: fish turning colors

Postby amy5335 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:15 pm

I have an orange and black parrot. He is usually really brightly coloured. He fades a little but if my catfish is bugging him. They get into little...disagreements and annoy each other. lol.  :boxing:

Is something stressing him?
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Re: fish turning colors

Postby ryan18 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:36 pm

maybe it is because they are in a 20 gallon tank i'm trying to get a bigger one for them they are good to each other so i dont think they are bothering each other
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Re: fish turning colors

Postby DanRad on Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:22 pm

Have you checked your ammonia & nitrite levels?
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Re: fish turning colors

Postby stephilee on Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:29 pm

I have the same problem with my fish.  They turn a darker color when they get agitated at each other and then when they relax the one turns orange and the other is almost white.  My nitrate and ammonia levels are all fine.
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Re: fish turning colors

Postby DanRad on Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:41 pm

Hi, Stephi!  Are your fish Parrots as well?  Alot of fish -- cichlids especially -- show their mood and/or state of health by varying their colors.  Sometimes can be intensity, sometimes can be brightness or drabness.  Some of them really take on different color patterns when "in the mood".  It's up to us to pay attention, and figure out what's causing the color shift.  Are they sick?  Is the water OK?  Did they just have a meal they really liked?  Is one of theri tankmates persecuting them?  You've definitely picked up on an important means of communication!
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Re: fish turning colors

Postby stephilee on Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:03 pm

I believe one is a Red Devil and the other is a Convict.  When I got the Red Devil he was almost completely black.  I thought he was sick until I did some research.  And then shortly after, i got the Convict.  The convict was black and grey striped when I got him and when I put him in the Tank, the Red Devil turned black again.  The convict used to hide in the corner until they got used to each other.  The Red Devil is a bright orange and the Convict was a yellowish color but is now turning more orange as well.  Also, a quick question...  Will female fish lay eggs without them being fertilized?  I'm trying to figure out the sex of my fish.
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Re: fish turning colors

Postby stilllearnin on Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:10 pm

Agree with everything Dans said  tmbsup
So look into water and stress first as a precaution no matter what.

but he's some added options
i have two blood parrot cichlids and in the last three weeks they have both faded in color and one is almost whit i was just wondering if i was doing something wrong or not

Color feed or hormone treated parrots will fade/dull because the color food is  good or because they no longer get hormone stimulation.

When I got the Red Devil he was almost completely black.


Some color changes are perfectly normal.
Especially in young red devils,midas,etc,,
(parrots are hybrids in part of them so the same rule can apply)

example (young red devils) Most are dark or barred of spotted,with some just loseing the dark coloration (look good and you can still find some with black spots)
Image
few months older - they start getting the adult colors
Image

Eventually they all grew to look like their dad
Image
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