Red Tiger Oscar losing color?

[captainwes]

My Red Tiger Oscar might have a problem. S/He appears to be losing all of his/her color and turning greyish. I am worried since that is my favorite fish in the tank
-CW

[cichlidfishadmin]

How big is your oscar now? what is it a tiger or red oscar etc..? how are your water parameters?


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Joe
[url=http://www.cichlidfish.com]www.cichlidfish.com[/url]

[captainwes]

IIt's about 2 1/2 3', I just checked the tank, I believe it may have something to do with the aquarium lighting. The water appears to be in good condtion, and the tankmates (yellow african, black convict, turquoise jewel and some blue and black striped small fish) apear to regain some of their color witht he lights off. What type of lighting is best for these fish?
-CW

[captainwes]

Its a red tiger oscar (i think)

[stoli]

some tiger oscars have a tendency to lose a lot of the red color displayed as a juvenile. a fish's color depends largely on diet, so you need to analyze what you are feeding it. a varied diet is key for overall health as well as coloring. you want to vary the diet, but you should be keeping a main portion of the diet as pellets. i recommend hikari gold pellets, they have a color enhancing formula to help bring out the natural coloring of the fish.

[cichlidfishadmin]

As stoli said, they tend to lose some of their coloring, gets duller also....BUT it could be your Lighting as you said. Try turning down the lights, maybe it's too bright, they usually don't like bright lights on them.

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Joe
[url=http://www.cichlidfish.com]www.cichlidfish.com[/url]

[captainwes]

I will try that. what kinds of foods do Oscars like to eat, and what should be served as treats? (I usually alternate between pellets, feeder guppies, and tubifex worms)

[stoli]

oscars will eat just about anything. earth worms, peas, crickets, snails. on the extreme side, i have heard of people feeding cheese, lunch meat, cereal, and even mice(although i don't recommend any of these, just giving you an idea that o's will eat whatever they can fit in there mouths). all the things you mentioned sound good, although i would watch the amount and quality of feeders you give your o's to guard against diseases being introduced to the tank.

[HighlyFly8]

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[QuintinR]

Have your PH levels changed?

[Tillinghast]

Did you manage to pinpoint the cause of the color loss Captainwes?