when can I expect my lil orinos to start spangling?

Cohazard

Arapaima
MFK Member
Jul 13, 2005
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Out of 11 baby orinos I picked up in january, I am down to 6.


The smallest is 2", the largest about 3.5", they are all eating tilapia fillet.

So far they're just kinda silvery, not even a gold color I thought they would be.

I wasn't running any lighting on their tank except from teh tank next to theirs, but starting today i'm using an LED light on their tank.

This probably gets asked alot but at what size will they start spangling and showing some true colors?

I'm anxious to see the blues and greens now that they're off feeders.

Are their colors affected by the tank environment?
 

bassinmike85

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Jul 10, 2010
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mine started at almost 3" so yours should be soon

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johno27

Piranha
MFK Member
Feb 21, 2006
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Eastpointe MI
I find water quality can effect cichlas color a lot. So can the color of the substrate/background

Here are mine at around 3" on 9-8-2011


Here they are on 9-22-2011


10-8-2011


11-2-2011


12-28-2011


last week
DSC_0014.JPG

I would say another inch or two and you will see them spangle up and turn green. But that is just my experience with mine

DSC_0014.JPG
 

gangster

Arapaima
MFK Member
Apr 17, 2008
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start stuffin the tilapia w/ pellets...or rollin em in crushed pellets. Pellets will also bring out better color. That tank light will help as well.
 
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