What influences fish color?
- Thread starter Lawlboom
- Start date
You've kept a lot of fish I haven't and potentially vice versa. So I'd hesitate to say something dogmatic about what you've observed in your own tanks. What I do know is a number of species I've kept can clearly be influenced by how bright, dark, or subdued a tank is in lighting, background or substrate and, in some conditions and fish, also by the ambient light in the room. The effect on some species (or individuals) I've kept is fairly subtle to almost non-existent and in others it can be fairly dramatic.
Like most animals, some fish are apparently more adapted or programmed to blend into their habitat and background than others and with some this seems to translate to their tank environment more than others. In other words someone can't necessarily extrapolate what they've seen in their tanks as a rule for all cichlids or all fish.
Well....what about Trimacs? Has anyone noticed that Trimac's look washed out in water with even moderate levels of nitrates? I have one 4-5 inches for a few months now, and he's kinda drab. His colors were electric when I got him--so I figure it's something bout my tanks.
I've tried different tankmates. Bigger tank, smaller tank, still drab colors. He eats A LOT, he picks on other fish all the time, no signs of disease that I can tell. Just his color's off. 20-30 PPM Nitrates is the only thing I can figure. pH is 7.8, pretty hard water.
I've tried different tankmates. Bigger tank, smaller tank, still drab colors. He eats A LOT, he picks on other fish all the time, no signs of disease that I can tell. Just his color's off. 20-30 PPM Nitrates is the only thing I can figure. pH is 7.8, pretty hard water.
Did you try changing substrate and background? My Jag is already coloring up since I took the black background down
Well, I got some new fish in today. Put them in the tank with the Trimac--THAT colored him up! He's a nice dark green now, all 3 of his spots are nice dark black again. A little competition did the trick.
I have noticed the same thing with a big Synspilum in another tank. She's the biggest fish in the tank and undisputed top of the pecking order, and she's kinda washed out, too. when she was younger, she had MUCH better color.
I have noticed the same thing with a big Synspilum in another tank. She's the biggest fish in the tank and undisputed top of the pecking order, and she's kinda washed out, too. when she was younger, she had MUCH better color.
