Colour changes

[avalon]

Since I bought my oscar, the black edging on his fins has crept inwards to the point his fins are almost solid black, and he's got grey smutty patches on his body as well, he was an white tiger oscar, with black eyes, is he gonna turn into a normal tiger?

Emma

 

[squirt2005]

Color changes can occur normally within the first years growth of a lot of cichlids. I've never heard of anything as drastic as an all white oscar turning into orange and black though. How much more does he have to grow?

 

[Wolf3101]

We have a red that changes color dramaticly with his mood so I would say that anythings possible.

 

[Mystix212]

Post some pics. Foods high in caroteens may have a great effect on his colouration in the short term.

 

[avalon]

He's about 3.5 inches and growing rapidly, some pics

When I bought him just over a month ago

A couple of weeks ago

A week ago

Today

In the last pic, you can see the grey/smutty patches that are turning up on his body as well

Before I got him he was fed generic flakes, since I've got him hes been given hikari cichlid gold, hikari cichlid staple, bloodworms, brineshrimp, frozen whole shrimp, peas and a few other veggies.

 

[Cohazard]

This is normal for albino oscars. As juveniles, all albinos look the same: clear tipped white fins.

However as they grow, they will show greatly varying levels of black pigmentation, because they're not true albinos. I've even had a baby 1.5" one develop the pigmentation overnight!



I believe I've finally found a way to tell which ones will grow up to be 'clean' solid white and red leucistic O's, and which ones will develop a lot of dark pigment.

Look at the eyes. The ones that will develop black pigmentation usually have very dark red or black eyes.

The ones that will remain 'clean' should have vibrantly colored red and yellow eyes. When viewed at an angle, their len's should show the same glowing red and yellow color.

Here's a baby O I picked up today, and this pic sort of shows what I'm describing (also note the lack of even tiny specks of dark pigment). If my theory is true, this lil baby should grow up and stay 'clean':

Sooo, your baby O isn't sick or afflicted with anything, and it will not turn into a regular O, however it will keep the pigmentation for life.

HTH