Dark coloring in Senegal?

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Galasca

Galasca

Black Skirt Tetra
MFK Member
Jan 3, 2016
104
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Hey guys, I've been raising this little Senegal and have noticed some people with very dark almost black colored fishies, so I was wondering, is it possible to feed hem a certain food or water conditions to make them appear this way?image.jpeg
 
I doubt this color is due to certain food. This is genetics because i remember this picture and discussion surrounding it. Dr.B Dr.B contributed to it. :)
 
Awe, bummer. Have any clue where I could possibly order a beauty like that? H HumanBean
 
The main reason is the black substrate. Almost all senegals will get dark (some really dark, others not as dark), with some green/yellowish pigments (green spots on its head).
 
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Dr.B Dr.B Oh, perfect! Just so happened I bought black substrate today?
 
this is actually my senegal :)

I used to have him on tan/brown gravel and he seemed just as dark to me as he does on black sand now. However, the yellow speckling along his midline became much more pronounced. Honestly I never noticed it until I got the black sand.

As far as good goes, he generally eats live feeders, occasionally bloodworms, mysis shrimp and he will eat the pellets I give the rest of the fish, since they are in a community tank. This is tetra color tropical granules.

I just started working at the pet shop where I got this particular senegal and set up a display tank (they know me so well there that they gave me my own display tank on the second day) in hopes of drawing more attention to polypterus. I used black sand and added two senegal bichir, one that was a lighter color, and another that was darker. I'd like to see how they look when they are full size and see if they stay darker and lighter.

I picked my original senegal at random about 3 years ago, mostly just chose the healthiest looking one and I am very happy with him. He is still my favorite out of all my polypterus (i have 5). He's just so beautiful, I'm glad others like him as well! ❤
 
MaineiacJay said:
this is actually my senegal :)

I used to have him on tan/brown gravel and he seemed just as dark to me as he does on black sand now. However, the yellow speckling along his midline became much more pronounced. Honestly I never noticed it until I got the black sand.

As far as good goes, he generally eats live feeders, occasionally bloodworms, mysis shrimp and he will eat the pellets I give the rest of the fish, since they are in a community tank. This is tetra color tropical granules.

I just started working at the pet shop where I got this particular senegal and set up a display tank (they know me so well there that they gave me my own display tank on the second day) in hopes of drawing more attention to polypterus. I used black sand and added two senegal bichir, one that was a lighter color, and another that was darker. I'd like to see how they look when they are full size and see if they stay darker and lighter.

I picked my original senegal at random about 3 years ago, mostly just chose the healthiest looking one and I am very happy with him. He is still my favorite out of all my polypterus (i have 5). He's just so beautiful, I'm glad others like him as well! ❤
Click to expand...
What a great specimen you have! After about a week of having my Senegal on the black sand I've noticed some yellow patches along his center as well as drastic darkening. I really hope I'm lucky enough to have mine turn out as yours did!
 
How big is he? And feel free to add photos! Half the reason I come on here is to see photos ❤
 
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