EBJD color change? Help!

[attackfish21]

I was very proud to have found my EBJD in the beautiful dark and brilliant blues that I did, (you can see it in my pic) and when I got him home I put him in my 20gal to grow up before putting him in with my larger fish. (He is only 2") I noticed that he was picking on the other fish in the tank and stressing them out so I moved him out into a 10gal by himself.

His colors stayed the brilliant blue in the first tank, but ever since moving him to the 10gal he has been significantly lighter in color, more silvery than blue. He still has a strong appetite and is acting normal... But I am just curious about why his colors have not returned to the dark brilliant blues he was before.

Can PH or other water components affect the color of a fish? Could it be my lighting?

I have tested both tanks and the 10gal he is now has the better water quality so it doesn't make much sense. the PH is 7.2, nitrates are below 10, nitrites are 0, ammonia is also 0.

If anyone knows, please help! His health is more important than his color, but if I can accomplish the best of both worlds, I would like to know how!!

Thanks.

 

[Lupin]

Doesn't sound like your fish is ill to me. If you are using light background with less hiding places and glaring lights, that would explain why the fish is lighter than before. They can change colors depending on the environmental conditions and their moods.

 

[duster1971]

is the substrate in the 10 gal lighter than lfs or 20 gal that might have some thing to do with it it did for my dempsy got him from my cuz and he used light blue gravel and i use black or natural color and he is alot darker over the black than natural or light blue just some food for thaught dempsys change collor to match suroundings being preditors it helps with camo efect

 

[attackfish21]

OH! that makes sense! I do have a lighter substrate in the 10g. I have black in the 20g that he was previously in, and this tank has really light brown sub. I will try changing that and see what happens.

Thanks!
I always appreciate the help.

 

[Kivstev]

Same Ol' Beakface, light and dark substrates.