Eye Biter Lost Color

[13784]

Hello:
I've had an eye biter for about three weeks. At the LFS he was a beautiful blue color. Now, its body color has faded to grey and the fins have also lost its yellow color.
The fish appears healthy and eats well. My water parameters are pretty normal. However, I believe my pH is a bit high, around 7.7.
Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[RonTheRHOM]

Your PH is fine. as long as he seems healthy just wait coz they stress easy and ALWAYS loose their colour when brought home. It can take a while for it to come back. Whats in the tank with him?
Also get some Improvit for cichlids- comes in a click feeder container, that will help to bring his colour through

 

[anthontbyrne]

what size is he

 

[13784]

I'm guessing around 3". Color has not returned yet.

 

[Wimmels]

An eye biter? Is that the Dimidiochromis Compressiceps? If so,

The male should be steel blue with Red fins and not yellow.

Females stay gray offcourse.

And 3" is smallish for a Compressiceps to be couloured.

Do you have any females together with this fish? If so perhaps some larger cichlids that give him a hard time?

If not ask what your LFS feeds their fish. If they give food with high Astataxine levels(and you don't), then that would be the problem.

 

[13784]

I'm not sure what the actual name of the fish is. He's in a 180 gallon with a friendly group of 4 parrot fish, one (mild mannered) green terror, two tin foil barbs, and one earth eater. I recall when I saw him in the store he was a steel blue with red fins.