Female Festae lost her color and never got it back?

[xinchavoc]

I have had my female festae for over a year now. I raised her since she was a 1" fry. She was always a looker she was dominant over her group and killed off her brothers and sisters. at about 3" she started coloring up and by 3.5" she was in full color. she has always been a part of my 150 community and has never been moved. She always showed her red/yellow base and black stripes. But about 5 months ago she lost all her color and started looking ugly. You can see how she looks now in the vid below. I don't know why she lost her color she is not stressed or being picked on. She still has her same diet. I thought it might have been the presence of a male inn her tank but I sold off the male a while ago and she still has no color. Im just curious as to why she would lose all her color. You can see some pics of different stages in her life as you can see she was always colorfull but now she is brown and ugly. Im just confused as too why she lost her color? Any help would be appreciated as im thinking of selling her.

Here is a vid taken today.
[YT]PWMUfbOmQH4&context=C3ab8cf6ADOEgsToPDskJzNOZaYqr62T9IMRshBFEe[/YT]

 

[AcsFoolMike]

I'm not sure why she lost her color, but I bet it'd come back if she spawned with a male. I assume she never did the deed with that male you introduced a few months back?

 

[JK47]

IME females change color dramatically depending on mood, males too for that matter. My pair is in the garage and when I walk out there, she is bright. The first few minutes of me being in the garage she washes out. I actually quit using an auto-feeder because she would stress when I walked up to the tank. Now that I am the food source she has impoved 10 fold color wise while I am out there/approaching the tank. This is just a species that changes color quickly for any reason.

It's a good thing having a species that does this though, they can indicate to you when something is off quickly. Have you checked your water perams latelly?

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

I agree, check your water parameters. She is definitely indicating that she is uncomfortable with something. Another thing you could do is place her in a smaller tank divided with your female that just spawned

 

[BayArea_510]

just ship her to me

 

[xinchavoc]

I'm not sure why she lost her color, but I bet it'd come back if she spawned with a male. I assume she never did the deed with that male you introduced a few months back?

she never did the deed with any of the 4 males I have intorduced. But she always had her color anyways.

IME females change color dramatically depending on mood, males too for that matter. My pair is in the garage and when I walk out there, she is bright. The first few minutes of me being in the garage she washes out. I actually quite using an auto-feeder because she would stress when I walked up to the tank. Now that I am the food source she has impoved 10 fold color wise while I am out there/approaching the tank. This is just a species that changes color quickly for any reason.

It's a good thing having a species that does this though, they can indicate to you when something is off quickly. Have you checked your water perams latelly?

I haven't checked water params for a long time. I don't think its the water I do twice a week water changes and my water is always clean. All other fish with her are doing great and growing fast. its frustrating though when she was smaller she was like last in the pecking order she is now 3rd and shows worst color is really starting to frustrate me because I grew raised her for such a long time and untill these last few months she lost all her color. her bars still become prominant at times but still no color. She comes up to eat and is my most outgoing festae she eats well comes to the front her only problem is she lost her color.

I agree, check your water parameters. She is definitely indicating that she is uncomfortable with something. Another thing you could do is place her in a smaller tank divided with your female that just spawned

Thanks but I don't think its water params my water is always clean I do twice a week 40% water changes. All other fish in her tank are fine. She acts the same she chases the crap out of the midas she never gets picked on as you can see not a split finn. I can try dividing her with the toher female as she also lost her color but my expierence with keeping festae by themselves is they always become skittish and always hide so Im not sure if I want to try that.

just ship her to me

lol she's not for sale yet. maybe in a few weeks depends what I decide to do with her.

 

[LOPAKA]

x2 water changes a week doesn't mean that your water params are in order..... doesn't hurt to check and this will help rule out what could possibly be going on with her. In my own experience though don't expect those bright bold colors without the presence of a male. Was she like this when you had a male in with her ??

 

[xinchavoc]

x2 water changes a week doesn't mean that your water params are in order..... doesn't hurt to check and this will help rule out what could possibly be going on with her. In my own experience though don't expect those bright bold colors without the presence of a male. Was she like this when you had a male in with her ??

She was like this without a male. She started looking like this when I tried introducing males. But after even though there were no males she still had no color. I can test my water tomorrow but I doubt its that no other fish in the tank is showing signs of being stressed I have not had water param problems since I set up the tank years ago.

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

We're not doubting your fish keeping skills, just saying that something could have changed in your water supply that your unaware of. I know somethin similar happened to a member I know and he started loosing fish then found out tge city added some **** to the water once a year. Another possibility is she could have an internal parasite that she's fighting kinda Like a cold... Where she's not real sick but not feeling on top of her game either. Good luck figuring it out.

 

[xinchavoc]

We're not doubting your fish keeping skills, just saying that something could have changed in your water supply that your unaware of. I know somethin similar happened to a member I know and he started loosing fish then found out tge city added some **** to the water once a year. Another possibility is she could have an internal parasite that she's fighting kinda Like a cold... Where she's not real sick but not feeling on top of her game either. Good luck figuring it out.

sorrybro didn't mean to sound offensive but Im just frustrated with all my festae Things have serously gone down hill with all my festae. Im testing my water tomorrow just to be sure its not my water.