Fish turning very pale

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J

Joehays

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 22, 2009
58
0
0
West Chester, PA
My parents had a 55 gallon tank set up and running for 2 weeks, they then added a black convict. Within an hour it turned from black to almost completely white. All of the chemicals test fine. This was a week ago and the fish is still active and eating, but it's white. I just arrived home from college and I had a 20 gallon with 3 small fire mouths. In my tank they were very colorful and healthy. I added 2 of them into the 55 and within an hour they lost all color. Like the convict, they appear active but they lost all color. The fire mouth in my tank stayed colorful. The test strips still read fine. Does anyone know what is going on?


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First things first, test strips are terrible and inaccurate. You would be very smart to get a liquid test kit. How's the lighting in the 55? A lot of times very bright lights make fish appear lighter, and some fish, especially larger cichlids, get stressed with bright lights.

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Joehays said:
My parents had a 55 gallon tank set up and running for 2 weeks, they then added a black convict. Within an hour it turned from black to almost completely white. All of the chemicals test fine. This was a week ago and the fish is still active and eating, but it's white. I just arrived home from college and I had a 20 gallon with 3 small fire mouths. In my tank they were very colorful and healthy. I added 2 of them into the 55 and within an hour they lost all color. Like the convict, they appear active but they lost all color. The fire mouth in my tank stayed colorful. The test strips still read fine. Does anyone know what is going on?


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Sounds like major stress! Water quality perhaps? Do a 50% wc with dechlor

#1 S. Vettel
 
I would say water quality or change your subtrate.i found with my firemouths if u have a black or darker color subtrate it brings out their color more

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It could be the bucket you are using helped a friend change large aquarium one time couldn't figure out why fish were dying finally asked his wife if she used the bucket for anything she said yes she washed her car with it.

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if they are eating and active and not breath heavily, they are still okay.

You said the tank has being up for 2 weeks...were there fish in it? If not, I would say you are cycling right now. If it has fish in it, it might be in the middle of the nitrite cycle, and you can add prime or salt to relieve stress.

A picture of your tank please :)
 
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