Flowerhorn getting dark help!

[Patricktheflowerhorn]

I got a flowerhorn about 2 weeks ago. He’s about 3 inches in a 55 gallon with 4 Kenyi Cichlids (that’s what the local fish store recommended to put with him) they will be going into their own tank in the next couple weeks because I don’t think it’s a fit, but they actually don’t bother each other or nip. Anyways, when I got him he was very brightly colored with pinks and blues pearling, but now it seems he’s developed dark stripes and is almost completely black. His coloring still comes through a little though. It’s a new tank so ammonia tested somewhere between 0.25 and 0.5 ppm. Nitrates and Nitrites are 0 and ph is between 7-8. I did 25% water change 2 days ago and 50% water change yesterday and added biological booster. I’m just not sure what to do to get his coloring back. Here’s his before and after.

 

[Patricktheflowerhorn]

Here’s when I first got him

 

[AnthonyFish20]

He seems stressed what does his poop look like is it white?

 

[Patricktheflowerhorn]

Appetite and poop are normal. Still actively swimming around as well.

 

[kno4te]

Appetite and poop are normal. Still actively swimming around as well.

Good sign. Then just monitor for now. Think it’s colors will settle and be a darker variant.

 

[AnthonyFish20]

He could be stressed out from something since his head looks smaller compared to what it used to look like. Make sure not to overfeed him.

 

[Patricktheflowerhorn]

He could be stressed out from something since his head looks smaller compared to what it used to look like. Make sure not to overfeed him.

I’ve been feeding him once a day so I don’t spike the ammonia too much. I have a 29g tank cycling, do you think he’d be happier in a smaller tank for now?

 

[Patricktheflowerhorn]

Good sign. Then just monitor for now. Think it’s colors will settle and be a darker variant.

Thanks!

 

[islandguy11]

Sorry but if your LFS recommended to put your Flowerhorn with ANY fish -- let alone Kenyi which are usually very aggressive themselves when adults, esp. males (had a couple long ago but got rid of them because they were causing havoc in the tank) -- they don't know what they're talking about. In any case it's good you plan to take them out, otherwise my bet is things would get nasty when the FH gets bigger and wreaks havoc on the Kenyi. He'll be very happy alone in that 55g until he gets about 8".

That said, I'm not sure that stress from these fish is causing his current blackness, or could be the fact your tank isn't fully cycled (hence the ammonia/nitrite readings). Or could be both. Keep up with more frequent water changes and hope he normalizes soon.

 

[AnthonyFish20]

Im sure its because your tank isnt fully cycled which is causing stress on the fish.
You should have waited until ur tank was cycled ammonia should be 0.
Ammonia is very poisonous to fish and .25-.50 is very high