improving clown loach colors

[the_deeb]

I recently moved my loach pack into my paludarium and have noticed that their colors look a little faded (their black stripes are gray, not black). Any suggestions for ways to improve their colors?

 

[NixMix]

How long have they been in the tank? Maybe they're still stressed...

 

[Brian_Indiana]

I would guess they are a little stressed. If the color fade has lasted more than a week, I am not sure what it would be.

 

[redinfinity]

Try lowering the light levels, when my loaches were at the store they were lighter, but when I put them in my tank with less light, their stripes got darker. I do however have one loach that's normally more grey than the rest. He could be the alpha loach in my shoal but he's only medium sized compared to the others.

 

[XRS]

I think given some time they will be fine. They just need time to adjust to new environments.

 

[aclockworkorange]

It's known as graying out. Larger clowns will just do this naturally. They also take a long time to adjust to new tanks.

 

[n-e-w-land]

What colour is the substrate, sometimes lighter coloured substrate can have a negative effect as they reflect a lot more light. Is it possible there is something in their new home which is making them feel stressed a lack of hiding places, i'm sure you'll find that they will colour up again.

 

[george09]

you could also look at factors like diet, is it varried ? lighting is there more light since before. Also motion is the aquarium in a more common area in the house. These could all affect the general mood of your fish but could easily be forgoten by the keeper. in time they should get used to it unless ur aquarium is by a rail road track thats always buisy or something of that nature.