Jack dempsey always is pale

[Nikoia89]

I have had this jack dempsey for like a 1-2 months and at pet store he was the normal black, when I put him in my tank with a smaller jack and an oscar they couldn't live together always fighting or picking on one another. Long story short he is in another tank with several mollies, he is acting completely fine he is swimming with the mollies he comes to the top for food at feeding time. He isn't always hiding or fighting with the mollies (mollies dont fight him they run). Could the lack of black be due to the white bottom? If so when I move him to the 55 gallon with the black bottom will the black come back

 

[AaronKWolfe]

Lack of color is often from the diet or the substrate. It's not anything to be worried about, but a mix of high quality pellets and frozen food with a black substrate will help.

 

[Finthusiast]

Could be your substrade thats making it stay pale. I have a mayan cichlid and it was always pale when I had in a white sand tank than moved to a black gravel tank and he turned colors drastically.

 

[Finthusiast]

Cool fish you have I like to see it when you switch tanks if he changes color. I think it looks real nice as it is but Imagine way prettier when full colors are out!

 

[Nikoia89]

Cool fish you have I like to see it when you switch tanks if he changes color. I think it looks real nice as it is but Imagine way prettier when full colors are out!

Thank you. He is great and I'll post one of him when he gets his color

 

[Nikoia89]

Lack of color is often from the diet or the substrate. It's not anything to be worried about, but a mix of high quality pellets and frozen food with a black substrate will help.

He is currently getting frozen cubes every night top fin medium cichlid crumbles and API floating cichlid pellets during the day

 

[tlindsey]

He is currently getting frozen cubes every night top fin medium cichlid crumbles and API floating cichlid pellets during the day

Welcome aboard

 

[tarheel96]

My JDs darkened up and showed more color when I used a darker substrate.

 

[duanes]

I agree with the others, your white substrate will be the major color influence, JDs tend to instinctually try to blend in with the color of their surroundings.
Below a video of them in nature, notice how the JDs in the beginning that live at depths, near darker shadowed areas, show more dark pigment, and in the video toward the end, the ones living in sunlit, shallow areas, are much lighter (much like yours).
Eden2