My Melanochromis Auratus is turning brown

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R

Rawimpact

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 2, 2008
169
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Buena Park, CA
Early this mourning i noticed that one of my two melanochromis auratus was turning black. Later (7hrs), i noticed that the black disappeared and that the black stripes that ran across it turned brown... I know that this species change colors, but is this normal? They are about 1.3 inches long and i've had them in my tank for about three weeks. I do a 40% water change every week and have a fluval 203 and a whisper 60 for filtration.

Thanks
Happy 4th of July!
 
Found the reason, not enough vegetables. Any ideas on what vegetables would be good for them?

thanks
 
when i first got mine it was brown and yellow with black spots, over the course of 2 years not only did it become bigger it changed to black with a white stripe down its lateral line and became the bully of the tank. Im pretty sure that when they change colors that it means that it has changed its sex. If i remember this is one species of cichlids that does that.
 
spirulina pellets (i buy mine off an ebay seller-its great quality), you could slice and freeze zucchini, yellow squash and rubberband it to a rock and sink it.. my africans looove that stuff. i also feed krill, and quite a few NLS products, they give them great color.
 
show us a pic. It just sounds like one is a male, and changing color. The brown is just a pale black...

What are you feeding them? If it is a good pellet or flake it should have plenty of veggie matter in it.
 
i agree ..perfectly normal for auratus to turn black ..especially if a male... mine are all very dark once they mature... start out brightly colored yellow.. :)usually if they remain yellow color they are females...
 
Ok, i will get a picture up pretty soon. Right now it's really active and wont stay still for a camera shot. I noticed that the black is actually darkish blue (almost metallic), and could be due to sexual maturity.

I will have a picture up by tonight.

Happy 4th guys!
 
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