New SRD flowerhorn turned dark

[Sleep]

Hello everyone,
I’ve recently acquired a super red dragon flowerhorn that was imported from Thailand from a local hobbyist. This is him when he was with the breeder (I think). Can anyone tell me why he’s gone dark? I hear it may be the black sand I keep him only - I’ve recently purchased an LED light made for 75 gallons and started using it since Friday (I had a standard light made for 10 gallons that made the tank darker, also have a dark background) hoping that it’ll change his color back to red with no luck whatsoever. Is there anything else I can do? I was thinking about mixing the black sand with white sand if his color doesn’t improve. Please ask any questions, thanks.

 

[Sleep]

This is him shortly after adding the new LED light. Yes, there are goldfish and a turtle in there with him, but the fish will be removed once I have the time.

 

[Dainbramage]

Water temp? Should be at least 82

 

[maxstillen]

The black sand will do it. Need lighter gravel to get him back to normal colors. I like to use coral substrate or crush coral as gravel for my kamfas.

 

[Sleep]

Water temp? Should be at least 82

The water temp is set to 84. He’s in a 75 gallon and eats a mixture of krill, reptomin pellets, fluval bug bites, and krill enhanced treats. He seems to really like the reptomin pellets and usually spits out the other foods besides the bug bites and I have seen him eat a piece of krill (just got it for him yesterday as I’ve heard it enhances color)I have a fluval fx4 running on the aquarium and the tank stays clean. Anymore questions please ask.

 

[Sleep]

The black sand will do it. Need lighter gravel to get him back to normal colors. I like to use coral substrate or crush coral as gravel for my kamfas.

I have 60 pounds of black sand in the 75 gallon. Do you think that if I add an additional 20 pounds of the same sand but white instead of black on the top layer that it’d be just as good?

 

[maxstillen]

I'm not too sure how that will work since I have never mixed black with white gravel before. Either give it a shot and see or just do a full change out if you don' want to mix it. Maybe others have done it before so let' see if anyone has the answer for you.

 

[Sleep]

I would prefer to mix it as I just switched the tank from black gravel to black sand, so it’d be a waste. So I’ve found out that he really enjoys krill, but I have to break it into tiny pieces for him as they’re too big for him whole and he’d just end up spitting it out not served in pieces. Are there any foods you guys would recommend that are good for fh? Not sure how good to reptomin turtle pellets are for him but that’s what he mainly likes. I’m going to monster aquarium tomorrow to pick some stuff up and can get it there if possible.

 

[flowerhornfishman]

it has quite different pearls for it to be as a srd. might be a kamalau or sumthing. the dark coloration might be caused from the black substrate you're using or it might be just stressed. or he might be fading as well. try changing the black substrate first see what will happen.

 

[Sleep]

it has quite different pearls for it to be as a srd. might be a kamalau or sumthing. the dark coloration might be caused from the black substrate you're using or it might be just stressed. or he might be fading as well. try changing the black substrate first see what will happen.

I’ve only had him for less than two weeks, do you think that it can be stress? He eats very well too and sometimes attempts to overeat as well, though he just ends up spitting it out. How much time should I give him to settle in?