Ornate Bichir Fading colors HELP

[Wahoo]

Hi,

I have an ornate bichir and its color is continiously fading I need some advising on how he could turn his dark coloration back. when he is a 4-5"inches his color is very dark(pitch black), then when he turned into 6-7"inches he's color fades(light brown). Please help. thanks in advance.

 

[King-eL]

What's you substrates color? Please post pic if you can.

Try black, tan, red, orange or brown substrates and don't use white substrates.

 

[awsomebichir]

 

[Wahoo]

What's you substrates color? Please post pic if you can.

Try black, tan, red, orange or brown substrates and don't use white substrates.

How can a colored substrate affects the coloration of a fish?
I will try to capture a picture of my ornate.
I dont have any substrate eversince. but i could put a black colored paper in the bottom(in between the styro and aquarium) instead.

 

[King-eL]

How can a colored substrate affects the coloration of a fish?
I will try to capture a picture of my ornate.
I dont have any substrate eversince. but i could put a black colored paper in the bottom(in between the styro and aquarium) instead.

Bichirs are nocturnal bottom dwelling fish and as defense, they like to blend on there environment. The color of the substrates affects the coloration a lot. With light substrates they tend to bleach out and with darker substrates they tend to darken up more.

 

[David R]

My ornate has lightened considerably since I siphoned out all the dark grey sand and left the bottom bare (white) and so have all the other fish. I'll replace it with something soon.

 

[Ornate Bichir]

My ornate bichir manage to maintain its colors since I bought it although it loses color occasionally when it freaked out. Usually, it returns to it's normal colors the next morning for mine. Try not to scare it and use a dark-based tank to maintain its colors.

 

[Wahoo]

Thanks guys for the inputs!

 

[peewee]

yeah, i agree that substrate affects bichir color.

 

[chesterthehero]

theres a 99.999% chance its due to the substrate.. my ornate is light tan/super faded most of the time (light tan colored sand).. but when he sits on the driftwood he darkens up like a "normal" ornate..