Phenex one week in

[Sinister-Kisses]

Little man is doing well! Been here just over a week now. His nuchal hump has filled back out (was quite "deflated" when he arrived after his worldwide travels). Today the new full spectrum, fully adjustable LED light I ordered to test out came in and I'm quite happy with it. He looked great under the white LED I had on the tank but I've been able to adjust this new one to still look very natural while being a warmer light that brings out his red more - but still can be dimmed to a low light level that I and the fish prefer, not the crazy bright light you often see on tanks. Actually thinking about buying larger versions of the same light for my 8ft and 6ft tanks too - the orange of my goldies and Tolken, my creamsicle midas, would benefit from it too.

https://flic.kr/p/2qRSvsH

 

[Sinister-Kisses]

Phenex got an upgrade! Little dude has about doubled in size since he arrived from Thailand in March. Still had lots of room in his 40 breeder he'd been in, but was going to need an upgrade eventually and I'm of the opinion that sooner is better than later. He's in a 75gal now (for now) and he moved next door to Tolken. Took the opportunity to change from the natural coloured substrate to the charcoal gray pebbles to darken his colouring up a bit...he's lost some of the colour he had when he first got here. Not sure I like it as much because he's small and a little harder to see now. But when he's full grown I'm sure it'll be better. He handled the move like a champ, was out being sociable within minutes of being added and is a super friendly little guy.

https://flic.kr/p/2rcGJdf

 

[loveno1]

The new 75G looks great. I'm sure your flowerhorn is enjoying the bigger space to swim around.
But wow, I'm surprised at how much he has changed since you got him in March. His color has darkened a lot more, and his hump doesn't seem as prominent as it used to. I'm just curious, but how long has he looked this way? Did his color change happen recently after you switched to a new substrate?

 

[Sinister-Kisses]

He washed out to almost colourless in the red department about a month after he got here, and his nuchal hump totally disappeared. I was concerned at first, but he's extremely active and friendly, eats like a little horse, and is totally healthy so I figured he was just adjusting to his new conditions and water, etc. I also refuse to "groom" him the way people seem so steadfast about doing with flowerhorns - I'm not going to pump him full of anything to make his colour super red or his nuchal hump stupidly large - I'm going to keep him the way I'd keep fish normally; excellent care, conditions and food and let him mature as he will.

His red had started to deepen again just before the tank move, which is why I decided to try the dark gray pebbles instead of the lighter natural/neutral ones...figured it might help with his colour a bit without pumping him full of hormones/steroids to do so. Plus, I just naturally prefer dark substrate, always have - as you can see in Tolken's tank next door, the black gravel; and the goldfish tank over to the right side that isn't in the photo has the same dark gray pebbles as Phenex now has.

 

[loveno1]

I see. I was just curious about what might be causing his color change. From what I know, Flowerhorns often change color to adapt to their environment, which makes sense considering their cichlid lineage. I've also seen reports from others who noted that their fish darkened in color after they introduced a new substrate. I was just wondering if your fish had a similar experience after being moved to a new tank with different substrate, but it seems like that was not the case.

With that setup, I have no doubt he's being well cared for. I'm sure he will grow up nicely in the upcoming months.