PICTUS CATFISH CHANGED COLOR PLEASE HELP
- Thread starter Joepardo13
- Start date
It is stressed out or ill. Observe your aquarium and see if it is being harrassed by any other tankmates.
Agree, it looks stressed or ill. Is it behaving normally? Is it still eating?
Most fish will attempt (unconsciously, and instinctively of course) to mimic the color of their substrate.
It is doing quite a good job of it too, given its surroundings.
It is doing quite a good job of it too, given its surroundings.
you dont think its ill? or anything? and do they mimic the color of the substrate often??
I don't think its ill, I believe its just trying to mimic the new substrate.
Although most fish aren't like chameleons, many will try to blend in, by either washing out with light colored substrate, or darkening up with darker substrate (it might help bring back colors, if you provide some dark objects like wood or rock).
Here is an example
first a male haitiensus in normal color
Below, after a spawning, I removed him to a new tank with light substrate and little dark decor.
Although most fish aren't like chameleons, many will try to blend in, by either washing out with light colored substrate, or darkening up with darker substrate (it might help bring back colors, if you provide some dark objects like wood or rock).
Here is an example
first a male haitiensus in normal color
Below, after a spawning, I removed him to a new tank with light substrate and little dark decor.
I was going to say that I find both the stress and the substrate color feasible hypotheses but per your sister thread regarding an IDS with the same manifestation, it sounds like Duane's is correct because you say the IDS feeds and behaves normally. Otherwise, I'd start out by testing the water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, temp, and hardness.
BTW, adapting to the unnatural environment color is also a kind of stress response. Long term, it can take its toll in the fish health, just like any form of a long-term low-stress situation, which eventually leads to illnesses and/or premature death.
BTW, adapting to the unnatural environment color is also a kind of stress response. Long term, it can take its toll in the fish health, just like any form of a long-term low-stress situation, which eventually leads to illnesses and/or premature death.