Rainbow wolf fish (ery ery) color development?

[fisheb]

I found two rainbow wolves at a LFS this weekend. One was very interactive and healthy looking but had almost no coloration (nearly all gray with just the very slightest hint of some yellow). He was about around 6" and somewhat thick. The other was only 3" with great red coloration but looked thin and didn't move at all the entire time I was at the store. They both were housed by themselves with no other tankmates.

Even though the smaller one had good color, I ruled him out because I don't want risk an unhealthy expensive fish. The other one intrigues me though because s/he seemed to have great personality. Any hopes in getting colored up if I buy it or do some always remain drab gray? In your experience, will rainbows color up as they mature or should they already be showing color by this size?

Unfortunately, I don't have any pics because my phone was dead at the time.

thanks in advance

 

[kno4te]

Should always get the more active fish in general. Sometimes the less active fish in a lfs is sick.

Plus both will probably color up if weren't stressed. Also the water quality maybe an issue.

Rainbows will color up as it gets bigger. Mixing up the food will help. Krill and cichlid pellets mixed seems to do well.

I'd get both but QT and keep separated but that's just me.

 

[fisheb]

thanks for your helpful answer, kno4te. Does anyone else have any experience with rainbow wolves gaining more color?

 

[ExoticGREEN]

Well for Wolves. The most aren't active. Pretty much just look at the finnage and condition of the fish. I mean should be able to tell if it's sick or not. My first purple or rainbow was gAngster. Very active. As for color didn't change much

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

The grey one more likely will stay grey for the rest of it life, if you feed quality food and provide good water the fin might look better in color but pretty muck look the same, I would choose the small one but look great in color because the color will look better when it's grow older, the 6 inches one pretty won't change anything in coloration.