Red Texas question and advice.

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eyespot

Piranha
MFK Member
Mar 17, 2007
195
104
76
Williamstown, MA
A few days ago I bought a stunning Red Texas online. When I got her she was extremely faded and stressed from the trip (understandable). My concern is it’s been three days and her colors have improved from pale yellowish pink to warmer reds and oranges but she’s nowhere near back to the colors of the fish I bought online. She’s the smallest in the tank and lowest in the pecking order with a male nic and what I suspect is a blue Escondido female (could be male). There are also roseline barbs and a large male rivulatus Aequidens without a functioning swim bladder so even though he’s technically the tank boss he sits in a log all day waiting for mealtime. There is some chasing but no real damage and she has a healthy appetite. The temp is 78-80 and the ph hovers around neutral. Ammonia and nitrates are good and the other fish are vibrant and healthy.Should I be considered about the extreme color change? I have no reason to believe there was foul play by the vendor (switching fish) as she appears to be the same shape and form as the fish in the screen shot (About 4 inches). I’ve never bought a high grade Red Texas before so I’m just looking for advice and opinions from experienced keepers. Thanks!

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Could just be the angle of your photo, but honestly doesn't look like the same fish to me.

Possibly/probably a lot to do with her tank situation now, she would have been housed solo previously and now she has tank mates that are above her in the hierarchy. Different water, different tank, different decor (probably had none before), different food...
 
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Could just be the angle of your photo, but honestly doesn't look like the same fish to me.

Possibly/probably a lot to do with her tank situation now, she would have been housed solo previously and now she has tank mates that are above her in the hierarchy. Different water, different tank, different decor (probably had none before), different food...
It has been a lot of change for her to be sure and it’s a big adjustment. My fish seems to have more marbling but I don’t know if that’s an illusion from the dramatic reduction in bright red. When I bought her the manager called and said she was his personal fish, that he was sorry he had to sell her (didn’t mention why) and that she had lived in a community setting before and I had to watch her around smaller tank mates. He even called the day I got her to see if she got there healthy and ask how she was adjusting. That’s really all I know
 
The fish in the first picture appears to have more of a slope in her head as well but I think that has more to do with the pic angle as it’s not as pronounced irl.
 
Its all about lightning, they do this especially with red texas and flowerhorn. Essentially enhance redness on first pic, and feeding food contain colors enhancer as well.
Thanks. What kind of lighting do you suggest? I have a basic LED strip on the tank now. I don’t feed food with color enhancers but I do include a krill pellet as a stable in her diet.
 
Thanks. What kind of lighting do you suggest? I have a basic LED strip on the tank now. I don’t feed food with color enhancers but I do include a krill pellet as a stable in her diet.
This video will give u a better perspective. Light used was Mayin red, in Asia its made for red arowana and so forth.
 
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Can you take pix of its other side as eyeball patterning does not match
 
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Your fish has a different head profile and is missing the black spot on the dorsal. Maybe that comes and goes? Not sure but that fish looks different from the pic
 
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