Schroederi Flower ray color questions...

[michael]

I have owned a few and currently have one that I grew from like 6" to 10" or so now. Question is sometimes you see a flower that has a black background and bright floral designs over it and othertimes they are more pale. Size doesnt always seem to matter..cause I recently saw one at 6" that had a jet black background... I will say I have seen more black based ones as adults... Mine is a bit pale but its weird cause while I am doing a water change it darkens up... Is it location of collection? Diet? They just need time?

 

[turkeyboy85]

im not an expert on them but it seems to be like marble motoros, as they grow and get acumulated into thier tank they start to change. I have always loved flowers but already have to many rays lol

 

[nickdog98]

I think many factors can influence the pattern change in rays but with true flowers some seem to turn black and some stay a lighter pattern or pale as you said Michael. My exporter has them listed seperately on his list as Flowers and Black Flowers and like you said you can see the difference even in 6" pups. I personally think leos and true flowers turn darker when kept on dark or black substrate or background.. just my opinion

 

[royalray]

i also keep some flower, and i notice there is 2 different strain on Colombian flower ray. one is bigger stripe in a circle pattern and the pattern color is more orange yellow, this type is not so black on base color. The other type is smaller pattern that are more towards smaller spotted pattern forming in circle arrangement pattern, and the pattern color is more to light yellow color with more black base color. this 2 type can be from different river system.

for marbled is the same, i notice from the collection, can easily group them to 3 differetn strain.

anyway, i think both type of this flower ray is very nice ray.

 

[dodgers86]

Imo its all in whatever backround they're in. Heres some pics of my male in a rubbermaid pond about 3 months ago and the other is of him in a tank about 2 weeks ago so I don't think age has much to do with it. I also have a small 5" female who is currently in the tank with him and she is mostly pale right now I'll try and switch her to the pond and see if her coloration changes.

 

[michael]

yeah maybe it is the substrate but I had a 18" flower in a barebottom tank that was jet black and the one I have now is in a barebottom tank and look similar to your smaller one but a little darker

 

[tank125]

I have found that it has to do with mood as well. My lone female 16-18" is on black sand, but pale unless stressed from water change. Another female, on black sand, was pale, very pale, all the time, till I added to smaller flowers, now she is black all of the time. There is a marble mot in there to, that was with her for a couple of months. The mot had no effect on her pattern, but since the day I added the two other flowers she darkened right up.

 

[Kolossus]

Can/Do rays react similar to other types of fish in that their coloration changes and/or may adapt based on their tankmates, environment (i.e. driftwood, plants, substrate, etc) and/or mood similar to what tank125 and Dodgers86 was saying?

 

[skynoch]

Sure, water changes will darken my tigers and also feeding worms to them will also darken them.

 

[SovietFireExtinguisher]

Hi, my first post. I thought that this would be as good a place as any to start. Don't you guys think that the darkening is a sign of dominance/aggression? Like Clown Loaches. Anyone that has kept them has probably noticed that the Alpha Loach is always darker. Dats do this too. It's really noticeable in IT's that aren't always stable in their color. Heck I even had a Fahaka that did the same. Feeling secure will also affect shade in their chromatafors.(I think that's what those cells are called) Susbstrate and tankmates/environment will affect this. Just my two bits.