tinfoil barb losing colour- old age?

[12 Volt Man]

Hey everyone. One of my large red tinfoil barbs has been losing all its colour in the fins and head area for the last few weeks.

the fish is eating and swimming normally in his 65 gallon, and shows no other signs of sickness except colour loss.

water parameters are all normal (0.0 ammo, 0.0 nitrite, nitrates are 50 (but have been about 50 for the whole life of this fish lol). I do the usual 40% w/c once per week etc

this fish is 7 years old.

could this be an age related thing?

I have fish in my fishroom that are a lot older than 7, so I am skeptical, but I have read that 7 to 10 years is common for a lifespan on fish like this.

his partner (same size) shows no colour loss.

any ideas? I have been in the hobby for about 15 years now and have never seen anything like this that did not have accompanying symptoms like loss of appetite, swelling, etc etc.

here is a (not so great pic) of the big guy: it looks like a fungus in the pic, but is not. It looks literally like a loss of pigmentation..

any ideas would be appreciated!

 

[fishdance]

Shrimp is supposed to be good for enhancing red. Is the fish getting bullied by others? ie is it looking sad/scared or staying on its own?

They actually like a little salt in the water. Just make sure the other fish you keep dont mind salt and make sure its rock salt - not Iodised or table salt.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I have added salt.

the fish is eating like a pig and behaving normally. He has lived with the fish he is with now for the last 7 years (his whole life with me from a juvenile) so I don't think he is being bullied.

I have never seen anything like it, because other than the drastic loss of colour, he does not appear to show any other signs of being sick.

its really wierd.

 

[fishdance]

It is definitely eating well. Possibly thats your problem? After some fasting
I would feed much less and include some adult brine shrimp or whole shelled shrinp leaving shells on. Shrimp based foods also useful but not as good. I also throw in fresh plants (elodea) for mine but you might try lettuce.

Shrimp makes a big difference to red fish. Just ask any Red Aro keeper.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I do feed tetra colour bits and freeze dried Krill, which does help the red colour also.

its just weird that this is out of the blue all of a sudden.

I have never seen anything like it.

my guess is the fish is going to be like this for the next few years...

 

[fishdance]

Update? I guess tinfoils can lose colour with age. I like the glittery sides more than the red though.

 

[cichlaguapote]

How big is he? The lfs had a lone tin foil that was probably 10"+ and it still had all it's color. Super shiney and bright red. Don't know how old it was though.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Nice big Red hooks there.

 

[12 Volt Man]

He is 12 inches long total length and still eating and swimming normally.

but still faded..very strange..

he does not show any signs of sickness, just lack of colour.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Well as long as he is still happy.