Trimac owners, light or dark substrate?

[DMD123]

My Trimac is currently on a dark substrate and this is what he looks like.

This is his substrate

As you guys can see he is always a dark olive green. I dont mind it but I wonder if the dark substrate stresses him out? I have been dealing with a small spot of lymphocystis on his tail and he has been a bit skittish. I know the issue is viral and can go away if fish is not stressed. So could his dark environment be stressing him out? Would he be better on a lighter substrate? Thoughts?

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

Important question from me is how long have you had him, or more importantly how long has he been in his current tank.
Some fish can take months to show there true colours after purchasing or even after a move.

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

The white mark on his tail looks like a slight injury to the boney Ray. Nothing to worry about. Doesn't look like lymphocystis which also has nothing to worry about. Stress free environment and time will sort both, and improve colours.

 

[DMD123]

That spot in the picture was a bubble pushed down by the filter. His spot is on the other side.

 

[DMD123]

He was in a 75 for at least 6 months now. Just upgraded him to a 90 about a month ago. He relaxed a lot with the new taller tank. Trimac tank on upper left rack.

 

[duanes]

This is a pair I had, the back of the tank was (obviously) blackened out, the substrate was natural color pool filter sand.
Below, the female with eggs, in spawning color, but more importantly, you can see the substrate in the back ground.

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

I've always kept my Trimacs past and present with a black background and natural coloured pea gravel.
Last pic is a example of lymphocystis on one of my Carpintis. Hope it's helpful to you.

 

[DMD123]

Thanks for the replies duanes and Andy woods cichlids uk

My trimac is fine with its little lymphocystis tail spot which will flare up and then go back down. I had considered changing out substrate if that was the stress factor but thinking thats probably not it. The fish hates not seeing me. I have to turn the light on when I enter the garage so it can see whats going on. Its not a very interactive fish with me compared to my other amphs but it watches whats going on intensely. Its just tough seeing what was a show fish get a blemish like it did and knowing stress is a contributing factor. Just trying to wotk out possible ideas.

 

[cich78]

..... I hope your fish stays healthy and has no flare ups I understand about it being bothersome having a fish with things That can be considered flaws I'm that way too ... Of course it seems to work that way with the favorites........

Never the less here's an observation to add to the discussion of Trimac color.... I ended up doing what I consider it an unintentional scientific experiment.....

I have 2 females Purchased at the same time from the same vender and they are the same variant location each one in separate tanks but all conditions of the tanks are the same... the background the filtration the heater the lighting the inside decor.... Except the color of the gravel.... Check out the difference in color between the 2........

 

[DMD123]

Thanks cich78 , appreciate the pics. Hard to say if I like the fish on the light or dark... Looks good in both pics, lol.
Its not like I dont like mine on the dark was just curious if it stressed him out.