Unstable Dats: What risks?

[longv]

my friend had a tank full of dats that all died one by one except for the one that was completely unstable. i have it now and its still unstable.

 

[studd muffin]

as far as i know the color stability is more of mood judgement in mine.....more of a sense of security than health. I believe an unstable dat will live just as long as a stable one.

+1

 

[Chefken]

Think about this for second. People are way more complex than any fish....yes even a Dat. Do miserable people die young?....I know some cranky seniors!! It seems like the association people seem to have with the word STABLE is the problem here.....The color changing abilty of my 10 inch Dat is one its coolest atributes....like an octopus....I wish he would strut his/her stuff more often but as long as its begging for food like a puppy dog and acting all cool I am good.

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

i feel like it does affect their mental health , an unstable dat is unhappy (even though it might be active and eating) ... and if anything living thing is unhappy for a long time, i can't see how thats good for their physical health cuz i would guess hormone levels would be different in a happy animal compared to a depressed one. i dont know, and i admit that i dont have scientifical support for all this, but just logically thinking, unhappy = bad health . eitherway, try and stablize a dat as much as you can .

how do you figure that a black or dark dat is unhappy? The word stable when used for dats is grossly misunderstood.

 

[Chefken]

Exactly....I would say that as an ambush predator the dark colors meaning is obvious!

 

[EvilKid]

optimum coloration display in your aquarium may not be the best for the fish, who is to say that the dark ones are unhealthy and the lighter ones with more prominent bars are healthy. the word "stable" is thrown around as a color reference but alot is still unknown about dats we haven't even found a way to tank breed them yet so obviously optimum tank conditions are not being meet. all im saying is a healthy happy fish would naturally breed with a mate and since their has not been success in that aspect we are still lacking in knowledge over these fish.

 

[ettfettbranamn]

we are retarded! yes ofcourse a bright yellow fish with contrasting solid black bars are more pleasing to the eye but just because an octopus posess the ability to turn neon pink/green doesn't necessarily mean it's the optimal camo.. they can change their color for a reason, if you really wan't them black on yellow try (seriously, would love for this experiment to happen) a yellow tank, bottom, walls, everything with black fake plants in them..

 

[pupumole]

well... animals develop these characteristics to help them survive. so its either for camouflage or display to attract mate. since it doesn't seem to be trying to camouflage with its bright golden and black stripes , i believe it is to attract mate. perhaps like some of you said,its about mood. or more like confidence in finding a mate. as in, a stable dat thinks he/she will find a mate. whereas an unstable one , perhaps he might be perfectly healthy physically, but deep down, his/her heart is hurting without love of a mate ._. dunno ^^;; thats my opinion, i'm not in animal psychology xD

 

[ettfettbranamn]

hahaha!! well, could be that..

 

[Chefken]

well... animals develop these characteristics to help them survive. so its either for camouflage or display to attract mate. since it doesn't seem to be trying to camouflage with its bright golden and black stripes , i believe it is to attract mate. perhaps like some of you said,its about mood. or more like confidence in finding a mate. as in, a stable dat thinks he/she will find a mate. whereas an unstable one , perhaps he might be perfectly healthy physically, but deep down, his/her heart is hurting without love of a mate ._. dunno ^^;; thats my opinion, i'm not in animal psychology xD

My dat is tring to blend either to ambush or defend....no potential mates here...yet. i bet another Dat would change his coloraton instantly!