Why do dat's change color?

[DOTARUINEDMYLIFE]

1. Why do dats change color?

2. Does their color/bars have anything to do with their mood? Such as, when they're stressed their bars fade, or would they fade even when they're happy?

3. My three 4" dats are always chasing each other around the tank and nothing serious. But is this normal behavior or is something to worry about?

4. Half the time, my dats lay to their side at a 45 degree angle. Later on they swim around like normal and all. Question is, Is this normal?

 

[Pulcher]

1. They will change thier color for any of the following reasons- stress, Color of your background/gravel, water quality, or tank mates.

2.Bars do display their mood. But some dats will never become stable as its just in their genetics. What YOU can do to try to bring out good color is keep extremely good water quality, make sure hes always fat and happy, make sure he has hiding places if he is small enough, and basically create the perfect enviroment.

3. How many dats are in your tank? usally there is a pecking order and if one of them gets out of line they will put them back in their place. I wouldent worry about the aggression as long as scales arent flying or tails are ripping.

4. my 7" NGT always lays down on his side. on either the gravel or the side of the tank. Hes done this for about 8 months now. I think its normal unless you have bad water quality, he is stressed out, or theres not enough hiding spots.

 

[TCZeli]

deff check your water quality,
every fish is different so its very possible that yours and pulchers may lay on its side and be perfectly fine, but I do not think it is normal behavior. (not for mine atleast)