Why is my GT's color pale?

[littlewangzfan]

...compared to other GTs that have really nice coloration. 5 1/2" had him for 5 months. He's healthy and eats like a pig. No aggression in the tank (120 growout), with 3.5" SDs, 3" dats, 6" bichirs, 6" silver aro, 4" hi fin loach. Water quality always good. Just curious. Oh yeah not sure if its a he or a she.

 

[cacichlids]

It's a male and if there's no aggression, water quality is good and he eats well... I have no idea. Maybe internal parasites? Has he gained weight in the 5 months you've had him or he's the same size?

How many of each of those fish you have?

 

[cacichlids]

Or maybe it's a healthy female. they're not as colorful as males so it would be normal. but it looks male to me. wait for other answers.

also can you post another picture?

 

[brich999]

Im pretty sure it's a male judging by the finnage, what's the diet consist of? Not stressed out im guessing, and if your water is good, its either genes or diet

 

[littlewangzfan]

It's a male and if there's no aggression, water quality is good and he eats well... I have no idea. Maybe internal parasites? Has he gained weight in the 5 months you've had him or he's the same size?

How many of each of those fish you have?

Thanks 4 d reply. He was 3" when I got him last Dec. I think his growth rate is normal. Here's the tankmates headcount:

6 SDs
2 ornates
2 polys
1 silver aro
1 hi fin loach
2 dats

 

[littlewangzfan]

Im pretty sure it's a male judging by the finnage, what's the diet consist of? Not stressed out im guessing, and if your water is good, its either genes or diet

Varied diet: Hikari bio-gold, frozen bloodworms, aro sticks, sinking carnivore pellets, frozen tilapia fillet, frozen uncooked shrimp. And he eats everything! He's the biggest one in the tank but doesn't bully the others.

 

[cali~budfish]

some fish just have better coloration. it depends on the parents. my green terror doesn't have very bright coloration either. some have bright neon orange on their fins that's so bright you'd think you could see it when the tank is completely dark. you still have a very nice looking fish!

 

[balton777]

Genetics?

 

[Sarah88]

try adding some veggies to his diet, i always had problems with GTs when i didn't give them a mostly veggie diet

 

[cacichlids]

Yep sounds like genetics if he's growing normally. It could also be the fact that there's no other cichlids in the tank, I would try adding another smaller GT of either sex and see what happens... nothing to lose either way.