Why is my motoro changing colors?

[keepinfish]

I have a female Peru motoro 6.5" and a male Columbian motoro 6".

When I first got my columbian and i posted pictures everybody said "blue motoro" see picture. Well after a couple of months he has changed a lot darker...see picture.

I have noticed that his color changes back to the bluish color sometimes and sometimes back to dark? What do you think is causing this? He eats great. Water parameters are great.
7.8 ph
0 nitrite
0 ammonia
60 nitrate

temp 82

I have also notices that when i feed that the male bites and chases the female. I do not see any bites on her but just concerns me. So if anything i do not see why he is stressed out.....i could see why she might be stressed but she is eating great too.

 

[stingrayguy]

was that bottom pic taken right after the lights were turned on? cause I have a female motoro that does the same thing.. sometimes she will stay like that for a few hours... ill get some pics up.

Brad

 

[keepinfish]

Well today he was dark when i turned on the lights and lighter after the lights have been on for a while.

 

[davo]

the blue doesn't last for ever anyhow.

 

[keepinfish]

Yea but it comes and goes

 

[csx4236]

It will go forever soon, have two so called blue motoro for over six months and they will lose all the blue after awhile.

 

[mshuangchao]

I think the ''blue'' comes from their natural food source. Without it, the blue will go.

 

[Nic]

wonder what it is in the wild that keeps the blue on them.... looks nicer in the dark colors imo....

 

[Miles]

Blue Motoros are a farse.


The blue around the rim of the disc only comes forth when the ray is skinny and stresed.

Ever seen a skinny ray to the point where you can see the veins in it's disc? This is the only time I've ever seen the blue come out on the Motoro..

Notice you only see blue motoros when they are juvenile? Ever seen an 18" Blue Motoro? No. Because 18" Motoros are fat and healthy.. Freshly imported skinny motoros have thin discs.

You only see the blue when the disc is almost transparently thin..

It comes and goes depending on stress and mood.. when the Ray is stressed, its color fades, and the blue comes through.. Substrate color and surroundng can also have an effect on it too.. Lighter substrate and background will lighten up the ray and show more blue..

Every blue motoro that has ever been grown out loses it's blue color once it starts putting on weight..

Blue Motoros are just a good way for Importers to increase the price on sickly juvie rays.

 

[mshuangchao]

Blue Motoros are a farse.


The blue around the rim of the disc only comes forth when the ray is skinny and stresed.

Ever seen a skinny ray to the point where you can see the veins in it's disc? This is the only time I've ever seen the blue come out on the Motoro..

Notice you only see blue motoros when they are juvenile? Ever seen an 18" Blue Motoro? No. Because 18" Motoros are fat and healthy.. Freshly imported skinny motoros have thin discs.

You only see the blue when the disc is almost transparently thin..

It comes and goes depending on stress and mood.. when the Ray is stressed, its color fades, and the blue comes through.. Substrate color and surroundng can also have an effect on it too.. Lighter substrate and background will lighten up the ray and show more blue..

Every blue motoro that has ever been grown out loses it's blue color once it starts putting on weight..

Blue Motoros are just a good way for Importers to increase the price on sickly juvie rays.

Makes sense, my idea is only a guess. It seems like Miles has alot of experience in rays!