I have 3 jewel cichilds. When I bought them they were a brigther red and now they have turned greenish. Is this due to normal development or do they need special food to keep the bright red color?
2007-03-23 05:47:17 · 9 answers · asked by Jolie L 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Good clean water, warm temperature and a variety of quality foods is an excellent way to make sure a fish displays it's best colors. It's not really a specific food so much as it is a good variety, though some swear that bring shrimp will increase the color. Personally I think it's just feeding well gets them in breeding condition and that's why the color increases, but...... you never know. There are also special flake foods sold as color enhancing flakes that are supposed to work especially well on red colors, you could give that a try.
It sounds like your fish may have been in breeding colors when you got them, they get really bright at that time. Males will also brighten up around other males to "show off" and establish dominance in a tank, which in a crowded store tank is very much a possiblity.
MM
2007-03-23 05:55:24 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are different varieties of Jewels, and not all of them are red.
By maintaining the jewels properly (right sized tank, right tankmates, good diet, clean environment) they will show their natural color for you.
If you buy food with carotene in it, like Tetra colour bits, it will produce a little more red in the fish, but that fact is the color of your fish is what it is. You'll also find their color is not steady - it will change according to stress levels and maturity, and at breeding time.
2007-03-23 05:56:25 · answer #2 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They need better water conditions,a consistent temperature and good quality foods. The stuff they sell as color enhancing food usually contains male hormones to brighten up the colors,but it's not the best thing for your fish.Look up the natural water conditions for the fish and provide that,they will brighten up naturally.
2007-03-23 06:25:11 · answer #3 · answered by PeeTee 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try adding rift lake salt and keeping warmer temps, it helps replicate their natural conditions. This will put them in mating mode and keep them more colorful but also much more aggressive. Most Cichlids will lose their bright coloration as they mature...its perfectly natural.
But you have to weight the risk of getting them all ramped up for mating just so you can see their colors...they may beat up and even kill other fish...or each other.
2007-03-23 06:14:14 · answer #4 · answered by Mr.Robot 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A high quality food suplimented with bloodworms,brine shrimp,or other frozen not freeze dryd fish food will help restor their colouration. sometimes a darker bottome helps too. Also if your tanks Ph and hardness levels are not just right they will fade out.
2007-03-23 08:52:33 · answer #5 · answered by Canadianbrainiac 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Better food (especially for cichlids - I like Hikari brand)
and
Better light! (change your aquarium light bulb- high end brand, high output will make the colors stand out!)
Better water quality, correct temperature, etc - all important...
2007-03-23 08:00:50 · answer #6 · answered by crazyotto65 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Feeding them frozen food such as brine shrimp and blood worms will enhance their colour
2007-03-23 05:51:59 · answer #7 · answered by allyalexmch 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is food that can help. I can't rember what it is, but I've seen it in pet stores that sell those fish.
2007-03-23 05:51:55 · answer #8 · answered by txharleygirl1 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
what kind of light you have. i have seen that just changing the light source to aquarium blue light bulbs works
2007-03-23 07:05:09 · answer #9 · answered by PenquinZ 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋