Color change in my cichlid?

Question

i purchased two orange colored cichlids 6 months ago with in the last week one of them has lost there color... i am wonder whats wrong with him/her or if this is normal

the fish are kept in a 55 gallon tank i do 20% water changes once a week, by weekly gravel cleaning. the tank has air bulbes and live amazon swords for airieation, tank mates include 2 danios, 4 painted parrots,1 angel, and two plecos

I have a 30-60 gallon whisper power filter on the tank the fish that lost its color was from an assorted tank the painted parrots are fine, although i know eventually they will lose some coloration. The fish doesn't seem to be the recipeant of attacks or agression there are alot of hiding spots for the fish in an attempt to prevent over aggression.

Answer 1

The most likely reason for one of your new cichlids to lose color is that both are males and this one turned out to be the sub-dominant one.

Many times the sub-dominant males in a tank will take on the colors of the females or fade drastically so the dominant male does not see them as a potential rival. Males "color up" as they reach sexual maturity in an attempt to attract females and to assert dominance in a specific area.

The color you saw when you purchased them was most likely induced by adding hormones to the water they were raised in. This is done by breeders to bring out their color early so they will sell better. As the hormones faded, the actual dominance took over and the result is two males, one dominant and one sub-dominant.

Answer 2

Cichlid Colors

Answer 3

First question I have for you, is there a filter on that tank? You mention air bubbles, and everything else, but not a filter. Have to ask :) If there's no filter, there really needs to be one on there.

Next, was it the parrot fish that changed colors? You called them painted parrots. Generally, any fish sold as painted, bubble gum, candy, colored, rainbow, etc. is a dyed fish. They use several methods for it, but usually the fish is either injected under the skin with dye, or they dip the fish in acid to remove their slime coat, then stick them in a container of dye to dye their skin. The dye wears off, usually within a few months. It's also very stressful for the fish, most dye a lot earlier then they should, and they usually end up stunted from the process. Best bet is to avoid buying dyed fish, and really any shop that sells them.

Parrot fish when juvenilles are kind of a mottled grey color. Then, they either turn an orangey color, or they could turn a yellow color. Either way, their end adult color is orange. I have 2 that were yellow for awhile, were gorgeous too! But, they changed to the orangey color.

EDIT: I just reread your question, and they were orange when you bought them. Sometimes the fish people will dye the fish orange as well, to make them look more "appealing" I guess. So, yours could be juvenilles still, and they dyed them orange to sell them quicker, or they could be what's called a jellybean parrot. They're a cross between a male convict and a female blood parrot. They usually are more of a pinkish to white color. Try doing a search online for photos of a blood parrot and a jellybean parrot and compare the body shapes to see which kind you bought.

Also, check your water quality, ammonia and nitrites should be 0 ppm, and nitrates under 20 ppm. If those are off, it could also stress a fish enough to make their colors fade.

Answer 4

Cichlids do undergo color changes and it is a normal part of their physiology. However in a healthy fish a color change from drab to more brilliant is what one expects at the instance of sexual maturity for instance.

If your cichlid is losing color and starting to look pale it could be that it is developing some sort of health problems, which may or may not be related to water conditions as well as being on the receiving end of aggresion from its tankmate(s).

Answer 5

Was it the parrots that lost their color? I think you stated the answer within your question!

If these are the parrots sold in my area as "Jelly Bean" parrots (they come in an assortment of colors), the fish are dyed (or as you say "painted") and they will lose that color in about a year's time. Apparently, one may have been dyed a bit longer than the other.

Answer 6

can also be the color of your gravel, if your gravel is light or white it will bleach out the color of your fish, taken from site:
Light Gravels. Many fishes (especially cichlids) bleach out over light-colored gravels. Black fishes, gouramis, and livebearers look fine over light colors.

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Decor%20Gravel.htm

Answer 7

If you want them to keep their colors you should feed them food that has a beta-carotene, a color enhancer in it. TetraCichlid's brand has it. You could also add trace minerals, such as Kent's Cichlid Essentials.

Answer 8

wel that is the cool thing about cichlid when they get old they change there color