Color Changing

[PureAddict]

I've got 16 albino royal ruby reds from Kenny (RIP) in my display tank for about 3 weeks now - they seem happy, very active, and eating well. Been trying various foods, but so far they only go for blood worms and tetra color gran. No stressors in the tank, just coreys and BN plekos. My concern is that about 5 of them have lost some color - their bodies are more creamy orange/red instead of that bright red. Trouble uploading a video to show you, but any thoughts and advice would be great.

[abbeytone]

I'd love to hear from the breeders themselves on this one. I've always suspected that some might be using hormones or food pigments to enhance the colors of their fish.

My experience with RRRs has been similar - the color didn't exactly fade, but the area of intense red definitely decreased by about 25% over a year.

[FairyFish]

Re: Color Changing
I recall the old days, when folks used to talk about the 7 color Discus back in the 70's.

[sonyx]

Re: Color Changing
Bought my first discus in Hong Kong back in the 70's - had both 5 and 7 colours. That '7 colour discus' saying, wasn't just a myth, trust me.

[FairyFish]

Re: Color Changing

Francis, 50 years of Discus experience, that's impressive. Speaking Cantonese must've helped with those Hong Kong deals.

[lunar]

Re: Color Changing
I'm thinking they're probably fed something to enhance the red color. My red tigers, when I first got them and now, about 8 months later, show a difference. I've got a 2-year-old red cover from the US that's kept its color.

[coralCartel]

Re: Color Changing

I've come across this topic before, but never really gave it much thought. I'm not surprised, though - it's not like I've been in the hobby for a long time, and I don't have much experience with Discus. Still, it's something to consider and think about.

[knight]

Re: Color Changing

Not to answer the question directly, but it's worth noting that some fish undergo color changes as they mature. For example, flamingo chicks are born white and turn pink due to their diet. Similarly, salmon get their red color from the food they eat. We can even influence the color of our fish by feeding them specific foods.

Breeders face a challenge in this regard, as the fish they sell are often young and still developing. It's interesting to learn about the various methods used to alter the color and appearance of tropical fish. However, it's concerning to note that these methods can be stressful for the fish and make them more susceptible to disease.

The process of coloring fish can be particularly harsh on young, immature fish, which can lead to stunted growth or even death. In fact, some methods have mortality rates as high as 80 percent. Even the survivors may have shorter lifespans, and many will lose their coloration within a few months. I came across an article that sheds more light on this topic: https://www.thesprucepets.com/artifi...m-fish-1378343

[FairyFish]

Re: Color Changing

I've found that altering the color of Discus is indeed possible through diet. For instance, feeding them Macrobrachium shrimp eggs can cause a shift from brown to orange hues. Furthermore, adding methyl testosterone to their food can intensify and brighten their colors even more.

Cliff

[knight]

Re: Color Changing

Thanks for the tip Cliff, I'd love to try feeding Macrobrachium shrimp eggs to my Discus. Do you know where I can find those eggs? I'm curious to see if it'll enhance their colors.