Blue Gourami's Losing Colour

[dvdlard]

I have two blue Gourami's and over the last week or so they seem to be losing their dark blue colour and going very pale. It seems to be starting from the head and going back across the body. They look rather odd now as the front half is light and the back half is dark.

Is this normal behavoir or is something else causing it, poor water condition for example.

 

[tstenback]

How long have you had the fish? Do the fish seem stressed at all? Normally the fading is caused by stress if some kind (water conditions, aggressive fish etc.) but i had one male that faded slowly from head to tail like yours after i had him for a few months. Not the best when you get the fish for the nice deep blue color and then it goes pale. Good luck

 

[dvdlard]

I've had them for quite a while and to be honest the Blue Gourami's are the most aggressive fish in the tank. I'll check all the water conditions on the weekend and see if I can post a picture of the fish.

 

[jams.alaskan]

Yeah, I'd look for stress first. Mine seem to brighten and color up when I offer some live worm in their diet.

ALASKA

 

[Dragonscales]

Could be their diet, try varying it with some live foods or frozen bloodworms.