Change Colour

[Squidward]

Hi All,

I have a 240L with a black substrate.

On the weekend, I added another 2 sterbei to my group of 4. Thought they would be happy in a bigger group.

Anyhow when I was floating the bag before release, I noticed that the 2 new ones were much paler than the ones already in the tank. The existing group are really quite dark. I put the pale ones down to being frightened.

Over the past few days, the new comers have gotten progressively darker, and now I can't tell which the originals are and which the new ones are.

Is it possible that they have all gone darker to match the substrate they were on? I know the new ones were obviously frightened by being caught etc, but the sand in their tank was light too?

Thanks
Squdward

 

[lilfishie]

this is something i have been thinking too, 1 of my Agassizi cory tends to sit under the wood most the day while the other 3 are happily out and about, when all 4 are out together the 1 that sits under the wood is quite abit darker and his spots are alot more noticeable (bigger/darker)

so will be interesting to see what is said

 

[the biffster]

well i do know they go pale with
been frightened and with been moved
but i don't know about them changing
colour to go with there substrate
i suppose it is possible

 

[Carlovel1]

My old bronze corys were a deep bronze colour, then one day, I added some more from another LFS which were almost black in colour but to this day, I've not experianced a colour change from them

 

[Jimfish]

My uneducated guess would say: It's the substrate!

I've had my little peppered cory for about a year now, and over that time he's been in three different tanks. When he was in my little one with black gravel, he was a very dark shimmery turquoisey color with his spots just barely showing. Now he's in a 6 gallon with white sand, and he's turned a comparatively pale grey, with his black spots much more prominent!

And before anyone goes suspect, my params are just fine; the tank's been up for 6 months and he's not stressed. Must be the lighter substrate?

'course, the other option would be that your two sterbai were stressed from being caught/brought home, so maybe they darkened up once they felt at home with your group of sterbai in your tank. : ) But I'd still guess substrate has something to do with it.

 

[Squidward]

My uneducated guess would say: It's the substrate!

I've had my little peppered cory for about a year now, and over that time he's been in three different tanks. When he was in my little one with black gravel, he was a very dark shimmery turquoisey color with his spots just barely showing. Now he's in a 6 gallon with white sand, and he's turned a comparatively pale grey, with his black spots much more prominent!

And before anyone goes suspect, my params are just fine; the tank's been up for 6 months and he's not stressed. Must be the lighter substrate?

'course, the other option would be that your two sterbai were stressed from being caught/brought home, so maybe they darkened up once they felt at home with your group of sterbai in your tank. : ) But I'd still guess substrate has something to do with it.

I also think it must be the substrate.
They are so dark now, I can barely see the spots.

Anyhow, they seem happy enough.

 

[mbsqw1d]

they would be pale from being stressed and return to their fill colour when they are happy. although not corys, my colombian tetra go very pale when stressed (doing a water change for eg) and return to their colour after 20 mins or so. black substrate is known for enhancing the colour of fish although i believe it to be more perception than amything. place anything on a black background and the colour will stand out much more than any it would on another colour.

the metallic sheen/shimmer you tend to see is a sign that the fish is in good health and happy!