Cichlids Color

[Wildfire]

Is it normal that the fish lose color if they are not fed for a couple of days? I left for the weekend and noticed when I got back home my fish had lost alot of their color?! All of my fish are African Cichlids. However I don't know what species of Cichlids... Sorry for the inconvenience!

 

[juanveldez]

I would have to say that it is not. I have left for many weekends and they have never lost any color.

 

[aernympha]

maybe they was dyed or need to eat certain food to get there colour like flamigos get there pink colour form stuff they eat i think its small shrimp i don't know for sure just guessing

 

[-=DG=-]

hi m8,

Yeah they can fade their colour up and down (mine do) so if they are happily fed then they usually brighter. If a bit scared the fade down.

 

[aernympha]

Maybe some live food would help..... or frozen food..

 

[Wildfire]

What kind of live or frozen food do cichlids like? )

 

[Flippin'thing bit me eye]

If the tank lights were off the whole time, that might make their colours fade.

 

[smb]

Like DG and flippin' said, it's normal.

Stress can cause this. Being the subdominate male will make the colors lighter and in the dark most cichlids will always get lighter.

Although this won't help the lighter color in the circumstances already given, if you want to give a food that helps deepen colors try some krill or a carotene-based food as an addition to their diet.