My Black Skirt Tetra Is White!

[Cantbesaved]

I noticed this guy today... One of my Black Skirt Tetras is whiter... Like a grey... The pic kinda shows it, but may be hard to tell.

I know that if Neon Tetras are stressed, they lose their colour. Is this so for Black Skirts too? I hope he is OK!!

thx

 

[WILDER]

Need more info.
Your tanks overstocked.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite,nitrate, and ph.
Any excess mucas on the fish.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing or laboured breathing.

 

[Corleone]

All Wilder's questions are important, but black skirt tetras will drain their color pretty quick if they're spooked. Mine usually go mostly silver during water changes, or if they get chased by a bigger fish.

If he was like this when you got him, there is a variety called white skirt tetras which are the same species but are either all white or sometimes white with the black spots.

 

[Cantbesaved]

Water Stats: 0PPM Ammonia, 0PPM Nitrite, 5PPM Nitrate (water change yesterday lol). PH about 7.5 (EDITED THIS. Thought it was 8.6 but I was mistaken! lol)

He seems happy, chasing the others around as usual.

I just watched them for about 5 min, and they are all breathing the same. I cannot see any build up of mucus.

I made a post about the stocking, and replies stated that they would be OK in the crowded tank, as tetras are more suitable for it...

And lastly, I looked at him just now and it seems his fins have darkened a bit since my original post. Maybe he was just spooked when I came in today or something... And I am not sure if he was this light when I got him, to be honest. I have been quite busy at trade school the past few weeks.

 

[tyyrlym]

pH of 8.6? Holy hell! Do you have any calciferous rocks or substrate in there?

 

[Cantbesaved]

pH of 8.6? Holy hell! Do you have any calciferous rocks or substrate in there?

Nope. I HAD some shells in there, actually to be honest, I havent done a PH test in weeks, but last time I checked it was about that. a bunch of people on this forum told me that higher PH didn't matter. I had bought some "PH Down" but was advised to not use it, as it was not necessary. I will do a re-test right quick and reply in a few min.

 

[Cantbesaved]

I am sorry, my bad. I knew it went past the range of one of the 2 tests, and it was the first one. I am about PH 7.5 LOL

It reads max on the low range PH, but reads lowest on High Range.

Edit*

Oh, and just another update while I was doing another set of tests, to be safe, I saw the little guy, and he is almost as dark as the rest. was hard to tell the difference, but I could barely. I am thinking that maybe my cat got in the room and was terrorizing the fish. She usually doesnt give 2... well you know... about the fish! LOL
Many times, I have tried to show her the fish to see if she would look at them so I know if I should shut the door when I leave or not. But she always just meows and walks away, showing no interest whatsoever.