Sail Fin Losing Colour

[Robbie Smyth]

Hey everyone, does anyone know why my newly purchased (3 weeks) sail fin pleco is fading in colour? when bought it was a dark brown with light brown spots and now it is nearly all light brown with really light spots

Also, every 20mins or so it makes a dash for the suface and appears to break the surface for air and then dives down again?
My tank is planted with a good flow from the filter.

 

[WILDER]

What are your water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nirate,and ph, as going pale is a sign of stress, they do shut up for air now and then.

 

[clunkster]

post your water stats

 

[dobbygolem]

Im not as experienced as you guys, but i know that mine, and other peoples bristlenose catfish change color due to how they are feeling. Maybe this is the same for the catfish he is speaking about?

Or is it that also when bristlenoses change color to how they are feeling is it always lighter = more stressed and sadder and darker = less stressed and happier?

I suppose this last method would make sense, seeing as my male bristlenose always gets a figure of 8 over his back when i move something in the tank, or add something new. I put it down to him just being curious and his color changing because this "curious" feeling is different to the "happy" feeling he had before i moved/added whatever it was. Maybe its because he is geting slightly stressed due to my hand being in the water.