• We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Color loss in peacock cichlids

I had the same problem with 4 of mine when I first got them. I asked on here and was told that it might just be stress and color should come back soon. But... about 4 days later every fish in the tank had ich so keep a very very close eye on them. I resolved it by doing what I was told to do by some members on here. If they get ich, crank the temp to about 88 and add salt. Ich went awawy in about 4 to 5 days. Miracle.
 
One problem could be is that the fish are stressed or another thing is that the fish could have been hormoaned when you got them. They show bright colors and them after awhile they fade but will come back with age, if the fish is a male.

A food that brings out really good color in them would be New Life Spectrum.
 
I hear Hikari also brings out color. I'm not saying that the ich is directly related to the color loss but that happened all at the same time to me. Are they baby pbass?
 
TankBuster said:
I hear Hikari also brings out color. I'm not saying that the ich is directly related to the color loss but that happened all at the same time to me. Are they baby pbass?
Click to expand...
peacock cichlid not peacock bass =)

I had that problem with mine but it was due to hormone injectioin for color, I was not pleased when I found that out either, needless to say I wont be buying from them anymore, but anywho as my fish got bigger its color got brighter and its looking good so far! =) I am not sure about hikari but new life def. does bring out the color in cichlids along with proper set up and good living conditions. Also your fish can be stressed and if thats the case when it feels more comfortable in its new habitat its color should come back.
 
you JUST bought them dude.

let them settle a little.

many cichlids that are shipped from Asia are actually fed with hormones, so if you want to keep the bright colors up, you'll need some color enhancing foods.
 
dimfer said:
ph might be too low..substrate color could be too light for their liking
Click to expand...

M/L :you JUST bought them dude.

let them settle a little. :iagree: X2

I agree....but, I have the good fortune of the opposite when ever I bring home an African chiclid.
Is this a new kind of fish for you and your water type?
 
You guys have it all wrong, it's not the food that they lost their colors. I feed mine NLS all the time.

I have a nice set of 6 cobue peacocks at 5". All fully color and beautiful. Have 3 ahlis at 5" and fully blue.
I bought several nice fully colored 4" peacocks from other local hobbyist (red shoulder, blue regal, ngara) ..they all lost thier colors due to the dominant peacocks and changed back to brown so they won't get picked on.

Only way to get their colors back, take these smaller males out of the tank into a different tank..they'll gain thier colors back, as long there are no bigger dominant male peacocks sharing that tank.

I've learned that the hard way.. my 4 inch males are regaining the colors and I'm letting them grow bigger until they reach full stage at 5" to put them back into the main tank.

IF you add a 5 incher male into a tank with other 5 incher male peacocks, chances the new male will retian its color..I've tried that experiment several months ago and it seems to work. everytime you pull the dominant male out of the tank, the next size male will take over and bloom its colors out.
 
The dominant male will ultimately be the only one to show colour, especially in the confined space of a tank.
Hormonal food will give females a false colouring as they are invariably male hormones. :screwy: These sometimes have a negative effect on the females.
:screwy: :cry: I don't feed any food that has this as an ingredient.:naughty: :woot: :clap :headbang2 :thumbsup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top