Golden mbuna colour changed??

[Scorpio99]

Today I noticed that one of my golden mbuna has changed its colour. It was in normal colour yesterday, but this morning when I checked, it had some black colouration in it's body. Anyone know what might be the cause of this because this has never happened before??

before

After

 

[twentyleagues]

That is an auratus and the yellow coloration is juvenile and/or female color. That one is male.

 

[Milingu]

Males can hide their typical male colour to avoid conflicts with other dominant males. When they rise in the hierarchy they can reveal their male colour within hours.

Sometimes even dominant females can show darker colours to show their hierarchical status.

 

[Scorpio99]

Males can hide their typical male colour to avoid conflicts with other dominant males. When they rise in the hierarchy they can reveal their male colour within hours.

Sometimes even dominant females can show darker colours to show their hierarchical status.

So stress is not a factor in the colour change right??

 

[twentyleagues]

Nope. At least not for it. Other fish are probably going to start feeling stressed. Male auratus are very aggressive.