Is it more effective to color up Jack Dempsey with black background or black sand?

[TheTerminutter]

Currently I have off-white sand and my JD is looking very pale.
I want him looking almost black with green and yellow iridescent spots, with minimal purple and red.
Should I replace the substrate with black sand, or leave it be and apply a black background?
Would it be even better with a combo of black sand and black background?

I also heard of red sand coloring up bichirs -- does that work on cichlids as well?

 

[duanes]

Most cichlids colors will wash out when placed over while sand.
With black sand most will stay unnaturally dark.
I always figure the natural look (somewhere in between) is best.
But here is how they live in nature.
Eden2
You'll notice toward the end when JDs hover over light substrate (even in nature) their colors lighten a bit.

 

[duanes]

One other thing to consider, its not only substrate, or background, it may also be the way the tank is lit.
Because my tanks are outside, I only use natural sunlight
On a sunny day, the other day, the Isthmoheros tuyrensis cichlid below, looked like the photo below.
Today it is stormy and dark, and I just shot these pics, it's the same individual.

 

[ruincccc]

Currently I have off-white sand and my JD is looking very pale.
I want him looking almost black with green and yellow iridescent spots, with minimal purple and red.
Should I replace the substrate with black sand, or leave it be and apply a black background?
Would it be even better with a combo of black sand and black background?

I also heard of red sand coloring up bichirs -- does that work on cichlids as well?

to your immediate question, my JD darkened and colored up immediately from being very pale in a bare bottom tank, however both my sand and background are black so can't tell which one plays a more important factor, but yes they do help a lot

 

[altums85]

I think the substrate will play a stronger roll than the background. And lighting is also important. Invest in some good lighting. Makes a big difference.

 

[TheTerminutter]

Wh

I think the substrate will play a stronger roll than the background. And lighting is also important. Invest in some good lighting. Makes a big difference.

What is a lighting that you recommend?

 

[Mazan]

Like duanes I prefer a natural colored sand (in fact I collect all my sand from a local river). It can look darker and show off colours better if you include some dark wood pieces and leaf litter. Also I try not to have too much bare glass in the background, I use pieces of wood, rocks or plants, depending on the type of fish, to disguise the back somewhat. All of my tanks have polystyrene sheets on the backs to conserve heat, I have painted this a dark olive green colour which seems to give quite a natural effect rather than black which can look rather harsh. And agreed, lighting should not be too strong.

 

[Milingu]

JDs colour the best if you provide them cover. Thats more important than the kind of light you use etc. A fish knowing it can hide any time it wants normaly hides less and shows better colour.

 

[duanes]

Also, consider the reasons why, dark or light substrate can negatively affect cichlid stress level like it does.
The major predators to fish like cichlids are birds, and reptiles come in close, but being spotted from the air is most concerning.
In Cenotes where many JDs come from, cormorants are a major threat.

Above is a Cenote dominated by Rocio, and Poecilia. so instinct about birds is engrained.
And just because a cichlid is kept in a tank, doesn't mean that instinct goes away.
But its not only cormorants.


And you may reason, but what about all the flashy iridescent colors cichlids sport, don't they help point the cichlids out to predators?.
These shiny spots actually enhance camouflage from above.

In the shot above, there are 3 Herichthys carpintus, so consider how the shimmer of the water, and the mottled graininess of the natural sand, hide them from above, making them feel comfortable, but aid in them finding mates, from a side view.

 

[TheTerminutter]

I covered the back with a large trash bag to see what happens. The lighting was also dimmed.
30 Hours later he still is white as snow.

I think I'll go with black sand, flat large brown rocks and lots of java moss.
And change the lighting to something warmer.