Algae Eater

[Jesse]

During the day, my chinese algae eater has a black stripe down the side of his body. At night when he stops to rest, the black stripe goes away. The next day it is back...blah blah blah. Can someone tell me..is it normal and why does it happen? Just curious.

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi Jesse,

I've got 4 saes (well false ones to be exact

One of them regularly seems to loose some its colour as you desribe - but I think this one is at the bottom of the pecking order and I think may some kind of submissive reaction (if not then maybe stress...b ). They do squabble with each other occassionly - usually at feeding time - but never seem to get damaged.

Could there be something else in the tank bullying him?

These fish do not normally mix that well with there own or similar species especially as they get older - but mine are in a 5' and have there own terratories....(might have to rehouse one or two of them in another year...)


hth