Angel Question

[proton]

Hi Guys, Well I would like to know why sometimes my Angel fish loses his/her black stripes sometimes? What I mean is that his/her black stipe/s go grey, then they go back to being black? He/She does this often? What does it mean?

 

[nukeonekitty]

It is usually a sign of stress. How big of a tank is it in? What are you water stats? And what else is in there with it?

 

[proton]

Well S/he's in a 240L tank, I have one krib which on occasion hassles him/her, has too much fins to be able to swim fast like the other angel fish water stats are fine...

 

[nukeonekitty]

Well the tank is for sure big enough (if my maths right that's 65 gallons or so?) I would say either the fish is getting picked on or you pH or hardness does not suit the angel.

 

[Tolak]

It really isn't anything to worry about, unless they stay pale for an extended time. This would indicate some sort of stress. Many fish change color to some extent, those stripes are a sort of natural camouflage, in the wild angels live among tall thin plants, this pattern helps them to blend in. I've noticed silvers are nearly always faded when I turn on the lights in the morning, and color up after a few minutes.

Fading and then going back dark in a tank with a krib probably means the krib is causing a little stress. I wouldn't worry too much unless you start to see some torn fins.

 

[proton]

Cool great, well it happens maybe once to twice a week. She does sometimes chase away the krib but on occasion he comes up from behind her...