Archer Fish Colour

[talisker]

i've got a Toxotes microlepis archer fish in a brackish thank with a couple of mollies water is SG 1.005 ,i've had him for a couple of weeks and is eating fine.
his colour has suddenly changed over the last couple of days, the black markings that are along his back near his dorsal fine which were black have changed to silver and the bottom half of the fish has changed to almost black, does this sound normal or do you think he may be unwell

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Have you looked at Neale's article on Archers and have then examined your specimen to be sure it is a microlepis?
http/homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/FAQ/3c.html

There may be others who lurk and might have ideas on your concerns, but Neale ("nmonks") is probably your best bet by a country mile on www.fishforums.net

 

[nmonks]

Thanks for the promo!

I'd lower the salinity and see if that helps; down to about 3 grammes per litre, SG 1.001-1.002 at 25C. Toxotes microlepis gets unhappy when kept at too high a salinity. Usually you don't see stress until you're above SG 1.005, but there may be exceptions.

I will make the point that all Toxotes can change their colours. Social stress can be an issue. Archers don't play nicely together when kept in small groups, but on the other hand can be nervous when kept singly. Mollies can be a pest, chasing archers and other calm fish, so watch that the mollies are behaving themselves.

Cheers, Neale

There may be others who lurk and might have ideas on your concerns, but Neale ("nmonks") is probably your best bet by a country mile on www.fishforums.net

 

[talisker]

thanks Neale, i'll try lowering the SG a bit to see if that makes a difference , i've not seen the mollies bothering the archer but i'll keep a close eye on them

 

[nmonks]

When I kept sailfin mollies with archers and rainbowfish, the male molly was a constant nuisance. Less so in the 200 gallon tank, but in the 40 gallon one he'd be raising his fin and displaying to almost everything that moved!

Cheers, Neale

i've not seen the mollies bothering the archer but i'll keep a close eye on them