Colour Loss On Fish... Help.

[Harlequins]

I've noticed 2 of my skunk corys have a washed out look about them,i've read the black strip fades if stressed or frightened.The other 4 seem fine,just wondering if this is anything to worry about if they're ill or anything?They gather around at feeding time and appear to eat well.I did treat the skunks for whitespot a few weeks ago now with interpet anti whitespot.

Tank size: 55 gals
pH: 7.8
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 30(tap 10)
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 24.1

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Black stripes are faded,generally look washed out.brown faeces,no other marks spotted.eating ok.don't look bloated or skinny.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: weekly 30%

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Prime. 2x externals ex700 & ex1200

Tank inhabitants:Harlequins,guppies,platys,skunk corys,trilineatus corys,pygmy corys,panda corys,ember tetras.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):2 wks ago 3 panda corys.

Exposure to chemicals: none

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[fishyfeet]

What are you feeding them, im not sure but maybe they are missing something vital from their diet, try adding several food stuffs and see if the prefer something different, di

 

[Harlequins]

They have quite a varied diet,being tetra flakes,tetra prima granules & mini granules,defrosted bloodworm,brineshrimp & daphnia.de-shelled pea or broadbean once a week,obviously not all at the same time,Sinking wafers in the evening on lights out.They did have had dried tubifex last week.
Spira flakes given once a week.Am i missing anything in the diet or giving them anything i shouldn't?

 

[fishyfeet]

I can only think its cos there are only two of them, being shy and easily scared you should keep them in groups of six or more, I think that may be it. di

 

[Harlequins]

I do have 6 skunks

 

[fishyfeet]

hmmm i thought you had two, it must be the water parameters then, di

are all six fish affected or just two then, no its just the two isnt it, which is where i got 2 from, i wonder if they are female then. It seems you doing everything right, we might hear the sound of little finns do you think di

 

[VaegaVic]

Did this happen early this morning, just after you turned the lights on?
My Melini used to freak out in the mornings, as soon as I turned the tank lights on, no matter how gradually I did it, they just went nuts and lost all colour. 10 minutes later they were back to black and couldn't be happier.
I've always assumed they lose their colours when they sleep, or at night, but its always more noticeable with corys that have black lines.

 

[WILDER]

Are the corys acting listless and lethagic.
Do the lean to oneside when resting.
Any fish in the tank picking on them.
Does the faded area look like bleaching beneath the skin.
How do the barbels look.
Hows the corys breathing.

 

[Harlequins]

It's certainly more noticeable when the tank lights first go on,at the moment they appear a little better,the stripes are slightely darker.
They've been like it for a day or so now,i tend not too keep the tank lights on all day has the temp can rise quite a bit in the day,its now on 24.6,by tonight it would've gone up to 26 !
So i put it on for 2/3 hours in the morning,then back on early evening through to around 11pm.the temp stays around 25 then drops by morning to 24.1

Would temp play a part? my tank use to settle on 25 degrees but the past few weeks has now dropped to 24.1,i'm not sure if its the heater playing up??

 

[WILDER]

If the temp was dropping by more than two degrees either way it could be that.

Just keep a close eye on them.
Make sure there not acting listless and lethagic.

 

[Harlequins]

Are the corys acting listless and lethagic. at times,although join in with the others.
Do the lean to oneside when resting.no
Any fish in the tank picking on them.no
Does the faded area look like bleaching beneath the skin.i don't think so
How do the barbels look.fine
Hows the corys breathing.normal,doesn't appeared laboured or anything

I've answered has best i could.
Thanks Wilder

 

[WILDER]

Ok. That's fine.
If they start to act sluggish it could be bacterial.
Also make sure there no signs of flicking and rubbing, or scraping off objects in the tank.

For now just keep a close eye on them.
Keep a look out for bullying.

 

[Harlequins]

Thanks wilder,i will keep a check on them

Do you think it's worth turning up the temp a tad?

 

[WILDER]

Do a search on the ideal temp for corys.
If all the fish can handle that temp turn it up.

Cory Catfish are warm water dwelling fish that prefer temperatures between 72 and 79 degrees.

 

[Harlequins]

well going by my cories and other fish the temp range is 22-27 degrees,but i know my cories are happier at around 24-26 latter being tops.