Fish colors fading?

[Rswave2k2]

One of my tiger barbs colors faded within a couple of hours. Its not like faded but its redness faded a bit and its stripes. Is that normal? He is acting normal and so are the other fish.

 

[canarsie11]

What are your water parameters?

 

[J-Money]

That's a good question, one of my tiger barbs did that last week, but he kept chasing and running away from the other fish like they always do. It only lasted for about a day for me though...Good luck

 

[Becca]

IME, I've noticed color-fading on fish as a result of stress. As canarsie11 mentioned, posting your water parameters would help us to better identify what's causing the odd coloration of your barbs.

Just a side note, my 30-Gallon got too high, temp wise, a while ago and I actually noticed quite a few of the cichlids I kept in the tank at the time looked washed out. Just a shot, but check the temp of your tank.

 

[Cavafish]

My tiger barbs have really black stripes one day and green ones the next. I've tested my water to exhaustion - it is perfectly stable and fine.

my clown loaches are sometimes perfectly ok and the next time they reappear they are faded. All are healthy and normal.

Sorry if this muddies the water. Check your water first.

 

[Rswave2k2]

sorry I dont have water parameters. I'll be getting a test kit soon. But anyway it's morning now and his colors are all back. So I guess it was ok. Ill still get a water testing kit when I get a chance to be sure. They are all swimming in the front of the tank cuz they waiting for me to feed em. My water temp is 82 is that too high?

 

[David]

Is the faded one acting especially aggressive towards the others? I noticed in my clown loaches that the dominant one has faded grey stripes and chases the smaller ones around, which have jet black stripes.

 

[Rswave2k2]

Yea the barb that faded is the leader. He didnt chase them only when he faded he always has. He's the biggest and most dominant barb

 

[Becca]

You may want to double-check the temp with someone else, but I believe 82 is a bit too high for the tank. Though, if that's what your fish are used to and they seem fine this morning, stick with what's worked for you in the past.

Personally, I keep my tank (though I'm not holding the same type of fish as you) around 76-78.

 

[Crystal]

my fish do that as well. They fade at night, and by the next afternoon, they are bright as usual.

 

[Rswave2k2]

You may want to double-check the temp with someone else, but I believe 82 is a bit too high for the tank. Though, if that's what your fish are used to and they seem fine this morning, stick with what's worked for you in the past.

Personally, I keep my tank (though I'm not holding the same type of fish as you) around 76-78.

I don't know how to lower the temperature. It's 82 without the heater. Any tips?

I'm glad people's fish fades sometimes too. So I guess my fish are ok.

 

[Becca]

82 might be ok for tropical, I'd run that by someone else.

In the event that you need to lower the temp of your tank, you can do several water changes with slightly cooler water, or buy a fan (?) to place above the surface of the water. I'm not sure how they work, but I've seen several LFS wth them.