RED LIZARD WHIPTAIL

[Brooksy296]

Hi guys.

Wondering if anyone can help can't seem to find much on the Internet!

My red lizard whiptail seems to lost its vibrant red colour...it seems to be more of a darker red browny sort of colour.

does anyone know why...I hope he's okay?

Water parameters are good
Ammonia and nitrite both reading 0
Nitrates at 10 ppm

it's 180 litres
Tank mates include
Cherry barbs
Neon green rasboras
Blue eyed lemon pleco

 

[Colin_T]

If the fish is eating well and the water quality is good, then loss of red colouration could be from its diet. A lot of suppliers use colour enhancing food to make fish more red, yellow or blue. When you stop feeding these to the fish their colours fade. It can also be caused by seasonal changes (temperature) and the fish might have been in breeding condition when you got it and has gone out of breeding season now.

 

[anewbie]

Naw - the lost of red is due to cross breeding. I have two sets (4) the first 2 were bright red the 2nd two were like yours and when i dug into it what i learned is the asian farm have learned they can get higher spawn rates via increase cross breeding unfortunately the new batch is not as red.

I realize that you said it 'lost' the red which might be different from my situation.