Why Are Some Tiger Barbs More Orange Than Others?

[MrNiceGuy]

It seems that when i see tiger barbs they sometimes have great orange color, but in other pet shops they're just silver with black stripes?


for example, some look like this...

and some look like this...

 

[Wills]

In home tanks fish always look better, best example Ive ever seen is black ruby barbs. In shops they are silver almost white but when you get them home pitch black with red faces amazing!

 

[MrNiceGuy]

In home tanks fish always look better, best example Ive ever seen is black ruby barbs. In shops they are silver almost white but when you get them home pitch black with red faces amazing!

yeah, this was my first assumption, but even the beautiful orange ones ive seen have been in fish stores. also, if you look at the picture of the silver one up above ^ it seems to be in a well planted tank.

 

[Big_eyes]

A lot of it depends on the lighting I would imagine.

 

[Truck]

50% Genetics, 50% environment (Diet, lighting, conditions etc)

 

[demasonisrule]

It's like asking why some people have darker skin than others, genetics.

 

[Mr Spoon]

Male tiger barbs are usually more orange than females. Some of mine look almost red on there front and fins.
And when in season they have a green tinge to them.
There colour can also fade if they are stressed.

 

[saz326]

Male tiger barbs are usually more orange than females. Some of mine look almost red on there front and fins.
And when in season they have a green tinge to them.
There colour can also fade if they are stressed.

Horray for Mr Spoon - Yeah - I always find my males are more brightly coloured than their female companions. If there are mixed colorations in the one tank then this is probably the reason. But certainly in some stores the fish can have very washed out colours simply down to stress and the fact kids keep tapping the glass!