colorless fish ??? help

[LMOUTHBASS]

ok ive posted a couple times about these fish - my gold rams i bought from petco - it's been one week since i got them and all are doing well so far - i put two in my 20 g and left two in my main tank all are showing color but one - it is pale looking like an albino cory ( well a little yellower) but not even close in coloration to the others - when i bought them only one was colorful the others gradually got yellowish - now i know these are prob from asia etc so i'm not expecting super fish - but what could be the reason why this fish is much less colorful -
the fish is active , eating, social etc - is this something to worry about - i hope it's not disease or parasite but guess i can't rule that out although i woul think if it was either of those the fish woul be acting shy etc
coul it just be poor genetics?
thanks
lmb

[Uncle Bete]

you might try to post over in the cichlid forum sense you haven't got any answers over here.
my guess would be about as good as yours with the genetic thing.

[RTR]

If they are SE Asian bred, they likely were hormoned to color them up for market and now that is fading. Hopefully you are not hormone treating them. ;)

Try a variety of "color foods", things with the carotenes, etc., included. They will help recover whatever color the fish is capable of without hormones.

Don't buy SE Asian bred Rams, Neons, or dwarf Gouramis. If the store does not know the source, walk away.

[somefinnfishy]

good luck with petco rams to delicate of a fish for the petco chemical stew they like to call water.
Also if asian fish like that must be brought in to 6.0 soft water or they wont make it a 6 weeks.
I've tryed petco rams 5 times as I could not find a female to save my life at any local LFS NONE made it over a month :(
Although you could have 2 males showing off for the female.
My sugestions are feed live foods and buy a new GE aquarays bulb (stock AGA light) for your light. Push that temp up to 83 and plant the tank to see them shine :)

If anyone wants some golden rams we have a full tank of them been in the store 2 months no probs came from aisa (only available) and would cost more than petcos like $9 each

[LMOUTHBASS]

no i'm not giving them hormones or anything like that ha!
i was just curious as to why this fish was still pale in contrast to her mates - so no one here thinks it woul be disease then right? i mean she is very active , feeding , swimming normally etc -
i'm honestly not expecting these rams to live more than 6 mos with all i've heard - but i figure it is a good way for me to get accustomed to this fish - if they die i will order some from a good source
thanks for your help

[Uncle Bete]

I had a couple of Clown Loaches, the black looked really good on them Black, Black not faded like the red/orange stripes were. LFS guy told me to try some frozen blood worms. I did colors came out.
Just something you could try.