Cardinals

[joeyg2100]

I bought some cardinals from my LFS about 3 weeks ago. They range in size from 1/4"-1". My question is, They have no red band on their bottom halfs.There is one fish that does, and it is a dark red color that looks great, but the others have no red in them. They have the blue strip but no red. So I was wondering if they have to get more mature to show their true colors? Do I need to change their diets to get their true color? or did the LFS sell me some neons instead of cardinals?

 

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

Sounds like atleast one is a neon...Not sure about the ones with no red...

 

[joeyg2100]

No the one is for sure a cardinal because it is red all on his bottom half unlike a neon

 

[knashash]

so if the top half is blue, then what color is the bottom?

 

[joeyg2100]

It looks almost white. No sign of red at all

 

[knashash]

hmmm....well that is usually an indication that they are not very healthy. I would make sure your water quality and temperature are ok and if you havnt been already, start feeding them brine shrimp along with quality flake food. Cardinals are delicate fish that need good conditions to thrive.

 

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

Ooops, I miss read your post...Thought when you were refering to the "bottom half" being red, you meant the "bottom" area of the fish... Ok, sounds like one cardinal anyway...The others may just be really stressed out...Fish will often drop their colour when scared...Give them a few days to adjust...

 

[joeyg2100]

Water conditions are
Amonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates:0-5ppm
Temp: 78* F

I don't see why one isn't stressed out but the others are. Would pH have something to do with it. My pH is realativly high at around 7.8

I hope that they aren't stressed out.

 

[Kissofthegorami]

It sounds like a symptom of neon tetra disease. There is no cure. Cardinals should have a full red stripe and then a bright blue stripe. You might have gotten neons.

 

[fishypoo2]

A mimic species, Paracheirodon simulans has a less vibrant red stripe (but still full like P. axelrodi). There are also color morphs of the cardinal and neon tetras (ex. "gold neon." etc.). It could also be an indicator of malnutrition or stress (or just their "sleeping colors").