Electric Blue Ram with dark colors

StripesAndFins

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Oct 11, 2009
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So last Wednesday, I got 2 electric blue rams for my 29 gallon tank. When I got them, they were a little pale, but they brightened up. Recently one of them began to get really darker, to the point of going from Powder Blue to Indigo.

Here is a video. The front fish is the one I am talking about; you can tell he is darker than that of his tankmate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7SS9oyQ5YQ

S/he is darker now than in the video. His/her head/face is turning close to a black color and the indigo color is darker now. All parameters are normal for a cycled tank. The pH is 6.8-7.0. Temp. is at 80-82. It's tank mates are Black Neon Tetras, Green Cories, Albino Cories, and a BN pleco. I am not sure of it's gender as its dorsal fin is rarely erect enough to tell, but I am pretty sure that the other one is male (its second and third dorsal fin rays are longer than the others).

Could it be stress that is causing it? The other one does seem to chasing it; could that be the reason for such dark colors?

Any help is appreciated!
 
I think it is just a case of a diff. color....hard to tell from vid. its okay;) i saw the com. about crappy cam. i know that is;)

i think you may have a male and female......hard to tell, but the bets hint is the head

males have a very bright colored head and is a bit larger than the females.......or you can look at fins and stomach coloration(much harder for me:(), i think head is surefire way

and also, males dorsal fins don't have all the same lenght line things(if u know what im talkign about;)) there are 2-5 larger ones in the front and they abruptly end onn the fin and then shorter spikes/line things begin

female have the line things/spikes gradually go from high to low, not just stopping in between hard to explain sorry

stress can cause color cahnge and it may be your substrate...............it doesn't seem like you have much decor and hiding spots in the vid...............maybe your gravel? maybe you can switch it out if possible? how often do you do WCs? stats. seem fine

i think rams do better at 84-86, maybe that? other than that, if the fish is eating fine, and is healthy, i wouldn't be concerned
 
I don't know how I'd change the substrate since it is already in there (trust not a huge fan of the blue gravel either). I have a cave/tunnel thing (shown in video), a fake, small rock with hole in it and fake plants, and I have a piece of medium mopani driftwood. What else can/should I add as a hiding area.

As for temperature, would the other fish be ok in those temperatures.
 
maybe live plants? and for substrate changing, its actually not that hard;)

i have done it quite a few tiems......very boring, but not hard............

but there are preparations

For 1 MONTH YOU NEED TO Siphon the Gravel Out 2X a week to Get AS MUCH "CRAP" OUT of the substrate as possible. Then after the month, when you have around 2 hours of spare time.............scoop(i used a measuring cup) the gravel out and put it in a bucket(if u want to keep/sell) or throw it out................u can leave fish in thet ank. make sure to remove decor/fake stuff for that time. Then once ur done, do a 25% WC if the water is quite dirty, if not, leave as is........then go wash/rinse new substrate.....sand would be nice or eco-complete.......its only $16 for a 20lb bag which is the same price as any other gravel AND its good for plants......black looks best as ur fish/plants stand out against black

then as it has beneifical bacteria in it, and its pre-washed, just dump it in gradually, maybe 5lbs at a time, the fish will be fine;) don't worry......maybe a bit stressed so i'd leave the lights off for the next few hours after putting in new stuff and re placing the decor/plants
 
I don't know how I'd change the substrate since it is already in there (trust not a huge fan of the blue gravel either). I have a cave/tunnel thing (shown in video), a fake, small rock with hole in it and fake plants, and I have a piece of medium mopani driftwood. What else can/should I add as a hiding area.

As for temperature, would the other fish be ok in those temperatures.

and for temps.;) yeah, they would be okay as long as u have A) good filtration/flow meaning enough surface agitaion or B) aeration
 
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