I have 3 parrot freshwater fish, and they have developed black on their scales and fins... it doesnt seem to be hurting them, but how can i fix this? Its not like mossy it just lokos like they are black now, and they arent as pretty as before. any ideas?
Fish Sick?!?
- Thread starter ChiefXP
- Start date
I'm just an interloper from the salty side of the house, but...
Can you post pics?
I'll bet the freshwater experts can help you more with some visual references.
Can you post pics?
I'll bet the freshwater experts can help you more with some visual references.
Water parameters? Since these are the dyed version, the fish are going to be very sensitive to ammonia and nitrites, and more prone, IME, to bacterial infections. If the tank wasn't fully cycled, that's probably causing a problem for them.
I've never had a parrot before that DIDN'T develop "smudges" on its body and fins....
It's part of the color of the fish, but it doesn't manifest itself until a little later in life. I used to freak out over it, until it happened to more than one of my parrots (I've grown out about 9 of them total in the last 4 or 5 years).... there was nothing wrong with my water, and the tanks were WELL established.
That clear color that comes from the dye process (for artificially dyed fish... I have only ever owned one such fish) will fade in time. What starts out as a wild flourescent color will fade eventually down to the fish's original gold or orange color, most likely with streaks, stripes, spots, or smudges of stark black over the body.
It's part of the color of the fish, but it doesn't manifest itself until a little later in life. I used to freak out over it, until it happened to more than one of my parrots (I've grown out about 9 of them total in the last 4 or 5 years).... there was nothing wrong with my water, and the tanks were WELL established.
That clear color that comes from the dye process (for artificially dyed fish... I have only ever owned one such fish) will fade in time. What starts out as a wild flourescent color will fade eventually down to the fish's original gold or orange color, most likely with streaks, stripes, spots, or smudges of stark black over the body.
Yeah, the first one I ever had that did that was a natural colored parrot of modest size... I thought he had either burned himself on my heater or had spent too much time digging around in my black gravel.... He was large enough to handle, so I donned my trusty gloves, picked him up (fungal treatment and idodine, and a box of cotton swabs all in arm's reach, sure that there was something wrong...) and gently rubbed the smudge on his tail with a cloth, only to discover that it wasn't something ON the skin, that it WAS his skin, and that the streak wasn't an infection or anything, but perfectly healthy... I was disappointed at first that I no longer had a clean, creamy gold colored fish at first, but the smudges grow on ya after a while 
Same problem w/my Tiger barbs
I'm starting to freak about a similar 'ailment' on the scales of two of my 7 tiger barbs. These two are looking a little pale and there are some brown markings in between their stripes.
Is this also just aging?
I'm starting to freak about a similar 'ailment' on the scales of two of my 7 tiger barbs. These two are looking a little pale and there are some brown markings in between their stripes.
Is this also just aging?