Lion losing color

[Riverserver]

I've got a zebra dwarf lion that is about a year old now (4 inches). During the day he does normal lion things and hangs out under rocks or perches against something and wont move from 11am to 9pm (my light cycle).

But here recently, last month or two, he's been losing his color during the day. He will turn pale while the lights are on, but maybe 30 minutes after the lights go off he's back to full color.

Normal?

Nitrates - 7
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
pH - 8.4
SG - 1.024-1.025
Temp - 73-75

I've got some chaeto on the way from Live Aquaria to bring the Nitrates down to < 1.

 

[Reefscape]

Hey RS...

Is it going pale in colour? or is it excess slime?

How has it been feeding?

Niko

 

[Riverserver]

He's perfectly normal behavior wise, eats great, every 3 or 4 nights I feed him depending on how much he begs.

It's not slime, its 'colour' - his scales just turn pale, I'll see if I can get a picture.

I've only got 3watts/gallon so I don't think the lights are too intense for him.

 

[Reefscape]

If the lights were a prob, issues would of shown up a lot earlier...a pic would help a lot mate, cool...

 

[Reefscape]

To add....maybe stress is a factor here...?? what else is in the tank RS??

Niko

 

[Riverserver]

His tank mates are a flame angel, 1 large chromis and 2 medium chromis, a couple hermits, and a sally lightfoot.

The only factor I could come up with that's stressing him is the nitrates, but that should be resolved here soon with the chaeto, that stuff works wonders...

 

[andy1130]

Your nitrates arent that high and Lions are pretty durable to boot so i dont think thats the problem

 

[Reefscape]

Your nitrates arent that high and Lions are pretty durable to boot so i dont think thats the problem

I would certainly agree with that...

 

[Fishieness]

hmmm... what are you feeding him? Malnurishment is a possibility if he is eating live foods, especially freshwater ones. Is he weened on to frozen?
I've seen dwarf lions do this before. Most of the time i've seen it go away. But I had a fuzzy dwarf where the same thing happened. I thought it to be because of malnutrition because although he would eat frozen, all he would ever eat is kirll. I started feeding him some soaked in garlic and/or selecon, but he actualy perched on a powerhead at night before i could see if it got better...

 

[Riverserver]

Your nitrates arent that high and Lions are pretty durable to boot so i dont think thats the problem

I'm well aware of this, but I it's the only thing I haven't ruled out. So when it's reading near 0 I'll go back to the drawing board unless someone else has something to suggest.

hmmm... what are you feeding him?

I feed him frozen formula 1 3 or 4 times a week depending on how much he is begging. He also picks off a bunch of the stray mysis shrimp that get away from my suncoral. He also gets freeze dried krill every now and then. But Formula 1 and mysis is his main diet.

I will never feed him anything like goldfish or freshwater fish, ever.