Loss of Color in Tetra's

[noble1818]

Hi everybody, long time listener first time caller.
I've read some great stuff off of here, so thank you.

My problem is my fish seem to have lost their color.
I have 3 diamond tetra, 3 glolight tetra, and 1 C. pleco. in a 20 gal.
My chemistry is good 6.8ph 0 ammonia 0 nitrite temp is around 80f. I do weekly water changes. Tanks been running for 5 months. Feed them brine shrimp and two kinds of flake two to three times a day. Incadescent lighting.
I have a medium color gravel. My tetra seem like they are transparent. The orange on the glolight is really bright but where it should be greenish is see through. The diamonds don't shimmer they are see through. I can't figure it out. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[johnnyxxl]

I was going to say that maybe they are stressed but being in the tank for months and params are good I would not know where to start anything change in the tank decor etc.

 

[snakeskinner]

is the pleco light colored or just the tetras? If it's just the tetras, it is very possibly that they are scared of the pleco because they seem to be very careless in their swimming habits. Other than this, you might check into neon tetra disease. I'd look for stress first, plenty of hiding places? any other changes? abnormal activity around the tank? KYle

 

[snitz55]

Check and see if the glass under your light needs cleaning. Sometimes water spots block the light and the colors of the fish are not as bright. Worth checking.

 

[sdb]

If they've never been as bright as they should, then it could be the incandescent lighting. Flourescent brings out the truest and best colors in a fish. But if they were bright under that light before, and not now, then I'm stumped.
How are the fish acting? Happy, healthy, and eating well? Nervous or hiding? That makes a difference in order for people here to make a diagnosis.

 

[Copper]

I would agree that it might be lighting. Incandescent lighting can wash out the true colors. The pleco may be of normal appearance near the bottom where light is not as bright, but the tetras (midwater I assume) may be a bit pale. Try showing them under a proper color flourescent light, and if they appear otherwise healthy (no neon tetra disease or ich, stressed, or otherwise abnormal behavior) then you might try some of the foods designed to promote bright colors in fish.

I've never tried that stuff before, so maybe someone can post a new thread with thier opinons of that kind of food. Helpful or just a flake (pun intended).