Stress Bar Question

[DarkDiscus]

Does anyone out there have a discus (not a wild) who shows stress bars ALL the time? The fish is a red turq, extremely healthy, the largest fish in the tank and has shown DARK stress bars ever since the day I got him, coming up 10 months?

I thought maybe a lighter background would help, but the new tank is up against a white wall and he's still all barred up.

Any thoughts?

John

[keno]

Hey john, most of my turqs show bars all the time. I think its normal for most turqs.

Ken

[paulmat]

I agree,mine have them, and all are healthy and happy. Quite normal. I have one that has been dark(whole body) since day 1, and is one of my biggest fish,healthy as a horse,but allways very dark.

Paul :guitarist:

[arpanlib]

hi,
yes i have few truq.'s that show stress bars all the time. they are all healthy and eat like pigs. i dont think that its a problem. ;D

arpanlib

I like to call them Mood Bars Not stress bars
Cary Gld!

[DarkDiscus]

I'm glad to see it's a fairly common occurance. I've seen quite a number of red turqs and most have the bars when they are showing off, or scared, or whatever (Cary's right with the mood bars!!!) but not all the time. I know my other 2 have bars occasionally, but not often. I was just wondering...

Al liked that fish the best when he visited last. He's my favorite, too...

Thanks!

John

[yellow sub]

Is the discus in with other discus that dominate. It could just be a sign of submission to the alpha discus.

I have seen this in my 30 gallon with 3 discus, 2 males 1 female(I think). Where a the dominant male won't let the other male near her. They are all healthy but the lone male always shows his bars.

I wouldn't worry too much as long as the discus is healthy and is eating.

Stephen

[mikeos]

Bars / stripes on fish are for camoflage (at least in the wild), either to hide the predator or the prey, so I dont know how they ever ended up being called stress bars. ( probably some dumb *** scientist only concidering the "observable facts"...{joke OK})

Yes they show when stressed, also when breeding, showing off, exploring new additions/objects, just sitting here in theis plant playing hide & seek etc.

My turks always show bars when sheltering under plants, heaters or filters, & most other times. Sometimes when just swimming as a shoal none will show bars.

IMO as long as they behave as discus should & there are no obvious problems, dont worry. ;D

Remember they are out to drive you totally insane, & quite often suceed. ;D ;D

[Jason]

IMO they comunicate with their stress bars too!

[allan_mark76]

It's not unheard of for your RT to show stress bars. Mine do that all the time. At first I thought it was my fault and I tried my best to get the stress bars to go away. As time progressed I figured it was just the way they were. I mean they even show the stress bars when they shimmy by each other. All in all it's just they way they are. BTW the older they get the less apparent it will be... time to time they will show up here and there...it's all in the MOOD BABY ! ! !

A- ::)

[BlueTurquoise]

Yes! mood bars is right! I have one particular red scribble (pictured at my website) who is uncanny with the bars! he/she can turn them on and off like the flick of a switch! within 30 secs it can go from all clear to dark black lines. It's good cause it lets me know when it feels scared, agressive or excited. At rest they are turned off and he/she looks like any other red turq with nice pattern.

Chong

[redlines]

John,

The fish just doesn't like you. >:(

Feel free to send him to me I will give him a good home ;)

Andy

[limige]

my tefe has black bars most of the time but when another female enters her corner here bars turn light grey as she chases them off!! sometimes when she's just hanging they are grey as well!